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The Cronulla Sharks will be in the hunt for their first win this afternoon as they travel to the Sydney Football Stadium to take on the Sydney Roosters. Join The Roar from 3:30pm (AEDT) for live scores.
If the Roosters want to win, they must improve on last week’s completion rate of 72 per cent and cut back on the errors. James Maloney will need to push hard to prove he has what it takes to play for Country come May.
Currently in last place, this game is a must-win for Cronulla after they fell to the Titans last week in the dying stages of the game.
The Roosters will surely send plenty of kicks down young Valentine Holmes’ throat, who must step up to prove he is the next big thing.
The Roosters young pack will aim to spoil the experienced pack from the Shire’s Easter Sunday encounter. Paul Gallen and his troops sense blood in the water and will use their muscle to push forward and come away with a win. Michael Ennis also needs to prove he is still one of the best hookers in the game.
The two backlines should providing some blinding encounters as well.
For the Chooks, Papua New Guinea winger Nene MacDonald will move on to the flank to cover for Blake Ferguson, who is sidelined for four months with ligament damage to his right foot. Shaun Kenny-Dowall will move to the centres. In the only other change for the Roosters, veteran recruits Willie Manu and Lagi Setu have been added to a six-man bench.
As mentioned, Holmes will move to fullback for the Sharks as Michael Gordon shifts back to the wing. Wade Graham will move into the back row with Jack Bird to wear the No. 6 jersey. Andrew Fifita has been demoted to the bench, as Matt Prior has been moved into the starting prop role.
In the 32 matches played between the Roosters and Sharks since 1998, the boys from Bondi have won 20 matches while the boys from the Shire have won 11, with one draw. Last time the two teams met, the Sharks came back from 24-0 to beat the Roosters 28-30.
Prediction
The Sharks need their forwards to muscle up if they are to be any chance against the Roosters. With Jack Bird at five-eighth however, I can’t see the boys from the Shire coming close to their first win.
Sydney will look to their forward pack to win the game and require young Kumuls winger Nene Macdonald to bring some attacking flair to the field.
Roosters by 14.
Join The Roar from 3:30pm (AEDT) for score updates and debate in our live blog.
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