Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla Sharks - Round 2, 2026
The result
Penrith led 18 to 0 at halftime at Carrington Park and went on with it, closing out the Sharks 26 to 6. Brian To'o scored the first try in the 7th minute to get the home side moving, and Cronulla never got within 18 points from there.
How it unfolded
Penrith ran for 1649 metres to the Sharks' 1380 and set up six line breaks to Cronulla's two. The Sharks hit harder in defence with 372 tackles made against Penrith's 358, though their completion rate sat at 74 percent compared to the home side's 82.
Against projection
Briton Nikora top-scored for Cronulla with 60 points off 80 minutes, while Jesse Colquhoun got through just 53 minutes but still returned 53. Lindsay Smith's afternoon ended at 45 minutes, and Moses Leota was off after 41, both leaving points on the table for Penrith.
Price moves
Sione Katoa rose $25,000 after scoring 45 against a break even of 26, and Braydon Trindall climbed $19,000 with 26 against a break even of just 11. KL Iro went the other way, dropping $28,000 after a return of 32 fell short of his break even of 62, while Siosifa Talakai fell $21,000 after managing only 14 against a break even of 36.
Ownership outcome
Nathan Cleary top-scored for the match with 92 points from 80 minutes, a return that will have suited the coaches who captained him. Isaiah Papali'i's 62 points, against a break even of just 46, add to the case that he was the week's value play among widely held Penrith forwards.
