Matt Attard previews the round 22 clash between the Tigers and the Sharks. Here’s what we have to look forward to …
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Wests Tigers Vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Venue: Scully Park, Tamworth
Date: Saturday August 13, 5:30pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Related: NRL Team List Tuesday
Embed from Getty ImagesTigers: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Brent Naden 3. James Roberts 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Starford To’a 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Jock Madden 8. James Tamou 9. Fa’amanu Brown 10. Zane Musgrove 11. Alex Seyfarth 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Joe Ofahengaue 14. Fonua Pole 15. Austin Dias 16. Thomas Freebairn 17. Tyrone Peachey 18. Luke Garner 19. Jake Simpkin 20. Brandon Tumeth 21. Junior Tupou 22. Justin Matamua.
Luke Garner is 18th Man as he returns from a neck injury.
Embed from Getty ImagesSharks: 1. Kade Dykes 2. Lachlan Miller 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Dale Finucane 14. Teig Wilton 15. Cameron McInnes 16. Aiden Tolman 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Kayal Iro 19. Royce Hunt 20. Luke Metcalf 21. Jesse Colquhoun 22. Matt Ikuvalu.
Royce Hunt is on the extended bench as he returns from a shoulder injury.
Referee: Ben Cummins.
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
After a devastating loss that shouldn’t have been against the Cowboys, the Wests Tigers have fallen flat and were back to their usual worst last weekend.
The loss of Jackson Hastings has proven enormous and it gets no easier this weekend against the high-flying Cronulla Sharks.
Looking to cement a spot in the top four, the Sharks will be banking on the superb form of Nicho Hynes, who has excelled at halfback.
Another standout has been winger Ronaldo Mulitalo. The powerful, fast, and athletic Mulitalo has scored 18 tries this season and averages 144 metres per game. Both he and centre Jesse Ramien are excellent at gaining yardage out of their own half.
Adam Douhehi has been strong for the Tigers since returning, but unfortunately the future can’t come soon enough for the struggling club.
Last week against the Knights they completed at 79 per cent compared to their opponent’s 66 per cent, yet still lost the game.
They’re offering little in attack and their defence is still a shambles, missing a combined 159 tackles in their last four games.
It’s hard to see anything other than a big victory to the Sharks.
Embed from Getty ImagesINTERESTING FACT
Nicho Hynes has played three matches vs the Wests Tigers in his career for two tries, and 12 goals for 32 points (including the 66-16 Storm win vs the Tigers last year, where he scored a try and kicked nine from 12).
On top of this, the Sharks have won eight of their last nine against the Tigers. Their last two games have been 80-24.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Sharks by 24.
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