Sharks to tackle Tigers in Tamworth

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Fri 12 Aug 2022, 05:28 PM

During the past month, now continuing in the run into the finals, every game has seemingly had a big bearing on the Sharks push towards a Finals berth, with their round 22 clash with the Tigers promising more of the same.

Playing a team sitting 15th but with a renewed enthusiasm in recent weeks under the guidance of interim coach Brett Kimmorley, the Sharks will need to again be near their best to claim the two competition points and keep themselves in the running for a top four finish.

To be played at Scully Park in Tamworth, the wet weather has unfortunately followed the two teams north from Sydney, with heavy rain falling in the lead up, however coach Craig Fitzgibbon feels like his team has plenty of recent experience in similar conditions.

“We seem to have had a lot of games in the wet, as most teams have, and we’ve performed OK,” Fitzgibbon began. “You still want to bring a style of footy you’d like to play, but you have to be aware of the conditions and not chance your arm too much. But we still want to play our brand of footy.”

As for playing a regional centre, Fitzgibbon looked back at the positive experience of their recent match on the NSW North Coast and was sure the players were looking forward to the atmosphere created in Tamworth tomorrow night.

“We had a game in Coffs Harbour this year for the second season. The regional environment is fantastic,” Fitzgibbon explained. “You get out of the big cities and see how much passion there is for rugby league and it has a really good feel to it. Smaller grounds compact stadium filled with passionate fans, it makes for such a great environment.”

While the game and the two points are critical, also having an impact on Sharks preparations has been the sudden and tragic death of former player Paul Green.

A teammate at the Roosters, then a fellow assistant coach in the years to follow, Fitzgibbon joined the rugby league community in offering his condolences to Green’s wife Amanda and his family.

“When something like this happens it stops everyone in their tracks,” he said. “We had a small internal tribute this morning and spoke about playing with the same spirit and heart Greeny did. He’ll definitely be at the forefront of our minds tomorrow night.”

In team news, Sharks centre Soisifa Talakai will be missing due to a shoulder injury, his place taken by Matt Ikuvalu, while Andrew Fifita has remained in Sydney and makes way in the 17 for Royce Hunt.

Both players are expected to be available for the Sharks next match against the Sea Eagles.

The Sharks come into the game on the back of a 24-18 win over the Dragons, their seventh win from the past eight games, while the Wests Tigers went down by 14-10 to the Newcastle Knights.

In the 34 matches played between the two clubs since the Balmain Tigers and Wests Magpies became the Wests Tigers, the joint venture holds a slight advantage, with 18 wins as compared to 15 by the Sharks, with one draw.

In more recent times however it has been all in the Sharks favour, with Cronulla winning eight of the past nine games, the past four decided by 12 points or more

This will be the third game for the Tigers at Scully Park, having lost to the Knights in 2014, while defeating the Titans in 2019. It is fourth NRL match to be played at the venue, with the Knights defeating the Warriors in 2020.

The Sharks, who sat in third before slipping back one position as a result of the Storm’s Thursday night win over the Panthers, can finish in the top two should other results go their way (they need to win two more games than the Cowboys), while a victory against the Tigers will keep them with a two point buffer from those in the chasing pack and closer to locking up a top four spot and guaranteeing a top eight finish.

On the flip side, the Tigers are 15th following the loss to Newcastle last weekend which was their 16th defeat of the season.

Adding some extra interest to the contest, the Tigers coach Kimmorley played 140 matches for the Sharks from 2002-2008, playing 18 games against Cronulla coach Fitzgibbon.

The pair faced off in the 1999 Grand Final, with Kimmorley’s Storm side beating Fitzgibbon and the Dragons.

In player milestones, Cameron McInnes will play his 150th NRL match, having debuted in the NRL in 2014 while at Souths.

McInnes would play 39 matches for the Rabbitohs from 2014-2016, before joining the Dragons and playing 91 matches for St George Illawarra from 2017-2021.

He debuted at the Sharks in round two of the 2022 season.

Two of the players to oppose the Sharks this weekend began their careers in Cronulla colours, with Tigers hooker Fa’amanu Brown playing 24 games for the Sharks from 2014-2017, utility Tyrone Peachey seven matches in 2013.

The Sharks v Tigers match is scheduled for a 5.30pm kick-off at Scully Park, with the two teams listed below.

The Sharks have retained Kayal Iro and Jesse Colquhoun on the extended reserves list, in addition to the inclusion of Hunt and Ikuvalu into the 17-man squad.

Round 22 - Round 22 - Saturday 13 Aug

Full Time

Wests Tigers

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 Kade Dykes
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Brent Naden

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Lachlan Miller
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 James Roberts

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Asu Kepaoa

Centre for Sharks is number 22 Matt Ikuvalu
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Starford To'a

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jock Madden

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 James Tamou

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Fa'amanu Brown

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Zane Musgrove

Prop for Sharks is number 19 Royce Hunt
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 18 Luke Garner

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Wade Graham
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Joe Ofahengaue

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Dale Finucane

Interchange

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Fonua Pole

Interchange for Sharks is number 10 Braden Hamlin-Uele
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Austin Dias

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Teig Wilton
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Tom Freebairn

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Cameron McInnes
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Tyrone Peachey

Interchange for Sharks is number 21 Jesse Colquhoun