Sunday’s clash could determine where the Sharks and Knights finish in the bottom half of the eight.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Newcastle Knights Vs Cronulla Sharks
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
Date: Sunday August 27, 4:05pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott 14. Kurt Mann 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Enari Tuala 20. Adam Clune 21. Brodie Jones 22. Fa’amanu Brown
Sharks: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Sione Katoa 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. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Royce Hunt 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Matt Moylan 18. Jesse Colquhoun 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Oregon Kaufusi 21. Kayal Iro 22. Jayden Berrell
Referee: Ashley Klein
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Newcastle Knights are in almost unchartered territory as they look to continue their current winning streak – a streak they haven’t produced in a season since back in 2001 when they last lifted the NRL premiership trophy. They will look to make it eight straight and seal a finals berth in the process when they square off against the Cronulla Sharks to conclude round 26.
While in the box seat to feature in September, the Knights still need victory to guarantee them finals footy, so much is at stake. The Knights have climbed from fourteenth on the ladder the last two months on the back of the best football the club has played in several years, much thanks to the incredible play of Kalyn Ponga.
We have not quite hit Jarryd Hayne 2009 territory yet, but pretty soon Ponga’s run might get there, or eclipse it. The Knights embarrassed South Sydney 29-10 in round 25 and Ponga feasted. The stats sheet read 3 line breaks, 2 line break assists and 2 try assists but in truth…he was even more unstoppable than that.
Speaking of unstoppable, there has been runaway bulls in Pamplona easier to stop than bullocking Greg Marzhew. The powerful winger scored a hat trick of tries in the first 36 minutes last round, which accounted for the first three tries scored in the match. The Knights not only have the most creative player in the competition right now, but they’ve also got the best finishers with both Newcastle wingers in the top ten for try scoring in the NRL this season.
If this didn’t already worry Sharks fans, the return of Jackson Hastings surely will. After a week on the sidelines, he will return to replace Adam Clune. In a musical chair scenario a half from the Sharks could in turn be a spectator on Sunday. Rumblings have started that Nicho Hynes could be out for the important clash, and if he is, that’s a huge swing towards a Novocastrians victory.
Three straight double-digit wins have the Sharks hitting form at the right time of the season and ready to pounce if the fourth-placed Storm falter, but they surely can’t do it without Hynes leading the charge. Whilst Braydon Trindall has chimed in admirably and Connor Tracey couldn’t try any harder as a fill in fullback, without Hynes creating opportunities it does feel like the Sharks will be at long odds if he can not suit up.
Despite the positive form of the Sharks spine in recent weeks, it is also the improved middle performance that has been a quiet assassin taking out opposition teams the last three weeks. The Sharks forwards had been questioned heavily a month ago and they’ve responded like there was blood in the water.
Both Royce Hunt and Tom Hazleton scored a try off the bench last week whilst Toby Rudolf easily had his best game of the season. It is an area at their best, the Sharks can gain an advantage over the Knights, so they’ll be baiting their big boppers to feast knowing how crucial they are for the Sharks success.
This match shapes to be an attacking contest with two of the best in the competition. If Hynes plays this could be one of the best head-to-head star battles of the year as well as an entertaining high powered attacking bonanza. It all however hinges on a young half named Nicho.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Knights 6, Sharks 4.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Knights by 12 points.
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