Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles highlights: Sharks win 20-12

Roar Guru

21st May, 2016

6485 Reads

Kickoff: 7.30pm (AEST)
Venue: Southern Cross Group Stadium
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Last meeting: Manly 18-8 Cronulla
Referee: Gavin Badger
Head-to-head: Manly 22, Cronulla 12
Betting: Cronulla $1.32, Manly $3.50
Last five rounds: Cronulla WWWWW, Manly WLWLL

Sharks
1. Ben Barba 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Jack Bird 4. Gerard Beale 5. Valentine Holmes 6. James Maloney 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Michael Ennis 10. Sam Tagataese 11. Luke Lewis 12. Wade Graham 13. Paul Gallen
Interchange: 14. Ricky Leutele 15. Chris Heighington 16. Jayson Bukuya 17. Joseph Paulo 18. David Fifita

Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Matthew Wright 3. Jamie Lyon 4. Steve Matai 5. Brayden Wiliame 6. Dylan Walker 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Darcy Lussick 9. Matt Parcell 10. Nate Myles 11. Lewis Brown 12. Jamie Buhrer 13. Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 14. Blake Leary 15. Josh Starling 16. Brenton Lawrence 17. Siosaia Vave

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Valentine Holmes has been clutch for the Sharks lately. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)

John Coomer

Roar Guru

21st May, 2016

153

6485 Reads

Match result:

The Cronulla Sharks are at the top of the NRL ladder after a Saturday night win over the Manly Sea-Eagles.

REPORT: SHARKS TOP TABLE AFTER WIN

Final score
Cronulla 20
Manly 12

Match preview:

The second-placed Cronulla Sharks host the Manly Sea Eagles in Round 11 at Southern Cross Group Stadium, better known as Shark Park. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEST).

The Sharks are coming off a 62-0 thumping of Newcastle last week and are chasing their eighth win in a row. Coincidently, their last loss was against Manly (18-8) back in Round 3 at Brookvale Oval.

Thanks to their big win last week, Cronulla now have the best attacking record in the competition in 2016. Coach Shane Flanagan has named an 18-man squad to face Manly, with David Fifita and Jayson Bukuya on an extended bench. Matt Prior drops out of the team that faced Newcastle last week.

Manly are currently languishing in twelfth place on the ladder and coach Trent Barrett has made three changes this week. Steve Matai returns in the centres, Jamie Buhrer in the back row and Josh Starling on the interchange bench. Martin Taupau (suspension), Tom Symonds and Addin Fonua-Blake drop out from the team that were beaten by 30-6 by the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium last week.

It will be the last chance for fringe Origin players from both teams to press their claims before the Queensland and New South Wales teams are announced for the first match of this year’s series. For the Sharks, James Maloney, Jack Bird and Wade Graham will be eager to impress the Blues’ selectors.

For Manly, there has been speculation that Queensland stalwart Nate Myles will struggle to retain his starting spot in the Maroons’ Origin pack this year. He will need a big game against the Sharks to convince the selectors to stay loyal.

Prediction
These teams have a great rivalry dating all the way back to the early 1970s when they played in one of the most physically brutal grand finals on record. A Manly upset wouldn’t surprise, but the Sharks’ current form is too good to ignore. They should make it eight wins in a row.

Join The Roar at 7:30pm AEST for live score updates and debate in our live blog.

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