Josh Mercer previews the Round 12 clash between the Cronulla Sharks and the Sydney Roosters. Here’s what we have to look forward to.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Vs Sydney Roosters
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Date: Saturday, May 28, 7:35 pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Related: NRL Team List Tuesday
Embed from Getty ImagesSharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Connor Tracey 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. Cameron McInnes 14. Aiden Tolman 15. Braydon Trindall 16. Teig Wilton 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Lachlan Miller 19. Thomas Hazelton 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Kade Dykes 22. Jesse Colquhoun 23. Luke Metcalf 24. Kayal Iro
Will Kennedy returns from suspension, with Lachlan Miller going back to 18th Man.
Embed from Getty ImagesRoosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Sam Walker 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Drew Hutchison 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Nat Butcher 13. Siosiua Taukeiaho 14. Connor Watson 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Sitili Tupouniua 17. Terrell May 18. Lachlan Lam 19. Egan Butcher 20. Ben Marschke 21. Billy Smith 22. Kevin Naiqama 23. Adam Keighran 24. Daniel Suluka-Fifita
Sitili Tupouniua (concussion) returns to the bench this week, with Egan Butcher dropping out.
Referee: Grant Atkins
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
It was always a hard ask for the Roosters to beat the defending premiers. The Panthers opened them up on numerous occasions and made them look very ordinary. They scored a few tries late, and it was good to see them not be kept to nil.
Even though they conceded the first try, the Sharks overcame the Titans by seven points. At times this season, the Sharks have looked like a top-four side (they are currently sitting in fourth), but they have lost games they should have won. It’s something both sides have in common.
It’s a battle of the master and the protege as Craig Fitzgibbon takes on the man he spent several seasons by – Trent Robinson. Fitzgibbon has done a magnificent job with the Sharks. While he does have a better roster than his predecessor, he deserves plaudits.
It looked as though the Sharks may have unearthed a talent in Rugby Sevens star Lachie Miller. Unfortunately, it may take him a while to crack the side, especially with the back three of Will Kennedy, Ronaldo Mulitalo, and Sione Katoa.
Nicholas Hynes has been the surprise packet of the season, seamlessly transitioning from fullback to half. His battle with Luke Keary will be good, and we will see if he can compete with a top-level half, even though Keary has looked tired this season.
Embed from Getty ImagesINTERESTING FACT
The last time the Sharks beat the Roosters was in Round 17, 2017. They smashed them by 32 points.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Roosters by four.
Follow Nothing But Rugby League on Facebook
