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The Sydney Roosters are looking to pull off a massive upset when they host the Cronulla Sharks at Allianz Stadium. Join us on The Roar from 7pm (AEST) for all the action.
While their performances have been improving, the wins and losses columns have not got any better for the Sydney Roosters over recent weeks.
They showed they can match it with some of the best teams for long periods but small lapses in their past two weeks against the Bulldogs and Eels cost them two vital wins.
It will be interesting to see whether this has killed off the Roosters’ confidence, or if Trent Robinson can get his side to end the Sharks’ winning streak.
2016 has been a year Cronulla could have only dreamed of when it got underway. After a few turbulent years off the field, Shane Flanagan has moulded a playing group with a good mix of experience and young talent. The Sharks’ dominance has shown as they have built a 13-game winning streak, despite having a number of their stars represent New South Wales in this year’s State of Origin series.
In selection news for the Roosters, Ryan Matterson replaces Jackson Hastings at five-eighth, while Boyd Cordner will start, but Blake Ferguson and Aidan Guerra haven’t been named to back up from Origin.
All five of the Sharks’ Origin players – Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita, James Maloney, Wade Graham and Jack Bird – have been named to back up from Wednesday night, although Fifita has since been ruled out.
An exciting battle to watch out for will be the one between the fullbacks with Ben Barba of the Sharks showing some of the explosive ball running that saw him win the Dally M Medal in 2012, while Roosters youngster Latrell Mitchell is starting to put his stamp on the league.
If the Roosters are to have any hope of scoring a win, they need Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dylan Napa and Boyd Cordner to dominate the forwards battle and lay a platform for Mitchell Pearce to weave his magic.
To secure their 14th win in a row, Cronulla will look to the likes of Barba, Valentine Holmes and Bird to have big games.
Prediction
It’s hard to go past Cronulla in this one.
Sharks by 14 points.
Will the Roosters pull off an upset or will the Sharks chalk up win number 14 in a row? Join us on The Roar from 7pm (AEST).
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