Electrifying right-sided wingers, Sharks and Souths flyers Valentine Holmes and Alex Johnston are again set to cause plenty of troubles for their opposition defences.
Ahead of tonight’s venture to ANZ Stadium, we look at how the pair have fared this season, with just three regular-season matches to play.
Before the weekend’s action, Holmes sat atop the NRL’s leading try tally with 17 tries, with 21 linebreaks to his name (2nd in the NRL) from his 20 appearances.
Johnston meanwhile has battled injury and non-selection to feature in just 15 games this season, crossing for nine tries at a rate of 0.6 tries per game.
In a match where territory will be hard-fought and metres put at a premium, the work of both men inside their own end will be just as – if not more – important than that in finding the line.
Not one to shy away from the ‘tough’ carries early in the set, Holmes has averaged in excess of 130 metres per game in 2016, with Johnston’s figures reading lesser (84 metres p/g).
Though with his side having recorded a strong win against the Warriors last weekend, Johnston said he’s feeling fit and ready ahead of the Sharks clash tonight.
“I’m feeling pretty good, the team has performed pretty well the last two weeks, we’re looking to just continue that form,” Johnston said.
With two tries to his name inside the last two weeks, Johnston said it’s ‘hard work’ that has brought about the recent points.
“I’m just doing my job, if the tries come, they come.”
