Cronulla didn’t look a top-four chance early on against the Knights. That quickly changed

Cronulla have maintained their top four hopes, and at worst guaranteed themselves a week one final at the much-maligned Sharks Stadium with a 40-16 dismantling of Newcastle at the same venue on Sunday.

The victory - Cronulla’s sixth in their past seven games - lifted them to the fifth rung on the competition ladder, three points clear of seventh-placed Penrith, with one game to play.

If they win their remaining match, against Canterbury at Accor Stadium on Saturday, the Sharks can finish as high as fourth, which will entitle them to a second chance in the play-offs if they lose in week one.

In the worst-case scenario, they will place either fifth or sixth, which will earn home-ground advantage in week one of the finals.

For the Knights, it was an eighth consecutive loss under Adam O’Brien, and leaves them in real danger of collecting the wooden spoon unless they can beat Parramatta next Sunday.

Cronulla’s win came at a cost, with playmaker Braydon Trindall being replaced 14 minutes into the second half with an ankle injury.

The Sharks celebrate a Siosifa Talakai try against Newcastle.Credit: Getty Images

Trindall was limping late in the first half but continued until the result was in safekeeping. He spent the rest of the game on the bench with an ice bag attached to his left ankle.

The visitors started strongly, racing to a 10-0 lead inside the first 17 minutes.

Young fullback Fletcher Hunt drew first blood by flying high in the fifth minute to catch a Jack Cogger kick and ground it in-goal, and then winger Greg Marzhew launched himself spectacularly to score one-handed in the corner after a Bradman Best flick pass.

The Sharks soon regained their composure, got back into the grind, and started to dominate possession and field position.

Cronulla muscle up in defence to stop Tyson Frizell.Credit: Getty Images

The Knights eventually cracked in the 26th minute, when Cronulla pack leader Addin Fonua-Blake barged over from close range.

Six minutes later, Trindall looped a classy cut-out pass to winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, who got on the outside of Dominic Young to score.

Nicho Hynes converted from the sideline to nudge the home team into the lead.

They extended that to 18-10 just a few seconds before half-time, when bench player Siosifa Talakai burst through to score off a Hynes short ball.

Three minutes after the break, Sharks fullback Will Kennedy linked with Mulitalo, who produced an acrobatic leap and put-down to score his second try of the game and 13th of the season. Hynes again converted from out wide.

Newcastle players after conceding another try.Credit: Getty Images

Sharks centre Mawene Hiroti was next to score, after a 63rd-minute offload from back-rower Billy Burns.

Ronaldo made it a hat-trick in the 72nd minute after combining with Kennedy in a long-range, weaving effort that left Newcastle defenders clutching at air.

Rookie forward Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana scored a consolation try for the Knights three minutes from full-time.

A bulldozing try from bench prop Braden Hamlin-Uele in the final minute completed Cronulla’s win.

Kennedy faces a nervous wait after a 37th-minute tackle on Cogger, which resulted in him being placed on report for high contact.

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