Sharks
22
Match Complete
Broncos
24
| 75 |  | K. Staggs | ||
| 74 |  | J. Turpin | ||
| 61 | | K. Staggs | ||
| 59 | | P. Haas | ||
| K. Flanagan | | 56 | ||
| J. Morris | | 54 | ||
| J. Morris | | 50 | ||
| J. Morris | | 44 | ||
| 31 | | K. Staggs | ||
| 30 | | T. P. Junior | ||
| C. Townsend | | 17 | ||
| J. Dugan | | 13 | ||
| 8 | | K. Staggs | ||
| 7 | | X. Coates |
| 5 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 4 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The final game of Round 16 will see the Brisbane Broncos travel to PointsBet Stadium to play the Cronulla Sharks on Sunday afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:05pm (AEST).
The Broncos are travelling to Sydney in 14th place with their season in tatters after a 26-12 defeat at the hands of the Knights last week. In addition to missing Corey Oates, David Fifita, Matt Gillett and Joe Ofahengaue to QLD Origin duty, they will have to contend with injuries to Anthony Milford (knee) and Richie Kennar (shoulder). This will be a very tough road trip for the Broncos.
Captain Darius Boyd – who himself is in a season-long form slump – will return to fullback after just one game in the six jersey to cover for the loss of Milford. Back-up hooker Jake Turpin will play in the relatively unfamiliar position of five-eighth alongside second string halfback Sean O’Sullivan in what has to be one of the most unexperienced halves combinations in the competition.
Herbie Farnworth and Xavier Coates will both debut in this game, coming onto the wings in the absence of both Oates and Kennar. Coates has had big wraps on him for a while.
Born in Papua New Guinea, he impressed in his debut for the Kumuls against Samoa two weeks ago at Leichhardt Oval, and won man of the match from the wing in this year’s U18s State of Origin game.
Farnworth’s story is particularly interesting. A sporting prodigy, he was a member of Manchester United’s academy team before moving out to Australia at the age of 14 to chase his rugby league dream.
Showing maturity beyond his years, he was fast-tracked through the U20s, and has been playing for Norths Devils in the QLD Cup since last year at the age of 18. No doubt he will factor into calculations for Wayne Bennett’s England squad sooner or later.
Finally, Tevita Pangai Jr will move to the edge to cover for Matt Gillett, bringing Thomas Flegler into the starting side in the lock position, while mid-season signing Rhys Kennedy will make his Broncos debut after leaving the Rabbitohs just two weeks ago. He comes onto the bench to replace Joe Ofahengaue.
For the Sharks, they are basically at full strength, missing only Wade Graham through Origin duty. He will be replaced by the more-than-capable Kurt Capewell on the left edge, while Aaron Woods has been named to start after returning from injury from the bench last week.
Kyle Flannagan also comes into the side at the expense of Blayke Brailey, who has been named in the 18 jersey.
Prediction
Sharks all day! Twice on Sunday!
They made me look stupid last week when they were unexpectedly defeated by the Bulldogs, but Cronulla won’t allow such a slip up to occur two weeks in a row.
This Brisbane side is the definition of “makeshift.” Turpin in the halves worries me greatly. Being without Gillett, Oates, Fifita and Ofahengaue won’t help either.
It’ll be exciting to see Coates and Farnworth on debut. But that’ll be about the only source of excitement for Brisbane fans in this game. I sense a big win by the Sharks.
Sharks by 20.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 4:05pm (AEST).
Game Information
Where: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
When: 4:05pm
TV: Channel 9, Fox League
Streaming: NRL Digital Pass, 9 Now, Kayo Sports
Sharks
1. Matt Moylan 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Josh Morris 5. Josh Dugan 6. Shaun Johnson 7. Chad Townsend 8. Aaron Woods 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Matt Prior 11. Briton Nikora 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Paul Gallen 14. Kyle Flanagan 15. Jayson Bukuya 16. Jack Williams 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Blayke Brailey 19. Scott Sorensen 20. Billy Magoulias 21. Aaron Gray
Broncos
1. Darius Boyd 2. Herbie Farnworth 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Xavier Coates 6. Jake Turpin 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Payne Haas 11. Alex Glenn 12. Tevita Pangai Jr 13. Thomas Flegler 14. James Segeyaro 15. Rhys Kennedy 16. Shaun Fensom 17. Patty Carrigan 18. Keenan Palasia 19. Cory Paix 20. Patrick Mago 21. Izaia Perese
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Which players back up from Origin will be key and AJ is due back and Sam Burgess is a chance of playing. Everything is up in the air until final team lists and late mail last minute changes. I'm hoping it is an equal and fair contest worthy of a top 5 clash.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Pali, I think Souths will go ok mate. They’re due for a win. They’ll be pulling out all stops. I’ll have to wait until Friday until I’ll commit myself to a tip.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Its got nothing to do with the PM, how can you bring that argument into the Sharks poor performance? You'd say anything!
Renegade
Roar Guru
I thought we were specials for the GF too mate.... but I would’ve like to see us be ruthless the last two weeks, that’s what separates the good from bad....it’s not all over but gee my expectations have taken a hit lol
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
:) from another view, are you really going that badly? I mean, if someone could kick a goal you'd be #2. Yeah, there are some areas to improve but your situation just appears worse because goals are being missed. Hang in there :: Joey reckons you are specials for the big dance... and please.. not chooks and storm again.
Nat
Roar Guru
I've just done mt lap. Started at shark park, to the sharks club, on to Northies and just left the Brass Monkey! Call me the Chad whisperer ;)
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Souths are on the ropes as well ATM with 4 straight losses. Not good enough for a team coming 1st going into that run of poor form irrespective of missing personnel. I'm just hoping that the Rabbits will bounce back like Ali's rope-a-dope and not hang onto the ropes like Joshua because there's nothing left in the tank. SJ is not working in the halves and Flannagan, although raw and inexperienced, always gets involved and gives 100%. Turning 4 points into 6 is very important for teams hoping to be top 4 contenders. Missing 4 from 5 is just setting yourself up for failure. The Sharks MUST improve in this area to take on the top teams IMO.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Agree mate.... Morris left Gallen on the bench for the whole game after 20 mins.... hooked both Moylan and SJ. That tells you he is looking at the past two weeks the same way I am .... unacceptable. I wouldn’t be surprised if he drops a few this week.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I hope you are right mate, they only need to get to september and turn it on for 4 weeks to walk away with it... with the squad they have, it’s possible but the way they’ve performed the past fortnight... getting to September will be the hard part.
Renegade
Roar Guru
The thing is though PS, neither of these games should’ve come down to goal kicking if were being serious.... the sharks aren’t mentally there right now.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I’d love to share your optimism mate but mine has burst a bit. If the losses the last two weeks were against the roosters and storm, we could say we played bad yet still scored more tries and if it wasn’t for bad goalkicking we would’ve won..... but it was against the team coming last and a mediocre broncos outfit missing their origin stars - we should’ve put a score on both. I’ve been very optimistic for this season, we’ve had more injuries than any other side yet the youngsters kept us in the 8 as we waited for everyone to return.... the optimism hit a speed bump last week and has come to a dead stop after today. Something is wrong and I’m not sure what it is but Morris needs to sort it quick... two weeks in a row there has been a lack of effort, execution and intent.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Another great Baby Broncs win. There is a lot of young talent coming through now. Just havr to hope they are good enough to kick on. Plus I hope that bloke who calls himself prime minister is very peed off right now.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Souths will have 3 backing up as well (Cook, Murray and Gagai) and possibly Ethan Lowe as well if Matt Gillett drops out due to injury as predicted. What worries me is that Bennett has said he intends to rest Cook at some point after Origin and the Sea Eagles game would be devastating timing for that to happen. If Cook is out the game will be handed to the Seagulls like an abandoned order of hot chips wrapped in newspaper on Manly beach! Souths simply can't afford to lose 5 straight games. They need to get the train back on the tracks next week for their run to the finals and a top 4 finish to be a strong possibility. On present form the Rabbitohs are a long way off the running but that can all change with one strong performance and a convincing win. Souths need ALL their Origin stars to back up and they also need AJ and Sam Burgess back on deck as well. IF that happens then even without Tom and George Souths will win by 12+.
Big Daddy
Guest
Too far behind. Went for the upsets and it came off. Still too far back.
a
Roar Rookie
Yeah That shows how much they need to work on their goal kicking
a
Roar Rookie
Sharks have goal kicking woes if they had a better one the would of been 10-5 and looked set for the finals instead their season is hanging on by a threat
Rellum
Roar Guru
Thats great as I didn't put in any tips
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Ha ha. Should be a good game. Obviously we’ll need Jurbo, Turbo and DCE to pull up ok from the Origen game ( I’m a bit worried about that ). I’d go, but it’s being played out in Dubbo or Homebush or whatever it’s called. Too far from the sea air.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
AFAICT, that's the first time in history a team has lost three in a row when scoring more tries.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
It could be worse. Four straight losses is no fun let me tell you.