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The Sharks, sitting in 12th, are playing for pride, while the Bulldogs currently sitting in 10th, still have a faint sniff of the finals despite being two wins out of the top eight with just four games to play.
Cronulla tend to win and lose their games in batches. They went on a four-match winning streak mid-season but that form is now a distant memory as they find themselves on a four-match losing streak, highlighted by a diabolical performance against wooden spoon contenders, Gold Coast Titans.
On the back of this defeat, you can’t help but ask, if they couldn’t get across the line against the last-placed Titans when there was still the lure of a finals berth, what motivation is left now?
On the other hand, the Dogs have won two of their past three to keep faint finals hopes flickering. They were very impressive in defeating North Queensland last start.
They need to keep winning and have the teams above falter to have any hope of playing finals footy, but stranger things have happened.
Promising Shark Jayson Bukuya returns after a month on the sidelines, joining Paul Gallen who has been given a lighter week on the training paddock due to a calf complaint. Albert Kelly’s comeback to the NRL has been put on hold with the livewire half turning out in the NSW Cup on Saturday.
For the Bulldogs, Ben Roberts returns at five-eighth, pushing Josh Reynolds back to hooker and Joel Romelo out of the side. Josh Reynolds shifting to hooker presents a threat to the Sharks. He has scored three tries in six games and has the defence in two minds every time he’s got the ball.
Key Stats
• Bulldogs have the better head-to-head record (50-30) between the clubs and have won four of the last five clashes.
• Cronulla have won just four of its past 16 matches against the Bulldogs dating back to the beginning of 2011.
• Bulldogs will be trying to win consecutive matches for the first time since round seven.
• Cronulla has lost 10 from 10 this season when trailing or level at half-time.
• In the 35 matches played between the teams at Toyota Stadium, the Bulldogs have won 18, the Sharks 16, with one draw.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 15, 2011 – Sharks 26-10.
Betting: Sharks $2.15, Bulldogs $1.68
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