Josh Mercer previews the round 20 clash between the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Date: Saturday, July 30, 5:30 pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Related: NRL Team List Tuesday
Embed from Getty ImagesSharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Connor Tracey 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Dale Finucane 14. Teig Wilton 15. Cameron McInnes 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Kade Dykes 19. Aiden Tolman 20. Braydon Trindall 21. Jesse Colquhoun 22. Matt Ikuvalu
Dale Finucane had been named, but he was given a two-game suspension. Cameron McInnes will most likely move into lock.
Embed from Getty ImagesRabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Jed Cartwright 4. Isaiah Tass 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Kodi Nikorima 15. Davvy Moale 16. Siliva Havili 17. Thomas Burgess 18. Blake Taaffe 19. Josh Mansour 20. Taane Milne 21. Zane Bijorac 22. Shaq Mitchell
Mark Nicholls is injured, and Daniel Suluka-Fifita moves to prop. Taane Milne has been named as a reserve to make his return from a finger injury.
Referee: Gerard Sutton
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Sharks put the Panthers to the sword last week, but they couldn’t finish the job. Coach Craig Fitzgibbon has done wonders this season, and they will take some good things out of the loss, but it was still a loss. However, a win this week is a must, and they can’t settle on just playing well.
The Rabbitohs have been on a tear lately, winning four in a row. Some people are not convinced, though, as they have beaten the Knights, Bulldogs (just), Eels, and a depleted Storm. A win against the Sharks will show that they are a premiership threat.
What has helped the Rabbits is having Latrell Mitchell back. Mitchell is a one-of-a-kind player, and his combination with Cody Walker is one of the best in the league. They will have to be firing on all cylinders to beat the Sharks.
While losing a player of Dale Finucane’s calibre is a blow, Cam McInnes is a handy player to have at lock, so they will be well covered there. If there has been one criticism of the Sharks this season, is they lose the games they should win. Beating the Rabbitohs will make them a premiership threat and lead them back to the Holy Grail.
Embed from Getty ImagesINTERESTING FACT
PointsBet Stadium is a sort of hoodoo ground for the Rabbitohs: they have only won five out of 18 games (28%) since 1998.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Sharks by four.
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