LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
The Penrith Panthers' Finals campaign came to a close as they were defeated by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in a high-scoring showdown at Leichhardt Oval.
The Sharks, who had been on a winning streak of eight games, secured their victory with seven tries to the Panthers' five.
The Sharks managed to secure a spot in the finals after winning their last six regular-season games, sneaking into fifth place.
They then eliminated the Newcastle Knights in the previous round before taking down the Panthers today.
Michael Gabrael, the left centre for the Sharks, had a standout performance with a hat-trick of tries.
Alongside fullback Siteni Taukamo, who also scored a double, they dominated the Panthers' defense in the first half, allowing Cronulla to take a 24-10 lead at halftime.
Gabrael's third try and an assist for Te Wehi Waitere further cemented the Sharks' victory in a display of free-flowing rugby league.
Goal kicker Riley Pollard had a successful day, landing six out of seven kicks despite the challenging wind conditions.
Although the Panthers managed to score early on with tries from Jirah Liddiard and Jaxen Edgar, they couldn't keep up with the Sharks' momentum.
The Panthers fought back in the second half with tries from Siotame Hansen and Angelis Hotere-Papalii, but it wasn't enough to catch up to the Sharks' lead.