Cronulla 20-18 Canterbury: Sione Katoa hat-trick helps Sharks beat Bulldogs

Sione Katoa scored a hat-trick to help Cronulla beat Canterbury 20-18 at Bankwest Stadium.

Katoa opened the scoring for the Sharks in the 12th minute, with Shaun Johnson converting to give his side a 6-0 lead.

Will Hopoate went over for the Bulldogs on the half hour mark, with Jake Averillo’s conversion levelling the score at 6-6.

Cronulla forward Briton Nikora was sin-binned in the 34th minute and the score was tied at 6-6 at the break.

Katoa got his second in the 48th minute to edge Cronulla back in front, while Canterbury’s Brandon Wakeham was sin-binned two minutes later.

John Morris’ Sharks extended their lead when Katoa completed his hat-trick and they were 16-6 to the good after 53 minutes.

Dean Pay’s Bulldogs pulled one back through Kieran Foran but Bryson Goodwin then scored for Cronulla. The Sharks were 20-12 ahead with 12 minutes left on the clock.

Christian Crichton went over for Canterbury late on, with Averillo adding the extras but it was Cronulla who finished 20-18 winners.

Cronulla: Moylan; Katoa, Dugan, Ramien, Goodwin; Johnson, Townsend; Woods, Brailey, Hamlin-Uele, Nikora, Graham, Williams. Subs: Fifita, Rudolf, Talakai, Hunt.

Tries: Katoa (3), Goodwin Goals: Johnson 2/4

Canterbury: Hopoate; Crichton, Smith, Watene-Zelezniak, Averillo; Foran, Wakeham; To’omaga, Marshall-King, Napa, Jackson, Faitala-Mariner, Elliott. Subs: Holland, Britt, Sue, Ogden.

Tries: Hopoate, Foran, Crichton Goals: Averillo 3/3

Watch NRL and live stream every NRL game to keep up with how Tom Burgess, John Bateman, Ryan Sutton, Elliott Whitehead, James Graham, George Williams and all the others are getting on Down Under.

Watch our Last Tackle podcast, featuring a guest, every week. SUBSCRIBE to Love Rugby League on YouTube.