RUGBY LEAGUE
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It might only be May but the Shellharbour Sharks made a September-type statement with Sunday's clinical thrashing of reigning premiers Nowra-Bomaderry at Ron Costello Oval.
Knocked out by the Jets in last year's preliminary final, the Sharks got some payback with a comprehensive 46-12 victory.
Danny Sartori and Dane Sablowski scored two tries apiece for the home side, while 18-year-old first grade debutant Jye Brooker put the icing on the cake with a try in the closing minutes.
"It was a very pleasing performance, especially as they were the team that put us out last year in the semis," Sharks coach Dave Walsh said.
"It's good to get one back but they're still the titleholders and they're still very much contenders this year."
Maybe so, but unbeaten Shellharbour are setting the pace at the top of the table with Gerringong.
The Sharks square off with the Lions at Gerringong this Saturday in a mouth-watering showdown for Group Seven followers.
"We know Gerringong are up for it every time we play them," Walsh said.
"It's always a good contest, and down there [at Gerringong] they might have more of an advantage, so we're looking forward to it."
The Sharks will go into the game against the Lions with their best performance of the season fresh under their belts.
Jets winger James Jaggot scored the opening try after three minutes, but Harbour replied with converted tries to Craig Stapleton, Ian Catania and Dane Sablowski (2) for a 24-4 half-time lead.
Nowra-Bomaderry have a reputation as comeback specialists and they struck first in the second half with Ryan James's try.
The Sharks didn't blink, as hooker Hans Schuster set up Sartori's first try for a 30-8 lead.
James crossed for his second try but Harbour finished strongly with tries to winger Jamie Manukonga, Sartori and Brooker. Goalkicker Matt Carroll was almost perfect, booting seven from eight conversion attempts.
"We work really hard at training and we've got a fair bit of teamwork and cohesion from a lot of young blokes playing together as kids," Walsh said of his team's eight-try haul.
"We've got some big, mobile men and some real quick backs as well, so it's shaping up pretty good. Having said that, it's a long year and injuries cost us at the end of last year. We had pretty significant injuries in reserve grade today so it'll test the depth of the club."
Walsh said the Sharks are still fine-tuning their defence.
"As much as we've been good in defence, I'm still a bit disappointed that we're not winning the ruck too much, so that's one thing we're working on," he said.
"We've definitely got blokes who can hit, and now we have to make them stick and win the ruck. If we can do that it's going to be a pretty formidable team."
Jets coach Ben Wellington was unhappy with his team's poor discipline.
"It was 8-2 in the penalties in the first half and we gave away a handful in the second half, and that just killed us," Wellington said.
"When you don't respect the ball and give it up all the time, you're going to lose.
"We weren't completing or executing our plays. It's tough because it's hard to see any positives coming out of that game. There was a lot of negatives."
Berry registered their first win of the season with a 32-24 defeat of Warilla, while Jamberoo cruised to a 58-12 victory over Port Kembla.