Sharks overrun Broncos

Cronulla has come from behind to claim its first win at Toyota Stadium in 2008, beating an undermanned Brisbane 13-6 in wet, cold conditions on Saturday night.

Without skipper Darren Lockyer because of injury and the Origin-tied Justin Hodges, Sam Thaiday, PJ Marsh, Karmichael Hunt, Ben Hannant and Peter Wallace, the Broncos made the early running in the first half and took a deserved 6-0 lead.

But the Sharks, who have Paul Gallen and Greg Bird on Origin duty, stayed in the contest thanks to some bruising defence and the benefit of a first-half penalty count that favoured them 6-2 as they went to the break trailing by only two points at 6-4.

And they then dominated the second 40 minutes, scoring nine unanswered points thanks to a Luke Covell penalty, Brett Kearney's converted try and a Brett Kimmorley field goal, with only handling errors preventing them winning more comfortably.

Kearney and Brett Seymour were among the home side's better players, along with Luke Douglas, while Michael Ennis and Tonie Carroll did their best to lift Brisbane throughout, although ill-discipline from Ennis didn't help.

In the 18th minute an Ennis grubber paid dividends with Carroll diving on the loose ball after both Seymour and Ben Pomeroy had missed in their attempts to clean up, with Ennis then converting for 6-0.

Moments later and Joel Moon missed a 40/20 by half a metre but the Broncos maintained the pressure with three-straight sets deep in Sharks territory before David Stagg's short ball proved too hot for Nick Emmett who knocked on.

Having missed a couple of good chances the hosts finally crossed in the corner in the 38th minute, punishing a silly Ennis penalty near halfway when Kimmorley fired a cut-out ball for Misi Talaupapa to dive low and score.

Covell missed the penalty as the visitors retained the lead at the interval but didn't make the same mistake eight minutes after the resumption when Ennis was again penalised, levelling the scores.

And four minutes later a Brisbane knock-on only metres from its own line after it had intercepted the ball saw Seymour put Kearney into a huge hole to score next to the posts, with Covell adding the extras for 12-6.

The Broncos carried the ball deep into the Sharks' half a couple of times during the final 20 minutes, while Kimmorley missed a field goal attempt in the 69th minute but then potted one with four minutes left to make the points safe.

Cronulla Sharks 13
Tries: Taulapapa, Kearney
Conversion: Covell
Penalty: Covell
Drop Goal: Kimmorley

Brisbane Broncos 6
Try: Carroll
Conversion: Ennis

Sportal's NRL Player of the Year:
3 - Brett Kearney (Sharks)
2 - Luke Douglas (Sharks)
1 - Michael Ennis (Broncos)