The Sydney Roosters are looking to pull off a massive upset when they host the Cronulla Sharks at Allianz Stadium. Join us on The Roar from 7pm (AEST) for all the action.
While their performances have been improving, the wins and losses columns have not got any better for the Sydney Roosters over recent weeks.
They showed they can match it with some of the best teams for long periods but small lapses in their past two weeks against the Bulldogs and Eels cost them two vital wins.
It will be interesting to see whether this has killed off the Roosters’ confidence, or if Trent Robinson can get his side to end the Sharks’ winning streak.
2016 has been a year Cronulla could have only dreamed of when it got underway. After a few turbulent years off the field, Shane Flanagan has moulded a playing group with a good mix of experience and young talent. The Sharks’ dominance has shown as they have built a 13-game winning streak, despite having a number of their stars represent New South Wales in this year’s State of Origin series.
In selection news for the Roosters, Ryan Matterson replaces Jackson Hastings at five-eighth, while Boyd Cordner will start, but Blake Ferguson and Aidan Guerra haven’t been named to back up from Origin.
All five of the Sharks’ Origin players – Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita, James Maloney, Wade Graham and Jack Bird – have been named to back up from Wednesday night, although Fifita has since been ruled out.
An exciting battle to watch out for will be the one between the fullbacks with Ben Barba of the Sharks showing some of the explosive ball running that saw him win the Dally M Medal in 2012, while Roosters youngster Latrell Mitchell is starting to put his stamp on the league.
If the Roosters are to have any hope of scoring a win, they need Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dylan Napa and Boyd Cordner to dominate the forwards battle and lay a platform for Mitchell Pearce to weave his magic.
To secure their 14th win in a row, Cronulla will look to the likes of Barba, Valentine Holmes and Bird to have big games.
Prediction
It’s hard to go past Cronulla in this one.
Sharks by 14 points.
Will the Roosters pull off an upset or will the Sharks chalk up win number 14 in a row? Join us on The Roar from 7pm (AEST).
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Match Report Sydney Roosters 20 def.by Cronulla Sharks 32 The Cronulla Sharks have chalked up their 14th win in a row after a scrappy 12 point victory over the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium. Despite a less then convincing performance the Sharks held their nerve and managed to grind out a crucial win that sees them stay on top of the NRL ladder. Although they led for the majority of the game, there were a few nervous moments for the Sharks in the second half but thankfully for them the Roosters had two tries disallowed by the bunker for an obstruction during a play when Latrell Mitchell looked to have scored and the other for a knock on by Daniel Tupou while grounding the ball. The first half had plenty of momentum swings as both teams came up with a number of errors and it was an error by Gerard Beale that handed Mitch Aubusson the first try of the game for the Roosters. This booted the Sharks into action as their dynamic duo on the right edge Valentine Homes and Jack Bird scored a try each to give their team the lead back. After slotting in to five eighth to start the game, Connor Watson showed a clean pair of heels to run around Chad Townsend and cross for a try that levelled the score. The high flying Sharks went into the half time break with a handy six-point lead after Chad Townsend put Luke Lewis through a gap with a beautiful pass and the veteran forward did the rest to score. The Sharks' lead jumped out to 16 points in the 53rd minute after back to back to back tries to Sosaia Feki and Chad Townsend. But in a frustrating sign for Shane Flanagan, the Sharks struggled to ice the clock and the Roosters jumped on this to score in the 72nd minute through Daniel Tupou who shook off an earlier knock on when he was about to score to reduce the margin to six points. Sosaia Feki capped off a massive night with the match sealing try in the final minute when he capitalised on a poor pass by Ryan Matterson to Blake Ferguson to run the length of the field and score. The win sees Cronulla maintain their position on top of the table while the Roosters are still languishing down in the bottom part of the ladder. After a back and forth game that had plenty of contributors, we have found our three vote getters but Paul Gallen, Daniel Tupou, James Maloney, Gerard Beale and Boyd Cordner all get an honourable mention. The Sharks young half back Chad Townsend was instrumental in his team's win by putting in a great performance in both attack and defence with plenty of great ball running and kicking along with some clutch tackles. Out of the Sharks star studded backline Sosaia Feki was fantastic in attack for Cronulla with 216 running metres, two tries and a try assist. The fifth different five eighth for the Roosters this year, Connor Watson was superb as he utilised his ball running ability to chalk up 151 metres, one try and one try assist in a dynamic performance. Votes: 3 Chad Townsend 2 Sosaia Feki 1 Connor Watson
jamesb
Guest
Cronulla didn't play well, but still won.
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FULL TIME TRY SHARKS Matterson throws a poor pass to Ferguson on the bounce and Ferguson can't pick it up and Feki swoops on it and takes it 95 metres to score. Townsend nails the kick. Roosters 20 Sharks 32 A scrappy win but they get their 14th in a row tonight. Far from convincing against a determined Roosters side but just as they have done all year the found a way to win. A disappointing finish for the Roosters after having a lot of chances in the second half. Let me know who I should have in the votes? Who was the best players? Where was it won and lost? Thanks for joining me tonight, stay tuned for my match report.
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'78 he Roosters win a penalty and will start a new set 40 out in attack. Roosters 20 Sharks 26
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'77 Graham grubbers it into touch. Roosters scrum on their own 10. Roosters 20 Sharks 26
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'76 Pearce kicks across field on the last, but the Roosters knock it on after the bat back by Copley. Sharks ball on their 15. Roosters 20 Sharks 26
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'75 Cronulla cough it up 20 out in attack. Roosters ball. Roosters 20 Sharks 26
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'74 The Roosters get well over half way. Matterson puts up a poor kick on the last and Barba takes it on the full in the in goal. 20 metre restart for Cronulla. Roosters 20 Sharks 26
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'73 TRY ROOSTERS The Roosters capitalise by going left and Mitchell find Tupou on the wing with a great pass and Tupou does the rest. Sio Siua Taukeiaho drills it from the left sideline. Roosters 20 Sharks 26
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'71 Bukuya put in a chip on the fourth and Mitchell brings it back to the 30 The Roosters then win a penalty and then on the next tackle Graham knocks on an intercept attempt and e Roosters get a scrum 40 out. Roosters 14 Sharks 26
The eye
Guest
Manu should be in this team....anywhere..
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'69 Watson puts in a poor kick on the last and the Sharks get a seven tackle set from their 20. Roosters 14 Sharks 26
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'68 Tupou takes the kick by the Sharks and barges his way back to his 30. Roosters 14 Sharks 26
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'67 Copley kicks on the last and Holmes takes it and brings it back to the Sharks' 30. Roosters 14 Sharks 26
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'66 The Sharks go deep into attack. Barba grubbers it on the last and Pearce cleans it up for the Roosters. Roosters 14 Sharks 26
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'65 Pearce puts in a cross field kick that is taken by Tupou in a poor position but he dances around for a bit and barges his a over the line. But it looks as if he loses it when trying to ground the ball. It is awarded a try on field when it is sent to the bunker but they don't like the grounding and rule it a knock on. Sharks will start on their 20. Roosters 14 Sharks 26
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'64 The Sharks put in a kick and the Roosters take it dead. The Sharks attack hard from the drop out but they give away a penalty for an obstruction. Roosters start a new set on their own 35. Roosters 14 Sharks 26
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'61 The Sharks cough it up in attack and the Roosters get it back on their own 30. The Roosters then cough it up just seconds later and Barba has it for the Sharks on their own 40. Roosters 14 Sharks 26
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'60 Blake Ferguson gives the Roosters great field position after a break down the right but he is tackled by Barba 15 out. A couple of tackles later Latrell Mitchell barges his way over to score. It goes to the bunker as a try but the check the obstruction and good thing they checked because there was an obstruction. Sharks ball on their 40. Roosters 14 Sharks 26
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'58 TRY ROOSTERS The Roosters take full advantage of the good field position by swinging it to the left and Connor Watson puts Dale Copley through a gap with a beautiful pass and Copley scores. Latrell Mitchell misses the conversion to the right. Roosters 14 Sharks 26