Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 24 clash between the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Newcastle Knights.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Vs Newcastle Knights
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Date: Sunday, 18 August, 4:05
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. Kayal Iro, 5. Samuel Stonestreet, 6. Daniel Atkinson, 7. Blayke Brailey, 8. Toby Rudolf, 9. Cameron McInnes, 10. Oregon Kaufusi, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Siosifa Talakai, 13. Jack Williams, 14. Jayden Berrell, 15. Billy Burns, 16. Royce Hunt, 17. Thomas Hazelton, 18. Niwhai Puru, 19. Braden Hamlin-Uele, 20. Braydon Trindall, 21. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Fletcher Sharpe, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Dylan Lucas, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Tyson Gamble, 7. Phoenix Crossland, 8. Daniel Saifiti, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Leo Thompson, 11. Tyson Frizell, 12. Kai Pearce-Paul, 13. Adam Elliott, 14. Jack Cogger, 15. Mathew Croker, 16. Jack Hetherington, 17. Brodie Jones, 18. Thomas Cant, 19. Thomas Jenkins, 20. Jackson Hastings, 21. Will Pryce, 22. Kyle McCarthy
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Bunker: Chris Butler
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Shire will be alive with blue, black, and white as the fourth-place Cronulla Sharks prepare to face the tenth-place Newcastle Knights at PointsBet Stadium on Sunday afternoon in their quest to reach the finals.
The Sharks dominated their encounter against the Gold Coast last weekend, with the Titans failing to score a single point. The Sharks lifted their heads high in victory, thrashing them with ease 44-0.
Having lost momentum in the previous few rounds, the Sharks returned with fury and provided a combination that works against the Titans.
The Sharks have won three of their past four games against the Knights and remain confident as they forge a path toward the finals.
Coach Craig Fitzgibbon has named the same winning 17 squad this weekend as Braydon Trindall, Ronaldo Mulitalo, and Braden Hamlin-Uele return from injury to further bolster their side.
Players like Daniel Atkinson, Jesse Ramien, Sione Katoa, and Samuel Stonestreet certainly proved they are worth their weight in gold, with an impressive performance last weekend that proved no match for the Titans.
Katoa has scored seven tries in his past eight games at Pointsbet Stadium, while Stonestreet has scored four tries in three NRL appearances. They pose a real threat to the Knights defence.
The Knights will see only one change with the return of Dylan Lucas from a hamstring injury while youngster Krystian Mapapalangi will make way for his return to the centres.
The Knight have had a difficult season as they strive to secure a berth in the top eight, following a devasting 22-14 loss to the Panthers in Round 22.
Last weekend saw a very disciplined Knights side find their way back with an epic win against the Tigers at their home ground, securing a huge win of 34-18.
With a strong defensive line, they were looking like a team that was hungry for the win, and last weekend’s triumph will provide a much-needed confidence boost for their imposing game this weekend.
They will be determined to win this weekend, but it may be an uphill battle for the Knights, who have not won at PointsBet Stadium since 2014, with the odds stacked against them. Bradman Best and Jacob Saifiti will both be sidelined due to injuries, adding to their woes.
The key may be in the hands of their captain, Kaylan Ponga, to provide the guidance and lead his squad to victory with the help of young gun Fletcher Sharpe on the outside edge, with further backing from Tyson Gamble and Phoenix Crossland, and the strength in their forward pack defence from Tyson Frizelll, Leo Thompson, and Adam Elliot.
A visible threat for the Sharks, Sharpe could surprise with his unpredictability, pace, and tackle breaks, having posted remarkable stats of 134 average running metres and 26 tackle breaks this season.
Frizell, a solid second-rower, poses an additional threat, having scored three tries in the past four games.
This weekend will be an intriguing battle between two teams looking to prove they are worthy of making the finals, but only one team will emerge victorious.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Number Crunch Stats.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
Sharks by 12 points.
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