The Cronulla Sharks head north for a tough assignment against the unpredictable Gold Coast Titans in the last game of round 21. Join us from 7pm (AEST) for live coverage on The Roar.
Cronulla head into this game on a 15-game winning streak, easily their longest, and closing in on the record of 19 set by the 1975 Roosters.
The streak has been built on a ruthless defence and a thirst for points that means when they get ahead, they want more.
They may not find it so easy to run up the score against the Titans, who are able to deny their opposition the ball through their high completion rate (around 80%) and have surprised many with their play this season.
Mid-season recruits Nathan Peats and Konrad Hurrell have given the Titans an attacking boost, although Peats is battling a hamstring concern and at time of writing is a 50-50 chance to take his place.
Greg Bird returns to the side from suspension but Nathan Friend is out and with Peats under a cloud, the Titans find themselves up against it at hooker. This is not a good thing when the opposing number 9 is the irrepressible Michael Ennis.
For the Sharks, James Maloney is back at five-eighth and will slot seamlessly into a side full of weapons like Jack Bird, Valentine Holmes and Ben Barba, who have been huge attacking threats.
Not much was expected of the Titans (again) in season 2016, but they have banked wins over teams in a similar ladder situation and are a genuine finals chance. They will fancy themselves to challenge to Sharks at home, but need to be switched on from the kickoff.
Prediction
There’s a real chance the Sharks could blow the Titans off the field, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Gold Coast will steel themselves for a test against the best in the comp.
Sharks by 1 in golden point.
Join us from 7pm (AEST) for live coverage on The Roar!
Muzz
Guest
Keary should fill that void nicely next season. Souths should sign Hastings. He's a son of a gun.
Simon
Guest
Sham alright! The tackle was not completed. Field goal should have counted. Cost me 150K that call...
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
My thoughts exactly regarding James Maloney.
Dan
Guest
That's a pretty harsh penalty count against the Titans. Plenty of tackles where the Sharks overworked the ball carrier that were worth penalising.
V.O.R.
Guest
Ha, ha Muzz, least you got something out of this year. Congratulations.
Josh
Roar Rookie
If either coach had won you'd hear nothing of it.
AJ Mithen
Expert
A quick addendum... Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has gone off in his press conference, saying that both teams were offside and infringing at marker during golden point. He called golden point a 'lottery', that 'there are no rules in golden point" and that the referees had thrown the rules out. Paul Gallen noted that the referees had "put the whistle in the pocket". Neil Henry was a bit more circumspect, but he seems to be of the same opinion that referees don't want to call penalties in golden point that may decide a game. And so begins this week's rugby league reporting!
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Point taken.
Muzz
Guest
Cugel, Scroll down brother man. http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/nrl/records.html
AJ Mithen
Expert
You my have a point, Sleiman... :)
Josh
Roar Rookie
you could almost give all 34 guys out there a point tonight.
AJ Mithen
Expert
Just disgraceful how they've scheduled the later part of the season, isn't it. They've burned any chance to build real excitement before the finals. Just mind boggling.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Impossible task but I think you've nailed it AJ.... Wade Graham was outstanding when the game was on the line.
Muzz
Guest
McQueen is a handy player and is having a great season. Which club was silly enough to let him go?
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Guppies still on a undefeated streak though, except the record here is a mind numbing 35 by Easts in the 30s.
AJ Mithen
Expert
I thought it was a pretty quick call first glance Paul, but Holmes had fallen forward so I guess the ref figured nothing was going to happen... There was a slight hesitation before Maloney slotted the field goal as well.
AJ Mithen
Expert
STATS and VOTES POSSESSION: Titans 47%, Sharks 53% LINE BREAKS: Titans 3, Sharks 3 PENALTIES: Titans 6, Sharks 11 TACKLES: Titans 402, Sharks 395 RUN METRES: Titans 1737, Sharks 1650 ERRORS: Titans 7, Sharks 7 This was a really, really tough game to give votes for, you could give about 20 players a mention but here we go. Let me know how I've gone... Votes: 3- Wade Graham: Graham was stellar tonight. His night is best explained by his play with ten to go, when he took the ball from the end line and made it back into the field, carrying three Gold Coast tacklers with him. That was a critical play at a critical moment. He hit 32/34 tackles and ran for 241 metres into the bargain as well. 2- Greg Bird: He was a colossus for the Titans, keeping the Sharks in check across the middle of the field and he also gave the Titans some serious drive with ball in hand when their other forwards went a little cold. 1- Andrew Fifita: He gave the Sharks the spark they needed in the second half. Made sure he was involved in everything (good and bad) including scoring the game's last try. (Special mentions to Zeb Taia, Ben Barba, Chris McQueen, Tyrone Roberts, Michael Ennis, James Moloney, Josh Hoffman. I could go on and on and on...)
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
The draw was a draw-draw.
Muzz
Guest
Good luck Renegade. A Sharks v Storm GF would be epic!
paul
Guest
How can the refs call the tackle on Holmes completed so quickly? What a sham. Look out Sharkies you'll get robbed again.