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Sixth plays eighth when the Cronulla Sharks host the Newcastle Knights at Remondis Stadium, in a game with big implications for the shape of the top eight. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7.30pm AEST.
After an early season with more disruptions than Paul Gallen passing through customs, the Sharks have recovered well and find themselves in a position reflective of their pre-season expectations.
The ASADA controversy is far from behind them (as Gallen’s mid-week hiccup shows), but the Shire boys seem to have found a way past those ongoing concerns and now sit comfortably four points inside the eight.
They could push their claims for a top four place with a win here tonight.
The Knights, meanwhile, are teetering right on the brink.
After an exhausting golden point draw with the Broncos last start, they find themselves on 23 points, the Warriors and Titans snapping at their heels on 22.
Both of their chasers face difficult away challenges this week, but that won’t matter to the Knights – they’ll be desperate to take the two points here or risk dropping out of the eight.
They have a clear advantage in the backline – the Novocastrians’ back five are powerful, quick and skilled, and when they’re on their games they can break the line seemingly at will.
Cronulla, on the other hand, do much of their damage up the middle – the likes of Andrew Fifita, Paul Gallen and Michael Gordon all average around 150 metres per match and lay a great platform for Todd Carney late in the sets.
Speaking of Gordon, his goalkicking could be a major factor in this one. One of the game’s premier sharpshooters, he averages over 90%, while Tyrone Roberts hovers around 75% for the Knights.
Conversions cost Newcastle dearly against the Broncos last week, and while they no doubt have plenty of tries in them, it’s always disheartening to cross the stripe more times than your opponent and still find yourselves on equal terms.
The Knights will be buoyed by the returns of Kade Snowden and James McManus. They missed Snowden’s go-forward last week, while McManus has been a pointscoring machine on the left wing this season.
That said, the Sharks are also expecting a return in the shape of NSW rep Luke Lewis, bringing their forward pack – arguably the most potent in the NRL – back to full strength.
Either way, this should be a cracker of a contest between two sides battling to prove themselves as contenders in 2013.
If the Knights can open things up with some good early ball to their outside men, they could easily gain the upper hand – but I’m tipping the Sharks to get home on the strength of their pack and Carney’s cool hand.
Can the Sharks prevail and push their claims for a top four place, or will the Knights come out on top and give themselves some much-needed breathing room as we head towards September?
Join us for live scores and commentary from 7.30pm AEST, and be sure to let us know your thoughts if you’re following along.
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