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The Newcastle Knights and Cronulla Sharks will both be searching for their first competition points of the season when they do battle at Hunter Stadium this afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 3:00pm (AEST).
Injuries matter in rugby league – just ask either of these two sides. They have been ravaged thus far in 2014.
For the Knights, the absence of Jarrod Mullen and Darius Boyd has been felt most acutely, while the Sharks have been missing the likes of Luke Lewis, Paul Gallen, Todd Carney and (through suspension) Andrew Fifita.
Carney returned last week and Fifita is back on deck this week, timely boosts for the boys from the Shire.
Injuries aside though, these sides have also been failing to get the basics right in their opening rounds.
The Knights have conceded an average of 12 penalties per match – including a whopping 15 against the Storm last week. It’s an unusual lack of discipline for a Wayne Bennett-coached side.
Meanwhile the Sharks have been completing at an average of 69%, the lowest in the NRL so far this season.
The question is, which of these sides can turn it around today?
While Carney will be better for the run and the return of Fifita is significant, I still feel the Sharks’ squad looks a little light on, particularly in the outside backs where Newcastle are very strong.
Providing they can put in a more disciplined performance, I feel the Knights will be too good today.
Knights by 12.
As a side note, starting from today and for the remainder of the season all Knights players will wear Alex McKinnon’s name and club number on their jerseys in a show of support for the 22-year-old after the devastating injury sustained last week.
Which of these sides will lift themselves from the bottom of the NRL ladder?
Join us this afternoon at 3:00pm 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.
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