Check out the match preview and prediction for the final round clash between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Date: Sunday 8 September, 2:00pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Sea Eagles: 1. Tolutau Koula, 2. Clayton Faulalo, 3. Tommy Talau, 4. Reuben Garrick, 5. Lehi Hopoate, 6. Luke Brooks, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Taniela Paseka, 9. Lachlan Croker, 10. Matthew Lodge, 11. Haumole Olakau’atu, 12. Karl Lawton, 13. Jake Trbojevic, 14. Ben Trbojevic, 15. Josh Aloiai, 16. Ethan Bullemor, 17. Nathan Brown, 18. Toafofoa Sipley, 19. Jamie Humphreys, 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong, 21. Jaxson Paulo, 22. Caleb Navale
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. Kayal Iro, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Braydon Trindall, 7. Nicho Hynes, 8. Toby Rudolf, 9. Blayke Brailey, 10. Oregon Kaufusi, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Teig Wilton, 13. Cameron McInnes, 14. Daniel Atkinson, 15. Jack Williams, 16. Royce Hunt, 17. Thomas Hazelton, 18. Braden Hamlin-Uele, 19. Siosifa Talakai, 20. Jayden Berrell, 21. Tuku Hau Tapuha, 22. Samuel Stonestreet
Referee: Adam Gee
Bunker: Wyatt Raymond
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
All eyes will be on 4 Pines Park on Sunday afternoon when the seventh-placed Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles face the fourth-placed Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in a fight to move closer to the top of the table as they approach the finals.
The Sea Eagles currently hold the Steve Rogers Memorial Trophy after a 30-26 defeat of the Sharks last time the two teams met in Round 21 of 2023 and will attempt to retain it as they face the Sharks this weekend.
They have won eight from nine matches at 4 Pines Park this season and may be in luck at home with odds in their favour, with 62 percent wins at this venue as opposed to the Sharks only having 29 percent.
The Sea Eagles will be full of confidence and still gliding high after their demolishing of the Bulldogs, taking home a 34-22 win last Friday night.
With the absence of such star players as Jason Saab and Tom Trbojevic out due to injury, it remains to be seen whether captain Daly Cherry-Evans can guide his team to victory, but history has shown that without Tom Trbojevic, the Sea Eagles have only won two of five matches.
But the two replacements may be all the Sea Eagles need to make an impression in forging a path to victory.
Clayton Faulalo will replace Jason Saab on the wing, and Tolutau Koula will take over at fullback from Tom Trbojevic. With his blistering pace, he has made 40 tackle breaks this season and 153 average running metres. Ben Trbojevic will be added to the bench.
With Taniela Paseka as the main enforcer in the forward pack, he played an impressive game against the Bulldogs and fields impressive stats. He may be a key player for the Sea Eagles with powerful runs and robust defence. Making 39 tackle breaks, 1229.4 post contact metres, a tackle efficiency of 91.9 percent, and 130 average running metres.
Last weekend’s battle was close and heated, with the Warriors pulling closer to victory over the Sharks in the second half. It took them little time to secure this, with the Sharks going down 30-28 in an edge-of-your-seat conclusion.
The Sharks have won their last two games at 4 Pines Park and will be determined to add another, given the occasion being Blayke Brailey’s 100th game.
Their match against the Sea Eagle will include slight reshuffles, with the return of Jesse Ramien and winger Ronaldo Mulitalo seeking to play to their team’s strengths this time. Daniel Atkinson will be moved to the bench, while Sam Stonestreet will be assigned to the reserves. Nicho Hynes returns to his halfback duty, while Siosifa Talakai is placed in reserve.
With the return of these vital players, not only will the team’s kicking game need to be on par, but their stamina and athleticism will be tested as they strive for a victory and second place on the ladder.
The strength in their forward pack will come from the combination of Blayke Brailey, Oregon Kaufusi, and Briton Nikora.
Both teams’ completion rates and tackle efficiency are almost identical, which might make for quite the confrontation.
The success of these two teams this weekend will be determined not only by their performance but also by how other matches unfold as the race to the finals heats up, with just the best of the best moving ahead with fortune favouring the brave.
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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