Match 2026 NRL Round 6 - Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs Sydney Roosters. 5:30pm, Saturday 11 April @ Optus Stadium, Perth

[Western Sharkie]

Very disappointing day
Even though we scored and led the first half, it never really felt like we had control of this game.

 

[G.H Shark]

I didn’t watch the game, I had an event on I had to attend. I did glance at my phone when I could and was pleasantly surprised to be up 16-0 at one point and then 22-6 just before halftime. I had to put the phone away then until after the game and was shocked to see the full time score as 34-22 to the Chooks. Wow.

Then I read through the game thread. Sounds like we were **** with a bit of help from the referees getting the Roosters home.

When we lose I just can’t watch the game back so I can’t really comment on anything. Only thing I will say is that’s it’s another display like the Broncos game last year when we couldn’t hold on to a good lead, which is very disappointing.

I think we now have to concede we are not a top four team. We should be but we’re not. Top 4 teams overcome adversity the majority of times. We **** the bed when the pressure is on. There is NO leadership out there. I’m only going by the times the Roosters scored their second half tries, we led 22-18 until the 65th minute and then they score three tries like the Dolphins game. Good teams close out matches in those situations.

We don’t have an ounce of mental toughness. Fitz can bang on all he wants behind closed doors. No matter what he says our players don’t have what it takes to go far in this competition. I think we all need to resign ourselves to this.

It's easier to accept the reality of the mediocrity rather than expect anything more. We've had majority of this team for almost six years, we are down hill skiers and yes, sure, we've beaten the best, but we aren't the best. Again, yes, we've made prelims and finals, but a part of me feels like it was more the opposition being **** than us being the best.

We lack the "nothing but win" mentality.

 

[Blue_Eyes84]

This loss really hurts.

 

[Vichyssoise]

What a pathetic display overall.
Up 16 points, the Roosters imploding and we just don't finish them instead inviting them back in the contest.

Defence was good early in the 2nd half, but it didn't mean much in the end.

I don't know what the video ref was on, but the Roosters no try, and the supposed hip drop were head scratchers.

Disappointed in Radley, no HIA, no sin bin, a poor game by his lofty standards.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Still bloody grumpy about that second half, piss poor. Doesn't help I'll have to stew on it for 2 weeks, I hope the players are, too.

 

[Vichyssoise]

3-3; +6 record after 6 rounds is far from stellar. It's not the end of the world though.

The fashion in which we lost to Roosters and Dolphins is poor and we're going to complain about this sort of performance a few more times this season.

We're good enough to make the 8. A push for 4 isn't impossible but it'll take some work based on early season form (ours and other teams).
The return of Ronaldo mid-season will not change our fortunes significantly.

Our spine can be very good and it can also be decidedly average. So is the rest of the team.
I don't like the downhill skier tag, but there's a lot of truth to it.

This team needs a roster overhaul. The core has shown that they collectively don't have it to win the premiership.*


* please make me eat crow in October.

 

[bort]

3-3; +6 record after 6 rounds is far from stellar. It's not the end of the world though.

The fashion in which we lost to Roosters and Dolphins is poor and we're going to complain about this sort of performance a few more times this season.

We're good enough to make the 8. A push for 4 isn't impossible but it'll take some work based on early season form (ours and other teams).
The return of Ronaldo mid-season will not change our fortunes significantly.

Our spine can be very good and it can also be decidedly average. So is the rest of the team.
I don't like the downhill skier tag, but there's a lot of truth to it.

This team needs a roster overhaul. The core has shown that they collectively don't have it to win the premiership.*


* please make me eat crow in October.

Downhill is how you’re supposed to ski!

A team that mostly only beats teams around 6 and under on the ladder by end of season is just a fairly good team.
What is an uphill skier? A team that loses every game they should win but snatches a few wins over top teams that underperform on the day?

How far up the mountain we can go is the issue, not that we ski downhill from there

 

[apezza]

Didnt watch. Do we suck again? Or was it just a bell/penalty athon to get the big club home in the destination away game?

As a small poor club I dont understand why we give up a home game to play in ****ing Perth.

Thank god for the Bye.

A small poor club is the reason we give up a game in Perth. We get 300k as opposed to breaking even (if lucky).

We wont make much money at our home games until the Leagues Club is open.

 

[apezza]

I didn’t watch the game, I had an event on I had to attend. I did glance at my phone when I could and was pleasantly surprised to be up 16-0 at one point and then 22-6 just before halftime. I had to put the phone away then until after the game and was shocked to see the full time score as 34-22 to the Chooks. Wow.

Then I read through the game thread. Sounds like we were **** with a bit of help from the referees getting the Roosters home.

When we lose I just can’t watch the game back so I can’t really comment on anything. Only thing I will say is that’s it’s another display like the Broncos game last year when we couldn’t hold on to a good lead, which is very disappointing.

I think we now have to concede we are not a top four team. We should be but we’re not. Top 4 teams overcome adversity the majority of times. We **** the bed when the pressure is on. There is NO leadership out there. I’m only going by the times the Roosters scored their second half tries, we led 22-18 until the 65th minute and then they score three tries like the Dolphins game. Good teams close out matches in those situations.

We don’t have an ounce of mental toughness. Fitz can bang on all he wants behind closed doors. No matter what he says our players don’t have what it takes to go far in this competition. I think we all need to resign ourselves to this.

But least we're not being negative!

 

[stormshark]

Just the sort of game to test our mettle. A Top 4 team would have taken back momentum from the Rorters 3/4 way through that 2nd half, and surged again. Was very confident we were gonna do that, but ho hum, one step forward last week, one step back this week. Time to regroup, not good!

 

[slide rule]

This game felt like it went for about three weeks.

 

[Vichyssoise]

Downhill is how you’re supposed to ski!

A team that mostly only beats teams around 6 and under on the ladder by end of season is just a fairly good team.
What is an uphill skier? A team that loses every game they should win but snatches a few wins over top teams that underperform on the day?

How far up the mountain we can go is the issue, not that we ski downhill from there

You're the specialist. I've only ever gone sledging w/ my son.
Laws of physics apply there too, I guess.

Our team isn't bad, but it isn't great. Too early to tell where it'll end on the ladder.
The issue, in my opinion, is that we often see the same things happen. After a few years it becomes a tad concerning.

 

[Six Again]

But least we're not being negative!

There is no need to be negative , we still have two games against the Dragons to come .

 

[stormshark]

There is no need to be negative , we still have two games against the Dragons to come .

and a Manly game

 

[bort]

You're the specialist. I've only ever gone sledging w/ my son.
Laws of physics apply there too, I guess.

Our team isn't bad, but it isn't great. Too early to tell where it'll end on the ladder.
The issue, in my opinion, is that we often see the same things happen. After a few years it becomes a tad concerning.

Hope you got some good ones in on him!

 

[Vichyssoise]

One thing that sort of gets lost in the post mortem discussion is the quality of our scrambling defense in the first 20 minutes.
Could have turned ugly from the outset, but it actually gave us the opportunity to race to a 16-point lead.

 

[TownsvilleTigerShark]

The whole disruptor thing is a ****ing dogs breakfast. They've brought in stupid rules for something they wasn't an issue. Honestly I've had a gutful, you honestly have no idea how they're going to rule

Bunker/3rd official should only be used for clear and obvious incidents, not should of, could of, will he, won't he, some of the rulings are beyond embarrassing.

 

[Sparkles]

It's getting to the stage where I struggle to watch NRL , because of all the weird rules and different interpretations .

I have all but given up on watching the EPL or any football for that reason because of the disgraceful standard of refereeing and the completely over the top involvement of the video ref .

The NRL is going down that same dark hole .

It's very strange at the moment. The biggest issue foe mine is the huge changes in interpretation during the season. And how many there are. I don't know how teams prepare for games these days, with the rules making such a big difference to how it needs to be played and even the actual players you pick.

I don't believe Melbourne got that much worse in an offseason, for example. Like Bellamy said, they'll have to sit down, look at what they're doing and figure out what to do differently. Perhaps like not contesting for high balls in attack..That rule is a total **** show.

 

[Sparkles]

One thing that sort of gets lost in the post mortem discussion is the quality of our scrambling defense in the first 20 minutes.
Could have turned ugly from the outset, but it actually gave us the opportunity to race to a 16-point lead.

Though it completely buggered us for the second half. You'd almost be better to just give them a try these days if you're facing a third six again in a row

 

[Vichyssoise]

Though it completely buggered us for the second half. You'd almost be better to just give them a try these days if you're facing a third six again in a row

You'd have to be confident you can score a few more tries though.
Momentum is even more important than ever before.