Rugby League: Sharks down Souths in big wet

Glenn Stewart of the Rabbitohs is tackled by the Sharks defence. Photo / AP

In some of the most testing conditions imaginable Cronulla have scored an upset 18-10 NRL win over South Sydney at Remondis Stadium on Monday night.

In torrential rain and in winds reaching nearly 100km/h the Sharks led 10-4 at the break,and secured the win on the back of a Jayson Bukuya touchdown six minutes from time.

The six point lead at the break didn't look to be enough, with the wind recorded at 87 km/h before kick-off.

But incredible handling in the atrocious conditions and a tough defensive effort that pushed the big Rabbitohs pack back time and time again, helped the Sharks to their third successive win, after they lost their first four games of the season.

The conditions were so bad that injured Sharks skipper Paul Gallen revealed on radio during the game that the NRL considered calling the round seven fixture off over concerns about players safety. However both sides were happy to play.

Cronulla ran with the wind in the first half, opening the scoring through Michael Gordon in the seventh minute, before Luke Lewis added to that in the 23rd minute.

Alex Johnston replied for the visitors in the 31st minute.

A Valentine Holmes penalty put the home side further ahead after halftime before Chris McQueen dived onto a Luke Keary kick to bring Souths back into the contest in the 54th minute.

But Souths couldn't go on with it and consistently struggled to work the ball out of their own end against some punishing Sharks defence.

Before a hardy 3978 fans, Bukuya put the Sharks out to an eight point lead late and they held off Souths bravely in the final stages to secure a deserved win.

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan praised the spirit of his side in the incredible conditions.

"I have never seen anything like it, the wind, the rain, they were extreme conditions," he said.

"I thought it was an outstanding game from both sides, we were up at 90 per cent completion rates, Souths were at 82.

"And from one to 17 we were outstanding.

"That second half was our best for the year and if you look back it is probably the best for a couple of years.

"I know we are capable of doing that week in week out."

Coach Michael Maguire said Souths lost the "key moments".

"We played against a good team and they completed on every play," he said.

"We allowed them to find field position (often) and they took advantage of that.

"We had opportunities throughout to win that game."

Both Flanagan and Maguire said they never considered abandoning the fixture because of the conditions.

- AAP