The Cronulla Sharks will be in the hunt for their first win this afternoon as they travel to the Sydney Football Stadium to take on the Sydney Roosters. Join The Roar from 3:30pm (AEDT) for live scores.
If the Roosters want to win, they must improve on last week’s completion rate of 72 per cent and cut back on the errors. James Maloney will need to push hard to prove he has what it takes to play for Country come May.
Currently in last place, this game is a must-win for Cronulla after they fell to the Titans last week in the dying stages of the game.
The Roosters will surely send plenty of kicks down young Valentine Holmes’ throat, who must step up to prove he is the next big thing.
The Roosters young pack will aim to spoil the experienced pack from the Shire’s Easter Sunday encounter. Paul Gallen and his troops sense blood in the water and will use their muscle to push forward and come away with a win. Michael Ennis also needs to prove he is still one of the best hookers in the game.
The two backlines should providing some blinding encounters as well.
For the Chooks, Papua New Guinea winger Nene MacDonald will move on to the flank to cover for Blake Ferguson, who is sidelined for four months with ligament damage to his right foot. Shaun Kenny-Dowall will move to the centres. In the only other change for the Roosters, veteran recruits Willie Manu and Lagi Setu have been added to a six-man bench.
As mentioned, Holmes will move to fullback for the Sharks as Michael Gordon shifts back to the wing. Wade Graham will move into the back row with Jack Bird to wear the No. 6 jersey. Andrew Fifita has been demoted to the bench, as Matt Prior has been moved into the starting prop role.
In the 32 matches played between the Roosters and Sharks since 1998, the boys from Bondi have won 20 matches while the boys from the Shire have won 11, with one draw. Last time the two teams met, the Sharks came back from 24-0 to beat the Roosters 28-30.
Prediction
The Sharks need their forwards to muscle up if they are to be any chance against the Roosters. With Jack Bird at five-eighth however, I can’t see the boys from the Shire coming close to their first win.
Sydney will look to their forward pack to win the game and require young Kumuls winger Nene Macdonald to bring some attacking flair to the field.
Roosters by 14.
Join The Roar from 3:30pm (AEDT) for score updates and debate in our live blog.
Benny
Guest
According to Pearce haters every game he plays is a pressure one because I wouldn't exactly consider a game against the sharks a pressure game....
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Rumour has it they have the sponsors willing to take up the space but are waiting to find the perfect fit.
David
Guest
I wouldn't right off Ben Barba just yet, Trevor, As a Sharks Fan it was a good win for moral as well as confidence. but as they say one swallow doen't make a summer, and they have to back this win up with another this Friday night, against Newcastle Its great when you get to watch players at the start of their careers in the case of Valentine Homes and Jack Bird , both players will i', sure be around for some time and play a lot of first grade. Pretty sure the coach has plans for Barber when he comes back, maybe fullback, Gordon on the Wing, Valentine on other wing rotating with Gordon at various stages at fullback, with jack bird retaining his spot at five eight imagine Barba chiming into the backline through a space created by bird. Fantasy maybe so, but we always live in hope.
Jacksyd
Guest
I didn't realise that winning a GF is all that makes it a good season. In that case 21 good seasons is all they have had, NRL or any other. How has your team fared? LOL
Maroon Blood
Guest
I found Warren saying several times that a lot of the Sharks players look alike a bit odd. Maybe reading too much into it but it sounded a bit strange.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Well done Sharkies getting there first win, however what is with the blank Jersey space ? I realise they are without a major sponsor but it looked very ordinary. Why not put a charity partner in the space ?
SpongeBob
Guest
Let's put it this way - if they were Souths they would be pages of comments screaming for the officials to be sacked. Heck, Souths had just 2 'contentious' calls (and I would argue only 1 was wrong which was the Inglis 'strip'), a drop compared to today. But everyone loves to hate Souths right now and the Roosters are pretty up there too of late, so all is well. Stats are meaningless without seeing the game, there's no stat "how many tries were called back for forward passes yet worse let go", "how many times someone should have been penalised yet weren't".
Trevor Whitton
Roar Rookie
Agreed. He had a blinder - played like a captain (no disrespect to Paul Gallen). The other positive was R T-S. Finally saw what he is capable of at fullback.
HarryT
Guest
I thought that the Sharks lost their composure after Ennis left the field because of the head clash (Rabbit supporters will call it a deliberate flying head butt) and regained it when he returned to the field for the last five minutes. He could be a good buy for the Sharks.
jamesb
Guest
Barba, IMO still has a future in the NRL. Needs to work out what position he fits in at the Sharks, or go to a club that needs a fullback.
Trevor Whitton
Roar Rookie
3 interesting points to come out of the match: 1. Jack Bird - what a find. Transformed his side. Bye bye Barba - may never play NRL again. 2. One of the worst performances by a halves pairing I've seen in recent times. Pearce and Maloney bombed about 4 tries between them and made far too many mistakes (I'd like to see the stats on Pearce's missed tackles). Pathetic kicking game - surely they're now off Laurie Daley's radar. A pity, but really an unforgivable performance under pressure. 3. Ray Warren badly needs to retire. Much of the match is spent explaining to him what just happened. To be fair to P & M, all the NSW halves hopefuls had very disappointing weekends (even the usually reliable Adam Reynolds). Perhaps we should just ignore this weekend and see what happens next week?
up in the north
Roar Rookie
What a win. In my opinion a round of upsets. Damn.
pjm
Roar Rookie
Confidence? Send him back to work on his skills.
Steve
Guest
Wow...that is a truly pathetic turnout for 2 Sydney teams. No excuse either....beautiful day and a public holiday tomorrow. Rooster fans should be ashamed of themselves.
jamesb
Guest
Crowd 12,004
eagleJack
Roar Guru
We are truly awful this year. Ive never ever considered getting a spoon, but geez if we don't turn things around we are a chance.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Oh wow, we are too :) I didn't see the manly game yesterday, but of a shock that result. Yep, on holidays mate... Struggling to adjust to times still. Feeling stuffed but glad I got up for this one! Cheers EJ, I'm off to bed.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Why. What does he offer off the interchange. Send him back to NSW cup to get his confidence back. Should have happened last year in Brisbane.
Renegade
Roar Guru
That's still unfair.. For a team that dominated every stat and had a completion rate of 86% to say a 6-4 penalty count assisted them is rubbish. I'll bag the side as I have at times this year when they play like amateurs but no one can try and discredit them for today.... Far too good and the shoreline didn't reflect the game, still struggling in creativity other wise they should have won by 20 plus.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
They were the better team I agree Rene. But luck plays a huge role in winning a game, and Flanno said as much just then. Well done mate on the win. You are now above Manly..... Aaaaargh Enjoy NYC - on holidays?