Sharks end Tigers' finals hopes

Cronulla has emerged from a week of drama over the Greg Bird affair to record an emphatic 32-6 victory over a disjointed Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval.

The win keeps the Sharks' top two hopes alive while the Tigers' finals campaign is dead and buried for the third straight year.

Cronulla was coming off a week of heavy scrutiny following Bird's arrest on assault charges and also had to contend with a 0-9 record against the Tigers stretching back five years.

The team from the Shire hadn't won at Leichhardt since 2001 but were on the board early.

Winger Misi Taulapapa navigated a narrow blindside to score after some lovely work inside from Fraser Anderson.

Luke Covell nailed the sideline conversion for a 6-0 advantage.

Five minutes later Cronulla was rewarded after another visit to the Tigers' end.

Brett Kimmorley's crossfield kick was plucked out of the air for Covell to score and convert for a 12-0 lead.

The much-improved Anderson was denied a try by the video referee early in the contest but there were no question marks over his 20th minute try, the Kiwi busting four defenders to cross out wide.

Covell was again on target and added a penalty soon after to take the Sharks out to 20-0 lead with 15 minutes to go in the half.

The Tigers had to score next to stay alive and were handed a lifeline when Benji Marshall and Chris Lawrence combined to send Bronson Harrison over four minute before the interval.

Brett Hodgson, passed fit an hour before kick off, made it 20-6 after landing the conversion.

But second half tries to Brett Seymour and Brett Kearney killed off the Tigers' hopes of a comeback and ensured the pressure remains on competition front-runners Melbourne and Manly.

The only concern for Ricky Stuart's men is a possible judiciary charge against skipper Paul Gallen, who was placed on report for a high shot on Ryan O'Hara at the 58-minute mark.

Wests Tigers 6
Tries: Harrison
Goals: Hodgson

Cronulla 32
Tries: Taulapa, Covell, Anderson, Seymour, Kearney
Goals: Covell 6

Sportal Player of the Year>/i>
3 – Brett Seymour (Sharks)
2 – Fraser Anderson (Sharks)
1 – Brett Kearney (Sharks)