While most attention surrounds the NRL clash between the Sharks and Dragons, two exciting match ups in the lower grades are set to compliment the big game and deliver a feast of football action this Saturday at Remondis Stadium.
The return of Todd Carney is set to enhance the Sharks chances in the NRL, however fans are encouraged to get to the stadium early to catch some of the up and coming stars of the game in action.
In the NYC, Valentine Holmes will again lead the charge for the Sharks, with his six tries in just two games this year helping to deliver to two wins from their two starts this year for the under 20’s team.
Similarly, the Dragons have jumped out of the blocks in the NYC and like the Sharks it has been their fullback leading the way. Matt Dufty scored four tries in his teams opening round victory over the Tigers, before snatching a fifth four-pointer when his team beat the Warriors in round two.
The player who wins the fullback battle could go a long way towards deciding the result on Saturday.
In the NSW Cup, it doesn’t appear to matter too much who coach Tony Herman puts out of the field, they somehow continue to find a way to win. The NSW Cup Sharks, the defending competition premiers, sent an SOS out to joint venture partner Melbourne last week to help bolster their team and despite being down on scored a gutsy 20-12 win over the Tigers.
That win made it two from two in the early going this season and they will be intent on keeping the winning run going when they host the Cutters on Saturday.
Alternatively, their opponents this week the Illawarra Cutters, the Dragons NSW Cup feeder team, with a win and a draw so far this year, will keen to claim a big scalp and to inflict the first defeat on the Sharks so far this year.
And all that before the huge local derby clash between a somewhat beat-up but extremely determined Sharks NRL team and a Dragons side riding high after consecutive wins to start their season.
The NSW Cup game gets the afternoon underway at 2.40pm, followed by the NYC at 4.40pm, then the main game commencing at 7.00pm.
Tickets are still available, with limited numbers of reserved seats remaining. Fans of both the Sharks and Dragons are encouraged to pre-purchase tickets on-line to avoid queues, with on-line purchases providing a saving on the entry price on game day.
On the membership front, a special NRL Members Round prize will also be given out on the day to two lucky Sharks members. The prize includes tickets to the 100th State of Origin game in Brisbane later this year, with airfares and accomodation.
Members must be present at the game on Saturday night, with the prize winners to be announced during half time of the game.
So be a part of the action, three games of footy highlighted by the local derby, Sharks v Dragons, this Saturday at Remondis Stadium.
