Round 4 - Sharks vs Storm
Friday Night - 8:05 PM
30th March
Shark Park
The Sharks have started the year in average form however that means precisely nothing. At Cronulla's home, we will need to continue to improve. The two late tries last week somewhat masked some lingering concerns.
Our back three need to be on the same page.
Our completion rate needs to be better.
We need to show up with enthusiasm and intent.
And to top it off, if someone can iron Gallen and/or Fifita out, that would just be stupendous...
30th March
Shark Park
The Sharks have started the year in average form however that means precisely nothing. At Cronulla's home, we will need to continue to improve. The two late tries last week somewhat masked some lingering concerns.
Our back three need to be on the same page.
Our completion rate needs to be better.
We need to show up with enthusiasm and intent.
And to top it off, if someone can iron Gallen and/or Fifita out, that would just be stupendous...
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Danger D
- Thunderstorm
- Posts: 922
- Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2015 12:08 pm
- Location: Living next door to Alice
Sharks are the new Manly in that they're my favourite team to hate. Hope we put a cricket score on them but I think it will be more of a grind type of affair. I suspect there will be a number of penalties blown Friday night.
Sharks have a big strong forward pack.
https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/03/26/mel ... s-rivalry/
Ever since Michael Ennis sledged Cameron Smith in the 2016 Telstra Premiership decider, Melbourne Storm's clashes with the Cronulla Sharks have had extra intensity.
Whether it's extra niggle or a few verbal barbs traded during press conferences, the rivalry has built rapidly and looks set to continue on Friday night at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
The Sharks will call upon Andrew Fifita, Paul Gallen, Matt Prior and Luke Lewis, the latter likely to return from a foot injury, to shut down a rebuilding and comparatively youthful Storm pack.
Storm prop Christian Welch has experienced this rivalry over the last two seasons and says it is born out of a mutual respect.
"I suppose being a front-rower, I look at the Sharks' front row in Prior, Gallen and Fifita, and they're certainly close to the benchmark front row in the competition," Welch said.
"I suppose we're always aiming up on them. There's always that Queensland and NSW rivalry with our rep players against theirs."
Fellow forward Joe Stimson played in 2017's close loss at AAMI Park (an 11-2 defeat in round six) and said Cronulla's physicality is what makes them such a challenge.
"They are an experienced forward pack, very physical and an aggressive team, so we have to try and match that, and hopefully get through the next 80 minutes," he said.
https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/03/26/mel ... s-rivalry/
Ever since Michael Ennis sledged Cameron Smith in the 2016 Telstra Premiership decider, Melbourne Storm's clashes with the Cronulla Sharks have had extra intensity.
Whether it's extra niggle or a few verbal barbs traded during press conferences, the rivalry has built rapidly and looks set to continue on Friday night at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
The Sharks will call upon Andrew Fifita, Paul Gallen, Matt Prior and Luke Lewis, the latter likely to return from a foot injury, to shut down a rebuilding and comparatively youthful Storm pack.
Storm prop Christian Welch has experienced this rivalry over the last two seasons and says it is born out of a mutual respect.
"I suppose being a front-rower, I look at the Sharks' front row in Prior, Gallen and Fifita, and they're certainly close to the benchmark front row in the competition," Welch said.
"I suppose we're always aiming up on them. There's always that Queensland and NSW rivalry with our rep players against theirs."
Fellow forward Joe Stimson played in 2017's close loss at AAMI Park (an 11-2 defeat in round six) and said Cronulla's physicality is what makes them such a challenge.
"They are an experienced forward pack, very physical and an aggressive team, so we have to try and match that, and hopefully get through the next 80 minutes," he said.
https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/03/27/cro ... 4-preview/
A 2016 grand final rematch as the Cronulla Sharks go head-to-head against the Melbourne Storm.
The Storm returned to the winners circle after a round three victory over the Cowboys but will be sweating on the fitness of Kenny Bromwich.
At Cronulla, Matt Moylan's hamstring injury is likely to keep him out of this clash although Luke Lewis could potentially make a return from his plantar fascia injury.
A 2016 grand final rematch as the Cronulla Sharks go head-to-head against the Melbourne Storm.
The Storm returned to the winners circle after a round three victory over the Cowboys but will be sweating on the fitness of Kenny Bromwich.
At Cronulla, Matt Moylan's hamstring injury is likely to keep him out of this clash although Luke Lewis could potentially make a return from his plantar fascia injury.
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Storm Spirit
- Tropical Cyclone
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- Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:49 am
- Location: Under the Black Dot
It would be "miracle" for Lewis to play that quick after a planter fascia injury based on what I have seen of this injury in other sports peopleCameron wrote:https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/03/27/cro ... 4-preview/
A 2016 grand final rematch as the Cronulla Sharks go head-to-head against the Melbourne Storm.
The Storm returned to the winners circle after a round three victory over the Cowboys but will be sweating on the fitness of Kenny Bromwich.
At Cronulla, Matt Moylan's hamstring injury is likely to keep him out of this clash although Luke Lewis could potentially make a return from his plantar fascia injury.
Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time
Smith out, Bromwich in
Luke Lewis and Matt Moylan named.
Sharks: 1 Josh Dugan, 2 Sosaia Feki, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Valentine Holmes, 6 Matt Moylan, 7 Chad Townsend, 8 Andrew Fifita, 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Matt Prior, 11 Luke Lewis, 12 Wade Graham (c), 13 Paul Gallen (c)
Interchange: 14 Kurt Capewell, 15 James Segeyaro, 16 Avagalu Seumanufagai, 17 Joseph Paulo
Reserves: 18 Kurt Dillon, 19 Trent Hodkinson, 20 Edrick Lee, 21 Braden Uele
Storm: 1 Billy Slater, 2 Suliasi Vunivalu, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Brodie Croft, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11 Joe Stimson, 12 Ryan Hoffman, 13 Dale Finucane
Interchange: 14 Tim Glasby, 15 Kenny Bromwich, 16 Christian Welch, 17 Sam Kasiano
Reserves: 18 Young Tonumaipea, 19 Patrick Kaufusi, 20 Ryley Jacks, 21 Brandon Smith
Luke Lewis and Matt Moylan named.
Sharks: 1 Josh Dugan, 2 Sosaia Feki, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Valentine Holmes, 6 Matt Moylan, 7 Chad Townsend, 8 Andrew Fifita, 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Matt Prior, 11 Luke Lewis, 12 Wade Graham (c), 13 Paul Gallen (c)
Interchange: 14 Kurt Capewell, 15 James Segeyaro, 16 Avagalu Seumanufagai, 17 Joseph Paulo
Reserves: 18 Kurt Dillon, 19 Trent Hodkinson, 20 Edrick Lee, 21 Braden Uele
Storm: 1 Billy Slater, 2 Suliasi Vunivalu, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Brodie Croft, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11 Joe Stimson, 12 Ryan Hoffman, 13 Dale Finucane
Interchange: 14 Tim Glasby, 15 Kenny Bromwich, 16 Christian Welch, 17 Sam Kasiano
Reserves: 18 Young Tonumaipea, 19 Patrick Kaufusi, 20 Ryley Jacks, 21 Brandon Smith
