Barba charged by match review committee
Sharks five eighth Ben Barba has been charged by the match review committee for two separate and seemingly innocuous incidents stemming from the game against the Melbourne Storm on Saturday night.
Barba was charged with a grade one throw on Melbourne centre Kurt Mann in the 27th minute of the match, while he was again in the spotlight, charged with dangerous contact for sliding in feet first when winger Marika Koroibete crossed for a try wide out in the 44th minute.
Both charges attract 112 points for an early plea, 150 points if Barba challenges and is unsuccessful, while in addition he has 65 carry over points, meaning he could miss one, two or three weeks depending on his guilt or innocence on both charges.
The Sharks have until tomorrow to decide whether to fight the charges or to accept the suspension.
The charges come at the worst possible time for the Sharks who after a slow start to their 2015 campaign face a must-win game against the Gold Coast this Saturday.
The Sharks v Titans match is scheduled for a 5.30pm kick off at Remondis Stadium.
Jets victorious, now venue change
Congratulations to the Newtown Jets for notching their first win of the 2015 season when they got the better of the Penrith Panthers by 24-8 at Pepper Stadium last Saturday.
The match was marred by controversy, with Sharks and Jets fullback Nathan Gardner assisted from the field, then into an ambulance after suffering a head-knock which resulted in Panther Adam Docker being sent from the field.
Both side were inconvenienced by the incident, with Docker leaving his team with just 12 men, while the Jets were forced to reshuffle the backline in the absence of Gardner with a host of players required to play the match out of position.
The Jets next assignment is against the Manly Sea Eagles, with the match now to be played at Leichhardt Oval after the Brookvale surface was deemed unfit to play.
Kick off to the Jets v Sea Eagles game will be at 5.00pm.
Junior League Round
Mitch Brown and Wade Graham talked of their junior league experiences in promoting the official Junior League Round on NRL.COM and through Sharks digital channels last weekend, however with the Sharks returning home in round 4, we now get our chance to celebrate junior league on Saturday night.
A big night of junior league activities are planned, with on field games and displays a part of on field entertainment prior to and at half time of the Sharks v Titans match.
The junior league season is about to get underway, with trials this weekend and the season proper starting after Easter. If you haven’t already and would like to play junior league in 2015, get down to your local club and sign on.
Visit the Cronulla-Sutherland junior league website to find a club near you. http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?assoc=1127
Game Day Parties
Hold your next birthday party or special family event at a Sharks home game with Game Day Parties available at Remondis Stadium in 2015.
Limited to one Game Day Party at each home game during the season, check out the 2015 draw and act now to secure your suitable date, combining a Remondis Stadium Sharks game with your special occasion in creating a unique party experience.
A Sharks Game Day party includes ground entry tickets, priority access to match day rides and activities, as well as catering options. Conducted in an allocated area on the family hill, you also have an outstanding vantage point to watch the Sharks in action.
Party sizes start from a minimum of 20, up to 50-plus, with a whole range of add-ons available to ensure that unique birthday party experience.
To find out more, including prices, go to the Sharks website link - http://www.sharks.com.au/community/parties.html
Sharks in the News
In Sharks news form the weekend, it might not make great reading however below are a couple of match reports from the Sharks loss to the Storm at AAMI Park, while the Sydney Morning Herald has weighed into the Todd Carney debate as to whether the former Shark would be welcome for a return to the NRL.
In other news, ex-Shark Penani Manumalealli has been thrown a lifeline, with the Wests Tigers signing the half-five eighth for the 2015 season.
Match report – ABC News.com – CLICK HERE
Match report – SBS.COM – CLICK HERE
Sharks not pushing Carney return – SMH – CLICK HERE
Penani signs with Tigers – CLICK HERE
