The Cronulla Sharks take on the St. George-Illawarra Dragons tonight in one of the true local derbies of the modern game. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7.30pm AEST.
Cronulla have been flying in recent weeks with three wins on the trot, a major sponsorship deal signed and a newfound belief at the club.
Meanwhile, the Dragons have had a strong enough start to the season with three wins from five, but they’ve so far failed to convince pundits they’re the genuine premiership threat of years past.
Either way, form tends to go out the window in a match like this. This is reflected in these teams’ head-to-head history; despite the Dragons’ success and the Sharks travails over the past decade, neither side has stamped its authority on this fixture.
For Cronulla, the workmanlike talents of Paul Gallen have been key as always, but it’s the injection of playmaking class that has arguably made the difference so far.
While he’s yet to show the Dally-M medal winning form of 2010 with the Roosters, Todd Carney has managed to come up with the big plays when they counted — something the Sharks have lacked in recent years.
As far as team news goes there’s only one change for Cronulla, with Jon Green added to an extended bench.
St. George-Illawarra have named the same side as last week, though there are whispers Matt Cooper may be called into the side at the last minute — we’ll let you know as news comes to hand.
On paper, the Dragons definitely have the advantage in the backs, and if the likes of Brett Morris and Jason Nightingale can come up with big performances that will go a long way to a Dragons’ win.
If the Sharks’ can control the ball, however, I think they’ve got the firepower in their forwards to get on top here.
Can the Sharks make it four on the trot or will the Dragons once again assert themselves as the premiership contenders of recent years?
One thing’s for sure — it’s going to be a cracker. Join us from 7.30pm AEST for live score updates and debate on our live blog, and be sure to give us your opinion in the space below if you’re watching.
Adam
Roar Guru
Cheers Matt, thanks for following!
Alan
Roar Guru
Great victory for the Sharks. Although Brisbane look more classy, the Sharks are playing the tougher football and look the team most likely to go for pound for pound with Melbourne at the moment. Long season ahead though.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 That concludes tonight's live coverage of Sharks vs. Dragons on The Roar. Thanks for joining us!
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 FT -- What a win to the Sharks. The Dragons asked plenty of questions in the first half and even more in the second and the Sharks' goal-line defence was pretty much impenetrable. A late try to Nightingale was disallowed when it looked like it could have gone in the Dragons' favour, but at the rate they were going they would have had a hard time nabbing a second anyway. That's four wins in a row for the Sharks and there's a real look of belief in this football side that has had very little to smile about in the last few years. The fans at Toyota Park are going mental after this one and nobody could deny after tonight that the Sharks are a genuine top eight team.
Matt_S
Roar Pro
Great commentary, thank you. Up up Cronulla, one of my fav team victory songs.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 80' Back on here and a field goal attempt from Carney hits a Dragons player on the back -- definitely not the same quality of strike that he pulled off last week, but it doesn't matter in the end -- that's full-time and the Sharks get a standing ovation from their fans with a memorable win in the local derby.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 79' Gardner being carried off here... could be disastrous news for Sharks fans with the game all but over.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 79' Nathan Gardner with a knee injury here -- everyone thought he was showing a bit of last-minute gamesmanship but it actually looks like he may have done some damage, and he's had knee problems in the past...
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 79' Vidot with a 30m run off the kick return but he spills the ball and Sharks will get one more chance here before full-time.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 78' Sharks work it out from their own 20m line -- only two minutes remaining now and the Sharks look to have wrapped this up.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 76' John Morris finds touch for the Sharks 30m out from the Dragons' line.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 75' Dean Young off-load goes to ground and the Sharks show a greater willingness to get to the ball to come up with possession.That sums up the Sharks' attitude today and surely that'll be enough to close out the game for the home team.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 74' Dragons receive a deferential penalty from the scrum base -- jeez there's been a few of those this weekend! Refs must be cracking down...
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 74' Wade Graham puts Jeremy Smith through a hole but the pass was well forward -- Dragons with possession and the Sharks fail to deliver the knock-out blow.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 73' Dragons literally look like they've run out of ideas -- everything they throw at the Sharks is being thrown right back at them. Sharks survive another set of six and they have possession and will look to close the game out here with a big set working it from their own line.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 72' Dragons with another attacking set but the Sharks hold strong. They're dominating possession and field position the Dragons but they're running out of time fast. Can they find something?
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 70' Soward's kick on the last is way too deep and the Sharks hold them out yet again. The Dragons simply cannot find a way through this Sharks defence -- it's a brick wall.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 68' Soward goes high and the Dragons come down with it -- it touched a Shark so it's six again!
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 67' NO TRY! That's a tough one -- looked like Benefit of the Doubt at the very least. Dragons fans will be filthy but the Sharks survive yet again.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live Score Sharks 12 - Dragons 0 66' VIDEO REFEREE! Nightingale has crossed in the corner but did he go into touch?