The Newtown Jets and NYC Sharks are both on the road this weekend, with matches away from home against strong opposition.
The Jets travel across the Tasman for a game against the competition leading Warriors at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday, with the Holden Cup Sharks playing the Melbourne Storm, but at an unlikely venue in the Sunshine Coast Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
Like the Jets the young Sharks will have their work cut out for them, up against a Storm outfit with four wins from their first five matches.
See the current team lists and match previews for both games.
Newtown Jets
The Newtown Jets travel to Auckland this weekend determined to put an end to the New Zealand Warriors’ unbeaten record in 2017.
It would appear a tough ask for a Jets side that has two wins from its five starts this season, however when casting an eye over the Newtown team list, the visitors are certainly capable of turning the tables and causing an upset.
The mood in the Newtown camp this week was said to be upbeat and buoyant and as one player said at training on Thursday night, “tell our supporters to tune in to Fox League 502 at 9.30 this Sunday morning – we all have a very good feeling about this game.”
The Jets will again have the services of a number of Sharks contracted players, with the likes of Edrick Lee, Jordan Drew, Sam Tagatease, Fa’amanu Brown and Tony Williams set to wear the Newtown blue again on Sunday.
Williams has been knocking on the door of NRL selection, with the NSWRL website naming him in the Intrust Super Premiership team of the week four of the five weeks of the competition so far.
Kick-off is scheduled for an 11.45am kick off local time (9.45am in Sydney) with Fox Sports televising the match live.
NSWRL Intrust Super Premiership NSW – Sixth Round
Sunday, 9th April 2017
Mt Smart Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
New Zealand Warriors (played 5, won 5, 10 points, 1st place) v Newtown Jets (won 2, lost 3, 4 points, 7th place)
Kick-Off: 9.45am (Australian Eastern Standard Time).
The Fox League 502 live coverage begins at 9.30am (AEST).
Referee: Kasey Badger. Touch Judges: Shane Rehm and Nathan Parker-Pringle.
Newtown’s team (as of Friday) is:
Edrick Lee, Matt Evans, Jordan Drew, Jesse Ramien, James Tuitahi, Penani Manumalealii, Fa’amanu Brown, Kurt Dillon, Kurt Kara, Sam Tagataese, Tony Williams, Jayden Walker, Joseph Paulo. Bench: Jaimin Jolliffe, Jack Williams, Kenny Niko, Manaia Cherrington, Leigh Higgins, Tepatasi Fuiavailili. Coach: Greg Matterson.
New Zealand Warriors:
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Fetalaiga Pauga, Matthew Allwood, Semisi Fotu, Tuimoala Lolohea, Samuel Cook, Mason Lino, Patrick Sipley, Jazz Tevaga, Albert Vete, Otahiki Ogden, Bunty Afoa, James Bell. Bench: Reece Charlie, Tevita Satae, Taniela Palavi, Paulos Latu, Matthew Sauni, King Vuniyayawa. Coach: Rick Henry.
Here is the NSWRL ISP NSW Fifth Round Team of the Week: http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2017/04/05/isp_nsw_team_of_the_.html
NYC Sharks
A 32-22 win over the Knights, following on from a disappointing loss to the Parramatta Eels, has most good judges struggling to predict the form of a Sharks team which has been somewhat hot and cold over the first five rounds this season.
A loss on the opening weekend to the Broncos, then two big wins over the Raiders and Dragons over the next two rounds had everybody excited about the Sharks prospects and despite the Eels loss that should still be the case with the talent coach John Morris has at his disposal.
The Sharks assumed control of the Newcastle match during the second half, however against a Storm side which slipped to their first loss of the season just last weekend, will need to be on their game for the full 80-minutes should they hope to come away with a positive result.
In their favour the Sharks will trot out a side similar, if not identical to, the team which beat the Knights, with Morris naming the same 17 players.
On his extended bench he also has all bases covered and will make final decisions as to the make-up of his team and the squad set to travel north to Queensland, following their Captains Run late tonight.
As for their opponents, the Storm enjoyed a strong start to the season with four consecutive wins, before going down to the Panthers last weekend.
The Storm sit third on the Holden Cup ladder, the Sharks are fifth.
The Sharks play the Storm at the Sunshine Coast Stadium on Saturday, with kick-off at 2.45pm.
The Sharks 20-man squad (to be trimmed to 17 an hour before kick off tomorrow) is as follows.
NYC Team List – Round 6
Sharks v Storm
Saturday, April 8
Sunshine Coast Stadium
Kick-off – 2.45pm
1 William KENNEDY
2 Sione KATOA
3 Isaac LUMELUME
4 Bessie AUFAGA-TOOMAGA
5 Johnathan TUFUGA
6 Jack WILLIAMS ©
7 Kyle FLANAGAN
8 Daniel VASQUEZ
9 Blayke BRAILEY
10 Brock ILETT
11 Briton NIKORA
12 Ryan KING
13 Billy MAGOULIAS
Interchange
14 Zachary FAULKNER
15 Eddie FAALUA
16 Tony MATAUTIA
17 Joshua CARR
18 Lane Ferling
19 Kurtis Shayler
20 Kalani PEWHAIRANGI-CHARLIE
