Sharks ready to challenge competition heavyweights

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Fri 22 Jul 2022, 05:28 PM

A Panthers side on the back of eight straight wins, up against a Sharks team having registered five victories in succession, the last two against top four opponents, points to a blockbuster clash at the foot of the mountains on Saturday night.

The Sharks head to Penrith for perhaps their most difficult test of the season to date, against a Panthers outfit that rested their seven Origin players last weekend yet still came away with a win over the Tigers.

Dale Finucane and Cam McInnes were under no illusion as the enormity of the task facing them this weekend, however the two senior Sharks weren’t shying away from the challenge.

“I’m very confident if we play our style of footy we can compete with anybody,” McInnes said.
“You’d have to live under a rock to not know what a good side (Penrith) are and they’ve been consistent for more than a year now.

“So, we’ve got to give them respect, but its about what we do, we’ve got to play our footy. That’s what we can control.”

Echoing his teammates sentiments, Finucane realised his team needed to build on its past two victories over highly rated opponents and to try and lift their performance to another level against the defending premiers on Saturday.

“It’s obviously going to be a tough game. We’ve had a tough couple of weeks playing Melbourne then the Cowboys, those games were a challenge, although they were (both) missing a number of their key guys,” Finucane said.

“But given these guys have everyone back and they’re well rested, it’s probably the biggest challenge we’ve had to date.”

Added to the quality of the opposition the Sharks are set to face, is the prospect of a full BlueBet Stadium in Penrith, with the home fans loud and intimidating in trying to get their team across the line.

“It’s going to be a good atmosphere. When a team’s playing well, they always fill it out (their stadium) and it’s always good to play in those types of environments,” he said.

While an understrength Panthers beat the Tigers 16-12 at their most recent outing, with a team minus the likes of Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Isiah Yeo and Brian To’o, the Sharks come into the contest on the back of a triumph over the second-placed Cowboys.

The win may have been impressive on the scoreboard, however McInnes was of the belief his team still had plenty of improvement in them.

“I don’t think we were that good last weekend. Our completion rate wasn’t up to standard, but it’s good to win under those circumstances,” McInnes added.

While the Panthers welcome the return of their Origin stars, the Sharks add Siosifa Talakai to their team for Saturday’s match, although on the downside they will be without Sione Katoa who underwent surgery earlier this week to repair a pectoral injury.

Connor Tracery shifts from the centres to the wing in allowing Talakai to come back into the side.

Also returning for the Sharks is Kiwi backrower Briton Nikora after he missed the Cowboys win due to a one-match suspension. Teig Wilton shifts back to the interchange bench.

In the head-to-head stats for games played between the two clubs, the Sharks hold a slight advantage, having won 52, the Panthers 42, with three of the 97 matches drawn.

More recently Penrith has held the upper hand, having won four of the past five against Cronulla, however the Sharks did win the last meeting, a 19-18 victory in Round 14 last year when a Shaun Johnson field goal proved the difference.

At Penrith’s home ground, the Panthers have won the past three matches between the two teams.

The Panthers sit eight points clear of the field at the top of the NRL ladder with 34 competition points, having lost just once in 2022, with the Sharks third (on for-and-against) on 26.

The Sharks have trimmed their squad down to 19 ahead of tomorrow’s match, featuring the 17 as selected on Tuesday, along with Braydon Trindall and Aiden Tolman who have been retained on the extended reserves bench.

Kick-off is at 5.30pm at BlueBet Stadium, with the two 19-man squads listed below.

Round 19 - Round 19 - Saturday 23 Jul

Full Time

Panthers

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
Winger for Panthers is number 2 Taylan May

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Connor Tracey
Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Panthers is number 4 Stephen Crichton

Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai
Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan
Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf
Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Panthers is number 16 Matthew Eisenhuth

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Royce Hunt
2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Viliame Kikau

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Wade Graham
Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Dale Finucane

Interchange

Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Mitch Kenny

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Teig Wilton
Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Scott Sorensen

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Cameron McInnes
Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Jaeman Salmon

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Braden Hamlin-Uele
Interchange for Panthers is number 19 Spencer Leniu

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Andrew Fifita