1. Hardened Gallen braves battle scars after another tough performance.
Inspirational Sharks Captain Paul Gallen returned from his Origin post to lead his side, doing so by the only means he knows how.
An emphatic 120-plus metres inside the game’s opening quarter set the tone for the Sharks early, before the Skipper took a well-earned spell on the sidelines.
Coming back for a big second stint, Gallen’s 24 tackles in the middle of the field shored up the Sharks’ defence, which proved enough to hang on for an eventual 12-point win.
2. Work of the pack’s support crew not lost.
While Gallen lead from the front, the Captain had his backers in the form of the side’s fellow big men – namely Matt Prior and Chris Heighington.
Combined, Prior and Heighington accrued 23 hit ups for 210 metres, and made 41 hard-hitting stops in defence.
In the absence of Andrew Fifita, Prior and Heighington were required to lift – and that they did.
3. NRL’s Bunker bounces in the Sharks favour.
Two ‘No tries’, though ruled as good on-field, against the Roosters proved the difference at the end of the 80 minutes.
Though seemingly the correct calls from the men in the Bunker, the decisions swung the match’s momentum at crucial times to see the Sharks off the hook.
4. Barba’s last-touch proves golden once more.
Three vital last-touch try assists to Ben Barba had the Sharks right in the thick of the contest, and well on top heading into the game’s final quarter.
Playing a hand in the tries of Holmes, Bird and Feki’s first, Barba continued on in his fine form as seen against the Panthers in Round 18.
Though Wade Graham was named the broadcaster’s ‘Man of the Match’, Barba’s efforts against the Roosters were sure to catch the eyes of the Dally M judges, as voting heats up towards the season’s end.
5. Sharks streak continues, and 15 straight looks well within reach
With a host of Knights players cited by the Match Review Committee, and or set to miss their side’s venture to Southern Cross Group Stadium on Sunday, the Sharks are again heavily favoured to continue their winning run.
Although not to look too far ahead, the Sharks most certainly won’t be looking in the rear vision mirror either – With a 62-point win over the Knights back in Round 10 now a distant memory.
