Mitch Dransfield previews a mouthwatering Sunday afternoon clash between the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Canberra Raiders at PointsBet Stadium.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Cronulla continued on their push to solidify themselves in the top eight with a big 42-16 win over Warriors. The Sharks were in cruise control after a slow start, but look like they are ready for their next test against the Raiders.
Canberra Raiders
The Raiders were part of yet another top four encounter, hosting Manly on Sunday. Canberra have had a huge month of football and produced glimpses of controlled and calculated plays against the Sea Eagles, but with a bit of stray from the game plan, and the visitors hungrier, they lost 18-14.
SQUAD NEWS
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Cronulla replace Sosaia Feki with Sione Katoa on the wing with Jayson Bukuya also coming onto the bench for Jack Williams.
This fixture is Paul Gallen’s last match at PointsBet Stadium, with the skipper retiring at season’s end.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks’ Squad: 1. Josh Dugan 2. Sione Katoa 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Josh Morris 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Shaun Johnson 7. Chad Townsend 8. Aaron Woods 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Matt Prior 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Paul Gallen 14. Kurt Capewell 15. Braden Hamlin-Uele 16. Andrew Fifita 17. Jayson Bukuya 18. Billy Magoulias 19. Blayke Brailey 20. Kyle Flanagan 21. Matt Moylan.
Canberra Raiders
Canberra has changed through Joey Leilua being suspended for two matches, which will now see Nick Cotric shift to the centres, with Bailey Simonsson finding his place in the starting side again on the wing. Siliva Havili joins the bench.
Canberra Raiders’ Squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Nick Cotric 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Iosia Soliola 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Ryan Sutton 14. Siliva Havili 15. Dunamis Lui 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Hudson Young 18. Sam Williams 19. Emre Guler 20. Michael Oldfield 21. Tom Starling.
HEAD TO HEAD
Cronulla hosting Canberra will sure to be a contest to behold as one of the best games of the round. The Raiders have struggled against the Sharks, with only three wins in their eight previous meetings, including one of the best finals matches in the past few years, with Cronulla winning 16-14 back in 2016 – the year they rose to win the premiership after their meeting in week one of the finals, with the famous Michael Ennis clap mocking the Viking Clap. There’s been plenty of talent across both sides since that match, as the rivalry has sparked into fierce matches each time, with the last three being within eight points or less.
KEY BATTLE
These two clubs have battles in nearly every position with both sides looking for consistency in their remaining matches of the regular season; it’s hard to look past the forwards going at one another and especially the contest between one of Canberra’s signings of the season in John Bateman and the Sharks’ skillful back rower Wade Graham.
Out of all the signings this season it was hard to predict that Raiders’ English back rower Bateman would have such an impact on their fortunes in 2019. Fast forwarding to just two games before finals, the Green Machine have lost only eight games, and only losing five with a fit Bateman. The tenacity and hunger to compete through the whole eighty minutes of every clash that John is a part of has delivered success to his side, with an average of 112 running metres that generally has him cutting lines back through the middle or finding weak defence on his right edge to link with his outside men. It has made him a big weapon for Canberra throughout the season. Bateman will have his work cut out for him in defence against Graham. It needs to be his first priority before his flair can undo his opposing player’s game plan.
The Sharks co-captain Graham had a disrupted beginning to this year’s campaign, only played seven matches. However, the Cronulla edge forward has been impressive in nearly all games that he has featured, including representative honours with the Blues. The class of Graham has been known for a couple years now since the premiership year in 2016, but the impact that he has cannot be stressed; leadership with his eighty minute performances week-in-week-out has him in elite company, pulling off skillful raids of teams’ right side defences. Wade has a kit of plays that other teams wish their second rowers could pull off. If the Sharks are to pull off a big win at home against the Raiders, Graham will need to be at his electric best, being involved in nearly almost every set, leading his halves and outside men into positions.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Sunday, 1st of September
Venue: PointsBet Stadium
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Referee: Gerard Sutton
WHO WILL WIN?
The farewell of Cronulla legend Paul Gallen at Shark Park could be the extra motivation that sees the home side lift to the expectation that many had earlier in the season. The Sharks have the opportunity to bolster their chances at making the finals but also gathering their third win in a row for the first time this year; they are on a roll with victories but some of them have been less than convincing. Canberra will be looking to spoil the party for Gallen and his men with their stellar defensive record. It could be the catalyst that undoes the momentum Cronulla has made in the past month. Canberra’s blueprint for winning this season has been the ability to stay in the fight for as long as possible, being consistent for the majority while having the defence to back up any errors or penalties. The Raiders are in the top echelon when it comes to that, showing each week they can match it with any side, and because of that they will be able to withstand the Sharks’ emotional outing this round and come back to the winners circle with another gutsy away win.
Prediction: Raiders by eight.
