MAGIC Round kicked off with Canterbury’s finals prospects being made to disappear.
After 24 minutes of the clash with Cronulla at Suncorp Stadium, the sorry Bulldogs were behind 24-0.
Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, in his first game back from a long-term injury, had scored an eight point try after he was struck in the head in the act of scoring.
And Canterbury’s fourth win of the year was as far away as ever.
In the end, Cameron Ciraldo’s side did manage tries – one from their own side of halfway, even – but Cronulla fans got their festival weekend off to the best possible start.
And Mulitalo’s welcome back was completed with a second try late in the contest, which finished 38-12 to the Sharks.
It was Canterbury’s sixth Magic Weekend defeat. Lachlan Galvin losing the ball over the line in the final minute summed up the evening for him and his team.
CRONULLA 38 (Mulitalo 2 Trindall Mulitalo Kennedy Puru Hynes tries Hynes 6 goals) beat CANTERBURY 16Â (Preston Crichton Xerri tris Crichton goal) at Suncorp Stadium.
Teams:
CRONULLA: William Kennedy; Sam Stonestreet, Jesse Ramien, KL Iro, Ronaldo Mulitalo; Braydon Trindall, Nicho Hynes; Addin Fonua-Blake (c), Hohepa Puru, Toby Rudolf, Briton Nikora, Teig Wilton, Jesse Colquhoun. Res: Jayden Berrell, Siosifa Talakai, Billy Burns, Tom Hazelton, Mawene Horoti, Braden Uele.
CANTERBURY: Connor Tracey; Jonathan Sua, Bronson Xerri, Stephen Crichton (c), Enari Tuala, Matt Burton, Lachlan Galvin; Max King, Bailey Hayward, Leo Thompson, Sitili Tupouniua, Jacob Preston, Jaeman Salmon. Res: Kurt Mann, Harry Hayes, Alek Jones, Jethro Rinakama, Jack Underhill.
Referee: Gerard Sutton.
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