One team flying high and looking to ride the momentum, against an opponent smarting after an embarrassing loss and aiming to restore some pride, sets up an intriguing round 19 NRL Telstra Premiership clash at CommBank Stadium on Thursday night.
The Sharks scored 50 points for the first time against their local rivals in a one-sided affair last weekend, while a few days later the Wests Tigers were hurting after conceding a club-record score in Townsville.
However, despite the recent contrasting fortunes of the two teams, Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon expects a positive reaction from the Tigers in the game to be played a CommBank Stadium tomorrow night.
“That performance (from last week) will obviously get picked apart this week, but they’ve been competitive in the majority of their games and they’ve also had wins against strong opponents this season,” Fitzgibbon said.
“We’re not taking them lightly and you always show your opponent respect. We want to make sure we bring a real strong version of our own game and the parts I’ve been trying to improve, to make it a difficult night for them.
“But we’re expecting a response,” the coach added.
The Sharks weathered an early storm and were then far too good in racking up 50 points against St George Illawarra, however an injury and a suspension has forced two changes on the Cronulla side.
Braden Hamlin Uele is unavailable due to a rib injury, suffered in the opening minutes of the win over the Dragons, his place to be taken by the returning Toby Rudolf, while Dale Finucane misses the next two games after being suspended for a dangerous throw.
In a reshuffle, Cameron McInnes has been promoted to the starting side at lock, with young forward Jesse Colquhoun called up and into the Sharks 17-man squad.
“We managed to get some footy into Toby last week at Newtown and it’s good to have him back. He’s a real important part of our middle.
“It’s also a good opportunity for Jesse Colquhoun to come onto the bench. He’s been one of the Jets more consistent performers and he’s earned the right to play this weekend,” Fitzgibbon said.
Since the merger of Balmain and Western Suburbs to create the Wests Tigers, the two clubs have met on 35 occasions, the Sharks having won 16 matches and lost 18, with one game drawn.
Of late the ledger has tipped in the Sharks favour, the Cronulla side winning the past three, and nine of the last 10 games.
The two teams have played one game at CommBank Stadium, with the Wests Tigers 28-16 victors, in what was the Covid restart round in May of 2020, representing their only win against the Sharks in the past 10 fixtures. The Sharks have won three of five games at CommBank Stadium, including their two most recent matches.
As for Tigers coach Tim Sheens, his record in matches against the Sharks is strong, having won his past four, and 13 of 14 games while in charge of the Wests Tigers coaching against Cronulla.
The teams come into the contest on the back of two vastly different last start performances, the 52-16 win by the Sharks the first time they had scored 50 points since Round 23, 2021, which ironically was a 50-20 win over the Wests Tigers in a match played in Rockhampton.
The 52 points was the Sharks highest score since a 62-0 victory over Knights back in 2016.
The Sharks have scored 40 points or more in four games in 2023, with the club record of five games achieved in both the 1999 and 2001 seasons.
In relation to the Wests Tiges, their 74-0 loss to the Cowboys was a club record, the third biggest loss in Premiership history and the equal third most-points conceded.
Now 17th on the NRL ladder, with a three-win, 12-loss record, and a minus-155 differential, the Tigers have lost their last four matches.
In player stats, Ronaldo Mulitalo has crossed for 15 tries, equal third most this season and two shy of his career best of 17 from 2022. He has scored in each of his past two games at CommBank Stadium, while Nicho Hynes leads all players in the NRL when it comes to line break assists.
Will Kennedy has 13 tries from his 15 matches played, one short of the 14 he scored in his Monty Porter Medal winning season of 2021.
The Sharks and Wests Tigers are scheduled to kick off their round 19 match at 7.50pm at CommBank Stadium, with the two 19-man squads listed below.
Match: Wests Tigers v Sharks
Round 19 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Sharks
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream BulaFullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Asu KepaoaWinger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Starford To'aCentre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Tommy TalauCentre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Junior TupouWinger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
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Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 19 Will SmithFive-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan
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Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Brandon WakehamHalfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes
Forwards
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano UtoikamanuProp for Sharks is number 8 Oregon Kaufusi
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Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jake SimpkinHooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 David KlemmerProp for Sharks is number 10 Toby Rudolf
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 John Bateman2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
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Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Fonua PoleLock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes
Interchange
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Tallyn Da SilvaInterchange for Sharks is number 14 Jack Williams
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Shawn BloreInterchange for Sharks is number 15 Wade Graham
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex SeyfarthInterchange for Sharks is number 16 Jesse Colquhoun
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Aitasi JamesInterchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton
Reserves
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Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Justin MatamuaReplacement for Sharks is number 19 Braydon Trindall
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
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