The NYC Sharks aren’t likely to lulled into a false sense of security despite the fact their rivals this weekend are languishing in 12th position on the competition ladder.
Against a team which is traditionally a Holden Cup powerhouse, with the Roosters having won the under-20’s title in 2016, the first-placed Sharks will be on high alert ahead of a game to be played at Central Coast Stadium tomorrow morning.
The Roosters in fact will turn up on Saturday with up to 10 players from their premiership winning team, including Nat Butcher and Victor Radley, two youngsters who have also been named on an extended interchange bench for the NRL match later in the day.
However, despite the challenge the Roosters are set to bring this Sharks side has so far handled most of those to have come before them this year, as emphasised by their 12 win, two loss record to date.
After a record-breaking 84-6 win in round 15 against the Wests Tigers the Sharks were pushed all the way in a 34-30 victory over Manly at their last start.
While probably not at their best the Sharks managed to bank another two points courtesy of the win over the Sea Eagles and now sit on 27, one clear of the Dragons and two better than Penrith on the current Holden Cup ladder.
In one forced change to the Sharks line up this week energetic forward Josh Carr will watch on from the sidelines after being handed a one-match suspension, however easing the pain prop Brock Ilett returns following a two-week judiciary-enforced holiday of his own.
Otherwise the Sharks side is intact, with John Morris needing to trim his seven-man bench down to just three an hour before kick-off tomorrow.
The match is scheduled to get underway at 10.45am on Saturday morning, with Fox Sports showing a live telecast of the game for those fans unable to make the trip to Gosford.
The Sharks 20-man squad is listed below.
NYC Team List – Round 17
Sharks v Roosters
Saturday, July 1
Central Coast Stadium
Kick-off – 10.45am
1 William KENNEDY
2 Sione KATOA
3 Isaac LUMELUME
4 Clayton UIA
5 Joshua TUILAGI
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 Johnathan TUFUGA
17 Zachary FAULKNER
18 Jackson FERRIS
19 James ROUMANOS
21 Jaeman SALMON
