LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The Flegg Sharks copped a brutal beating from the Raiders, as a below-strength squad struggled to keep up with the ladder leaders in a 30-4 defeat at PointsBet Stadium.
In what was the prelude to the NRL showdown between the same sides, Cronulla's young guns - missing key players like Michael Gabrael - found themselves on the back foot early on, conceding three tries in the first 20 minutes and never quite finding their footing.
The Raiders came out guns blazing, using their speedy outside backs to carve through the Sharks defense with precision.
On the other hand, Cronulla's own mistakes and missteps only added fuel to the fire, making it an uphill battle from the get-go.
By halftime, Canberra had built a formidable 22-0 lead, thanks in part to the efforts of center Regan Carr who notched up two tries of his own.
Mitch Henderson and Jalen Afamasaga also got in on the action for the Green Machine, leaving the Sharks desperate for a second-half resurgence.
But any hopes of a miraculous comeback were quickly dashed as the Raiders continued to dominate, stretching their lead with another Henderson try and a penalty goal.
The Sharks were left reeling, unable to match the relentless pace and power of their opponents on the field.