‘We don’t win’: Cronk’s big Hughes warning; how Reynolds exposes Panthers — Talking Pts

Jahrome Hughes looks likely to take the field on Friday night.

But his latest injury simply adds to a target point for the Sharks, according to league legend Cooper Cronk, who is no stranger to playing with a broken bone.

Cronk took the field in the 2018 grand final with a fractured scapula, nursing the injury and calling the shots in the No. 7 jersey on the way to a famous Roosters victory.

But in that contest his opponents, the Melbourne Storm, were unaware of the fracture.

After the win, then skipper Boyd Cordner said his performance would “go down in history”, having made nine tackles without missing a single one.

It was made all the more special by having to mark Melbourne enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona, who is renowned for being one of the NRL’s hardest men to tackle.

Had the Storm had a clear picture of his injury concerns, Cronk was certain the Roosters would not have lifted the premiership trophy.

“I will say this, the grand final I played with an injury, if everybody knew that I had broken a scapula, I don’t think we win,” Cronk said on the Matty and Cronk podcast.

“They would have known how bad the injury is and I would have just been red-flagged.”

The Sharks, meanwhile, are fully aware Hughes is returning from a fractured wrist, which he suffered in his first game back from a shoulder injury.

“He has a left shoulder injury, now he has a left wrist injury. The way that he was protecting that shoulder, his technique changed defensively,” Cronk explained.

“And it led to him breaking his wrist. He needs to be able to handle himself defensively, because they know he has got that injury on the left-hand side.”

So will Hughes become a target for the Sharks? Cronk believes so, and head coach Craig Fitzgibbon could be planning something ready made for the star halfback.

In the meanwhile, Hughes will likely face a similar test to Cronk during the 2018 grand final — tackle Asofa-Solomona.

Should the gun halfback be able to bring the man mountain down, “pick him” according to the legendary No.7.

“The back rowers of the Sharks are going straight at him and he needs to be able to defend. If he can do that, I’d pick him,” he said.

“If I’m, Craig Fitzgibbon, I am designing a play where Addin Fonua-Blake is running straight at Hughes close to the try line.”

DO CRONULLA’S UNHERALDED BACK ROW HOLD THE KEY?

A forgotten subplot of the Sharks’ brilliant finals run is the fact one of the club’s best and most expensive players can’t crack the starting line-up.

Sharks edge forward Briton Nikora, one of the game’s most explosive second rowers, has been resigned to the bench for Cronulla’s two finals wins.

Instead, Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has pinned his faith in a player who just two years ago, thought his days in rugby league could soon be over.

Billy Burns, who earlier this year signed an extension with the Sharks, has been one of the great comeback stories of the 2025 season.

After being told in 2023 that there was no room for him at the Dragons, Burns was thinking a job in the mines was what was next.

That was until a message from Fitzgibbon saved his career.

Burns only played in four NRL games last season in his first season at the club, but has become an integral part on an edge for Cronulla in 2025.

His form has been so strong that when Nikora returned from injury a fortnight ago, the loyal Fitzgibbon couldn’t drop Burns to the bench.

It has turned out to be the right move so far. In the win over the Raiders last weekend, Burns scored a crucial second half try, creating something from nothing to break several Canberra would-be tackles en route to the line.

While it’s likely Nikora will have to play some part if the Sharks are to go all the way, Fitzgibbon will continue to roll with a starting edge back row pairing of Burns and Teig Wilton against the Storm on Friday night.

Matty Johns credited the Sharks’ back rowers, believing they will be key If Cronulla are to upset the Storm.

“They have great backrowers. They really do,” Johns said.

“I don’t know any other team in the competition that relies on their backrowers more than the Sharks do.

“If you watch them play, the Sharks have a tendency to drift sideways but the back rowers correct it all the time.”

“Billy Burns is playing really well. He’s keeping Nikora on the bench,” Cooper Cronk added.

Burns’ teammates are loving what they’re seeing from the fiery forward.

Halfback Nicho Hynes says it’s a tremendous reward for all of Burns’ hard work since arriving at the club.

“He’s worked so hard to get to this position because a couple of years ago, he had no idea what he was doing with his footy career,” Hynes said.

“He wanted to take a chance at the Sharks and knew this club would be a good fit for him. Once he got his opportunity, he’s been great.”

BATTLE OF THE NINES

A heavyweight battle between arguably the two best dummy-halves in the game is set to take place on Friday night.

Storm hooker Harry Grant, who has been in sublime form since a poor showing in the Origin opener, will face off against Sharks skipper Blayke Brailey.

If Grant has been No. 1 among hookers in the back half of the season, Brailey is 1a.

In fact, you can make a case that there are only a couple of players across the league who have been in better form in the second half of 2025 than the Sharks No. 9.

It hasn’t just been his play which has lit a rocket under this red-hot Sharks team, it’s been his leadership that has elevated the playing group as well.

Since Brailey took over as Cronulla skipper for the injured Cam McInnes, the Sharks are five from five, including finals wins over the Roosters and Raiders.

This looms as the toughest test though, as Brailey and the Sharks take on the reigning Dally M Hooker of the Year.

However, that award looks to be Brailey’s to win with Grant ineligible due to suspension.

It’s not the only achievement Brailey is chasing though. Another strong game on Friday night and he’ll be very hard for Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters to leave him out of the Ashes squad to tour England.

“He’s playing that well I think he might be going on the Kangaroos tour. Harry Grant is the No. 1 but there’s a fair chance that Brailey will have to get his passport ready,” Cooper Cronk predicted.

Of course if picked, Brailey will be playing second fiddle to incumbent Grant but regardless, it would be a well deserved achievement.

With the pair to go face-to-face this weekend, it’s a bout that foxsports.com.au’s Paul Crawley can hardly wait for.

“Harry Grant since Origin I, which was his worst game of the season, the way that he has responded has been great,” Crawley said.

“He is Melbourne’s main man at the moment but Brailey’s leadership on and off the field, he’s a man of action, not necessarily words.

“He’s so crafty, he’s intelligent and he’s so tough. It’s underrated how tough he is.”

WHAT ROLE WILL EZRA MAM HAVE?

Returning Broncos star Ezra Mam has been tipped to play a key role for the Broncos in their blockbuster preliminary final against the Panthers on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium.

Mam will return off the bench for the Broncos, playing his first game since Round 23 when he suffered a hamstring injury.

The Broncos have won all five games without Mam.

“It’s a potential matchwinner because if there’s all the focus on Reece, well Ezra can do the same can’t he,” reporter Paul Crawley said on NRL 360.

“Imagine if he comes on with 20 minutes to go. Such an X-factor.”

Journalist Dean Ritchie believes Mam will enter the action late in the first half against the Panthers.

“I think he’ll come on after 30 minutes, that’s just a gut feeling I have. That will push Ben Hunt to dummy half,” Ritchie said.

“That would be strange in that the two halves will be different despite the good form the Broncos have been in.”

Broncos legend Gorden Tallis said it’s a huge benefit for his former club.

“It’s a great luxury isn’t it,” Tallis said.

“If Ezra Mam is fit, he is such a running threat. If he comes on after 30 minutes against some tired defence, it’s a bit of a luxury.”

The Panthers will be well aware of the threat Mam poses, given he scored a hat-trick against them in the 2023 grand final.

“He had the Clive Churchill in the bag until the last 20 minutes,” Crawley said.

“He’s a freak,” host Braith Anasta added.

“If Ezra is available, you put him in the team. It’s as simple as that.”

Matty Johns believes the addition of Mam to the Broncos side for this game could prove to be the decisive factor.

“I think the combination of Ezra and Reece Walsh is dynamite. It could win this game. Just keep Ezra out of the early exchanges,” Johns said on Matty & Cronk.

“I 100% agree. Ben Hunt starts at six, when (hooker) Cory Paix gets tired after 30 minutes, move Hunt to dummy half and bring Ezra on to run the ball. Don’t even look to pass,” Cooper Cronk added.

“We saw that ten minute period in the grand final, I think he needs to be fresh.

“If there’s one thing that worries Penrith’s defensive line, it’s speed, athleticism and footwork.

“If it comes down to a sunny afternoon at Suncorp and Reece Walsh is being covered, bring Ezra Mam on and tell him to run the ball.”