When good, the NYC Sharks are very good, backed up by three 50-plus point performances in 2017, 312 points scored in total and a differential 144 in the positive.
On the other hand disappointing losses in matches they had every opportunity to win and a 30-all draw in another extremely winnable contest against competition leaders Penrith, might make coach John Morris a little nervous ahead of a clash with the 14th placed Tigers.
The talent in the Sharks line up has been there for all to see, with consistency now set to be the goal in Saturday night’s contest and in the weeks ahead.
The Sharks come into the game following a 52-16 drubbing of the Gold Coast Titans, a team that was entrenched in the top eight before the big Cronulla win last weekend.
On the other hand, the Tigers managed a draw against the Bulldogs to move to five points, a total that has them in 14th spot and desperate for some wins If they harbour any ambitions of claiming a place in the finals come September.
Last week it was again the forwards leading the way, with plenty of help coming from the Sharks strong running wingers Sione Katoa and Johnathan Tufuga and with the team on the front foot, Jack Williams and Kyle Flanagan managed to direct traffic and do their thing in the halves.
Flanagan in fact added to his Holden Cup-leading points tally with 20 against the Gold Coast, taking his season total to 112, 26 points ahead of his closest pursuer, while Katoa sits fifth in the running metres statistical category showing his worth out on the Sharks right wing.
The Gold Coast win represented an excellent performance and other than letting their guard down in conceding two late Titan tries, was amongst the Sharks most complete efforts of the season to date.
For this week’s match the Sharks have made just one change, Isaac Lumelume coming back into the side to replace Jesse Ramien who has earned a call-up into the Newtown Jets Intrust Super Premiership team.
Otherwise the side it intact, with Morris needing to make some decisions as to the final make up of his interchange bench with seven players named and four required.
The 20-man Sharks Holden Cup team is listed below, with the match to get underway at 5.15pm.
NYC Team List – Round 9
Sharks v Tigers
Saturday, April 29
Leichhardt Oval
Kick-off – 5.15pm
1 William KENNEDY
2 Sione KATOA
3 Isaac LUMELUME
4 Bessie AUFAGA-TOOMAGA
5 Johnathan TUFUGA
6 Jack WILLIAMS ©
7 Kyle FLANAGAN
8 Ryan KING
9 Blayke BRAILEY
10 Brock ILETT
11 Briton NIKORA
12 Tony MATAUTIA
13 Billy MAGOULIAS
Interchange
14 Eddie FAALUA
15 Kalani PEWHAIRANGI-CHARLIE
16 Zachary FAULKNER
17 Joshua CARR
18 Clayton UIA
19 Lane FERLING
23 Brody HAWKINS
