The St George Illawarra Dragons are out to make it six wins in a row when they take on the Cronulla Sharks at WIN Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 7:50pm (AEST).
Along with the New Zealand Warriors, the Dragons are the form team of the competition. While we saw something similar in the early stages of last season, the Red V may just be the real deal in 2018.
Ben Hunt has proven an astute signing, giving Gareth Widdop the freedom to play what’s in front of him. Of course, the backline can’t perform unless the forwards are making metres and with Jack de Belin in career-best form and a pack boasting James Graham, Paul Vaughan and Tyson Frizzell, Paul McGregor’s big men are winning the battles in the middle.
The Sharks, on the other hand, have had an indifferent start to the season, with gritty wins against Parramatta and the Storm more than counteracted by some disappointing losses. Their completion rate and the infringement issues of 2017 have carried through so far into this season.
With injuries to Matt Moylan and Josh Dugan, Cronulla have been struggling to field their best 17, although should get close to that tonight, having named arguably playing their best backline so far this year. Whether the attack clicks or remains disjointed, due to the number of changes, will become clear as the game progresses.
The two sides have already met once this season, with the Dragons overcoming a 14-point in the Shire to record a win in Round 2. The Sharks will be hungry for revenge, however their record at WIN Stadium is not good.
Prediction
After five straight wins, the Dragons may be due for an off week and their performance against the Rabbitohs last week probably adds some weight to that. However, it is a local derby and both sides will be ready to play.
Dragons fans will have bragging rights this season with their team winning by 8.
St George Illawarra by 8.
andrew
Guest
Hard luck Mrs force, go cry in your latte.
andrew
Guest
Good win by the Dragons, shame the Warriors lost. Wonder who will be the favourite when they clash in a few days time in NZ ?
steveng
Roar Rookie
This game was a forgone conclusion after Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita and Wade Graham were injured. The Sharks were hanging in there in the first half and should have been leading. In the second half, the Sharks just fell apart. The problem that I have with the referees in 2018 and with their stamping out on certain aspects of the game are (as I’ve said before) we had Sam Burgess get 2 weeks for an elbow in a run up against the Dogs and Prior on report, for a dubious call for a high tackle but, you have a bloke like Tariq Sims who week in and week out does a allot of dubious things and especially goes after ‘the little blokes’ e.g. like mainly halfbacks who kick the ball. In last night’s game, he elbowed Townsend neck, which was worse than what Sam Burgess did and got 2 weeks for, then Sims takes out Townsend late again, similar to what he did to Reynolds the week before and he never gets penalised and/or put on report. Where is the justice? As consistency and fairness is not one of the referee’s strong points!
souvalis
Guest
Please don’t confuse the shire with 2 people...that would be like me generalizing all Melbourne fans still have not got over the ‘16 GF shattering loss...when in reality it’s only one person..
i miss the force
Guest
Paul tome for you to grow up
i miss the force
Guest
bitter
i miss the force
Guest
you might want to watch the game again and realise the ref was your best
i miss the force
Guest
ref was your best player
i miss the force
Guest
so 3 players getting injured during a game equals the Newtown Jets ? bitter
DP Schaefer
Guest
Dragons have a good group behind the scenes. Millward doing a great job with recruitment. Most of this Dragons squad locked up for 2 years. Their fitness people keeping the squad healthy, no big injury concerns.
DP Schaefer
Guest
What goes around comes around. Last week against South Nene had two tries disallowed that should have been awarded. The refereeing is woefully inconsistent but even then almost every team cops the good and bad of it over time.
JVGO
Guest
Wade had done a hammy on both those tries and went off soon after the second one, hence the holes. Only came back in the second half be cause Gal and Fifita were already gone. I wouldn't get too excited about beating the Newtown Jets just yet.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The result might have helped, but that's the most I've enjoyed myself at a live game for a long time. 18000 fans there, absolutely sensational atmosphere and both teams very willing. Thought the Sharkies were very brave in the face of injury, but their left-edge defence is woeful. Dragons defence a bit off on the edges as well, but the better team won. Matt Dufty is a freak.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Crowds keeping away? Tell that to the 18,000 who were there tonight.
Kenw
Guest
What for? Which of the Shark's injuries would you claim came from foul play?
farqueue
Guest
Almost as bad as last year when the sharks beat the dragons with a forward pass Tom Brady would have been proud of and a try scored after Graham knocked on in play the ball.... they only scored one real try...that loss cost the dragons a spot in the semis.
JVGO
Guest
The inconsistency and hypocrisy is appalling. The Nightingale incident was as obvious as Fifita's lost ball. Saints wrapped up the match on top of that call. They forensically analyse Holmes for a possible micro finger tip then miss a blatant in touch and an obvious forward pass. Friday the 13th for the Sharks. They need to find a forward pack somewhere for the rest of the season. The Jets will be in big trouble too. There will be no one left. Brailey is now our forward leader.
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Stating clear fact mate look at the Broncos Jai Arrow,Hunt,Moga,Marshall,Ese Ese,Blair have the premiership Dragons it is theirs to lose.
Paul
Guest
Video ref can call a dubious knock on from Fifita but don't even check if Nightingale is in touch. Shades of the VH try in origin, at least 20 cameras but only one viewed. ACCC are you watching?
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Great game, Dragons had to win that by a few after the Sharks injuries. Big test coming up with the Storm and the in form Warriors,Sims has given the pack a bit of mongrel and big Nene is in career best form.