After a convincing win over the Newtown Jets at their last start the NSW Cup Sharks have an opportunity to move further up the competition table when they take on the fifth-placed Mounties team on Saturday.
Sitting seventh and just two points in arrears of Mounties, the Sharks will no doubt be targeting this game as a chance to move towards an all-important top four finish.
The Sharks have again named a team with a mix of youth and experience, with Nathan Gardner back on deck, replacing young gun Valentine Holmes. Both fullbacks have been in sparkling form for the Sharks in recent week, with Gardner rewarded with selection in the NSW Cup Rep team to take on Queensland ahead of Origin Game 3 on Wednesday night.
Also in the Sharks favour this weekend will be the fact that they field a forward pack featuring four of the six players with extensive NRL experience, while with Tim Robinson and Tupou Sopoaga named on an extended NRL bench this weekend, they could be strengthened even further come game day on Saturday.
The Sharks v Mounties match is scheduled for a 5.00pm kickoff at Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday.
NSW Cup Team List – Round 18
Sharks v Mounties
Saturday, July 12
Belmore Oval
Kickoff - 5.00pm
1 Nathan Gardner
2 Travis Robinson
3 Josh Portlock
4 Blake Ayshford
5 Young Tonumaipea
6 Penani Manumalealii
7 Daniel Holdsworth
8 Dayne Weston
9 Scott Sorensen
10 George Rose
11 Junior Roqica
12 Sione Masima
13 Matt Prior
INTERCHANGE
14 Kurt Drysdale
15 Michael Morris
16 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
17 Ben Chahoud
