Tallon Smith
The Gerringong Lions bounced back from a narrow loss to Kiama a fortnight ago to post a 32-6 victory over the Shellharbour Sharks at Ron Costello Oval on Sunday.
Led by a double to James Kunkler, the second-placed Lions ran in five tries to the hosts’ one to open up a five-point gap back to the Sharks in third position.
Gerringong co-coach Daniel Brown said the most satisfying aspect of the victory was the ability to play in dry conditions, after their previous two games took place on a muddy Michael Cronin Oval.
“We spoke about it before the game, the most pleasing thing for us was to finally play some dry-weather footy,” he said.
“The last few games against Berry and Kiama we played in a fair bit of mud, so our guys and the style we play, it suits us to play a bit of dry weather footy.
“I think the players were pleased, and to get the result is even better.”
The victory comes two weeks after the Lions were beaten for the first time since their round six loss to Albion Park by Kiama in a heartstopping local derby.
When asked about how the side responded to the defeat, Brown said it was disappointing at the time to end up on the wrong side of the result in a match where the side did a lot right, but the Lions moved on quickly following the general bye weekend in between the fixtures.
“I felt sorry for the players more than anything, they actually played a pretty good game of footy that day considering the conditions,” he said.
“I’ve got to give credit to Kiama, they scored two tries from cut out passes to catch us short in conditions like that, and it came off, and if we are only letting [tries like that] in, we haven’t done too much wrong ourselves.
“We didn’t really speak on it too much, we just let that loss go, had the week off, refreshed and then attacked this next block, which is a pretty big one for us.”
As for Kunkler, who doubled his season try tally on the weekend to four, Brown said the back rower has been integral to the side’s success so far in 2026.
“He has been massive for us this year, he’s just versatile,” Brown said.
“If we ask him to play second row, he plays second row, if we ask him to play centre, he’ll play centre.
“He spent last year on the wing for us, and just keeps improving throughout the year, he has been good.”
Looking around the grounds from round 13 of Group 7, the Nowra-Bomaderry Jets made it back-to-back wins with a 22-20 result against Jamberoo, while Kiama got the better of Warilla 22-10, Stingrays of Shellharbour defeated Milton-Ulladulla 64-6, and Albion Park-Oak Flats continued its unbeaten run with a 64-8 win over Berry-Shoalhaven Heads.
GERRINGONG 32 (James Kunkler 2, Kalum Whyte, Hamish Holland, Cooper Harrison tries; Jake Taylor 6 goals) DEFEATED SHELLHARBOUR SHARKS 6 (Name private try; Jacob Seabrook goal) at Ron Costello Oval, Sunday July 19.
