Ben Trbojevic joins brothers Tom and Jake in the Sea Eagles line-up for their clash with Newcastle, after the Sharks beat the Titans 38-10 in Coffs Harbour.
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Four sin-bins as Sharks thump Titans
AAP: Jason O’Brien
)Cronulla celebrated Shaun Johnson’s 200th NRL game with a 38-10 win over the Gold Coast Titans that saw four players sent to the sin bin.
Titans lock Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was binned in the 13th minute for repeated ruck infringements, Cronulla’s Will Chambers spent 10 minutes sidelined for a high shot on a falling Patrick Herbert, the Sharks lost Briton Nikora early in the second half for a professional foul, and Titans half Jamal Fogarty was sent late in the match with the result already decided.
Of bigger concern for the Titans and Maroons is the fitness of fullback AJ Brimson, who ended the game with an ice pack on a bone bruise on his knee, which has been troubling him for weeks.
The incumbent Queensland fullback, who was in contention to be picked when the Maroons team for Game I is named on Monday, could now be doubt for the series opener.
Another possible Queensland candidate, Gold Coast front-rower Moeaki Fotuaika, could also be ruled out after he was involved in a first-half lifting tackle that was put on report.
Their potential Queensland absences compounded a sorry afternoon for the inconsistent Titans, who have now conceded at least 36 points four times in their opening 12 games of the season.
The Sharks’ emphatic display not only ensured star Shaun Johnson celebrated his 200th game milestone with a win, but breathed fresh life into what had so far been a miserable campaign.
A week after caretaker Josh Hannay guided his team to their first victory since the controversial axing of John Morris, Cronulla have now gone back-to-back and are within a win of the top eight.
The Titans defence showed little resistance against the Sharks attack, with winger Ronaldo Mulitalo bagging a double on the left and centre Jesse Ramien having a field day down the right.
Ramien was arguably Cronulla’s best, busting a team-high nine tackles, offloading four times, setting up two lines, carrying the ball for 153 metres and icing it off with a try.
The only blemish was being cited for making high contact on Phillip Sami late in the game.
