The Cronulla Sharks will aim to remain in contention for a top-four finish when they face a South Sydney Rabbitohs outfit whose season is dead and buried. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 7:50pm (AEST).
The Sharks have been patchy of late in winning just two of their last five games, their most recent defeat culminating in a surprise 30-10 thrashing at the hands of the 12th-placed Titans.
Despite enjoying almost 60 per cent of possession in the opening half, Shane Flanagan’s men showed no inspiration in attack.
It wasn’t until eight minutes from full-time – with the Titans leading 30-0 – that the Sharks crossed for their first try of the game.
Their defence was also a shadow of what was seen last year and they dropped a lot of ball, which has been a running trend this season.
In defence of the reigning premiers, they were without James Maloney as Jack Bird partnered Chad Townsend in the halves.
Deadlocked with the Sea Eagles and Cowboys on 26 premiership points, and sitting in fifth on the ladder, the Sharks will be out to salvage a win in order to bolster their top-four chances.
The fact a tricky away match looms with the Warriors next week makes tonight’s clash all the more important.
On the other side of the ledger, the 14th-placed Rabbitohs will look to make amends for a 23-10 loss to the Cowboys in Cairns when they meet the Sharks.
As has been the story all year, ill-discipline cost the Bunnies as they fell to their second consecutive loss.
They only completed at 68 per cent, conceded eight penalties to North Queensland’s five, and – most worryingly – missed 40 tackles.
Michael Maguire will want to see a much more inspired performance from his troops as they look to salvage pride over the remaining seven rounds of the season.
Prediction
If the Sharks are a shot at pulling off back-to-back premierships, they should have no trouble in disposing of the Rabbitohs.
Maloney, who has recovered from what was a brutal Origin series, will regain control of the team tonight as his side looks to continue their march towards September.
Expect a Cronulla outfit that’s full of fire in the aftermath of last week’s humiliation.
Sharks by 14.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 7:50pm (AEST).
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
A wins a win, however Flannagan will not be happy with the scrappy performance.Bombing at least 4 tries is not a good look. Letting the opposition offload at will,creating deep inroads is untradesman like. Holmes safe under the high ball.Gallen and Lewis playing as they always do talking it to the defence.Maloney was smart at times, but generally the team was a bit meh. The only way yeti team will get anywhere near a G/F is play similarly to the Central Coast style they exhibited against the Politis Poultry.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Another scrappy win for my Sharks. They will need to work on their consistency if they are to challenge at the end of the season. When they are on this year they are almost unstoppable, but it's only coming in spurts this year. Their only really complete game was the win against the Storm in Melbourne. Hopefully they can get that back again over the next 6 weeks. The Bunnies are done and really should rest Crichton as well if he has a busted foot.
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Scrappy game of footy with the refs allowing a lot of holding and general rule breaking. Souths are already thinking about Mad Monday and coach Maguire has a dead man walking look about him. The Sharks will have to improve a great deal if they are to challenge the Storm.
Zachary Gates
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME: SHARKS 26 DEF RABBITOHS 12 Thanks for joining me for another live blog tonight, Roarers. Enjoy what remains of Round 20 as the top eight continues to take shape.
steveng
Roar Rookie
That should have been a penalty, weak and grubby!!!
Zachary Gates
Roar Guru
78 | TRY, SHARKS, RICKY LEUTELE Maloney pokes through a perfectly weighted grubber on the Sharks' left edge and Ricky Leutele races through for another Cronulla four-pointer! The Blues five-eighth makes no mistake from the tee. Sharks 26 Rabbitohs 12
steveng
Roar Rookie
That Burns you wouldn't feed him, what a poor effort to stop that try and palm it off into the in goal
Zachary Gates
Roar Guru
76 | Sharks back on the Rabbitohs' line and in with a chance to improve their for and against. Maloney dabs a short kick through as Cronulla forces a drop-out. Souths attempt a regather on a short drop-out but the Sharks come up with the goods! They can now really stick the boot in here. Sharks 20 Rabbitohs 12
Rob
Guest
Prior is a grubby prowler. He has hurt a lot of blokes with tipping or leg grabbing tackles 3rd man in. He tore Woods groin earlier in the year.
Zachary Gates
Roar Guru
74 | Sam Burgess leaves the field after being crunched in a tackle by Matt Prior. May have done something to his ribs there. His night's done. Sharks 24 Rabbitohs 12
Zachary Gates
Roar Guru
73 | The Sharks go tantalisingly close to extending their lead but Segeyaro can't hold on to the ball in front of the posts! Sharks 20 Rabbitohs 12
Zachary Gates
Roar Guru
72 | FROM BAD TO WORSE Adam Reynolds sends it into the stands off the kick-off! Sharks 20 Rabbitohs 12
Zachary Gates
Roar Guru
71 | TRY, SHARKS, GERARD BEALE The former Dragon hands the Sharks the lead when he dots down to the right of the posts! Maloney adds the extras. Sharks 20 Rabbitohs 12
Zachary Gates
Roar Guru
67 | Wade Graham puts too much into a grubber down the left touchline as the Rabbits take off for a seven-tackle set. Reynolds kicks for Burns on the Rabbits' right edge but the winger isn't able to take grasp of the ball! Nearly hit the lead there. Sharks now with a seven-tackle set. Sharks 14 Rabbitohs 12
Zachary Gates
Roar Guru
60 | Souths with a crack on the Sharks' line but come up with a disappointing last-tackle option as Reynolds puts in a kick with too much oomph. The Sharks' outside backs launch their side into Souths territory with a number of lightning-quick runs. Sharks 14 Rabbitohs 12
Rob
Guest
They should lose possession for not getting to their feet. Good call ref.
Zachary Gates
Roar Guru
56 | The Sharks find themselves on the Rabbits' line but Fifita isn't able to hold on to the pill! Souths scrum on their own line. Sharks 14 Rabbitohs 12
Zachary Gates
Roar Guru
53 | TRY, RABBITOHS, JOHN SUTTON The former skipper barrages over to the left of the uprights! Drags four over the line. Bunnies back in it! Reynolds adds the two. Sharks 14 Rabbitohs 12
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
Grubbiest player in the comp, most penalised and never sin-binned.
Zachary Gates
Roar Guru
50 | The Sharkies lose the ball over the left touchline 15 metres out from the Bunnies' line. Souths feed the scrum before they march up-field. Damien Cook has a wily scoot from dummy-half before his side earns a repeat set of six! Sharks 14 Rabbitohs 6