Round 22 Warriors v Cronulla Sharks

[TITAN PETE]

SUNDAY

Warriors v Cronulla Sharks at Mt Smart Stadium, 2:00pm (local). #NRLWARCRO

WARRIORS: Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou, Ben Henry, Lewis Brown, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Shaun Johnson, Russell Packer, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Feleti Mateo, Elijah Taylor, Sebastine Ikahihifo. Interchange (from): Carlos Tuimavave, Sione Lousi, Jacob Lillyman, Steve Rapira, Ukuma Ta?Ai

SHARKS: Matthew Wright, John Williams, Ricky Leutele, Colin Best, Nathan Stapleton, Todd Carney, Jeff Robson, Mark Taufua, Isaac De Gois, Ben Ross, Jeremy Smith, Anthony Tupou, Paul Gallen. Interchange (from): Andrew Fifita, Tyson Frizell, John Morris, Jayson Bukuya, Jon Green, Sam Tagataese

[Rage]

Nicholas Janzen NRL.com Wed, Aug 01, 2012 - 3:55 PM

Warriors v Cronulla Sharks
Mt Smart Stadium
Sunday, 2pm (local time)

The finals flames of both these teams are still flickering? but after three losses on the trot, both sides desperately need a victory and two competition points to keep in touch with sides surging up the NRL ladder.

The Warriors, in the past two weeks, have blown 18-point leads against the Knights and Sea Eagles to lose by five and two points respectively. Currently sitting in 12th position on 20 points, they require a victory in this Close The Gap clash to keep in touch with the eighth-to-eleventh-placed teams on 22 points.

The Sharks, meanwhile, need to arrest a worrying slide down the competition table after an impressive first half of the season. In the past four weeks they?ve secured just one competition point (a golden-point draw against the Roosters in Round 18), slipping from third to seventh position on the ladder. A victory here keeps Cronulla in the frame for the top four.

The Warriors are without the services of injured centre Konrad Hurrell and captain Simon Mannering. The blockbusting back misses this match with a foot injury, as does the skipper, who also sat out last week?s heart-breaking loss to the Sea Eagles. Ben Henry is shifted to the centres, where he has played most matches this season, with Elijah Taylor slotting into the second row and NYC premiership winner Sebastine Ikahihifo making his run-on debut after playing his first NRL match last week. Highly rated and versatile junior Warrior Carlos Tuimavave joins a bench that also includes Steve Rapira, returning from a hamstring injury, and regulars Sione Lousi and Jacob Lillyman.

The Sharks welcome back inspirational forward and captain Paul Gallen ? who was named but didn?t play against the Panthers ? and five-eighth Todd Carney. Both are not certain starters but travel to Auckland likely to suit up. Cronulla have named a 19-man squad for the trip across the ditch, with Jon Green and Sam Tagataese travelling as cover. Bryce Gibbs and Ben Pomeroy remain on their injured list.

Watch Out Warriors: The Sharks mightn?t be in the best touch at the moment, but worrying for the home fans is the fact the Warriors have lost six of their past nine games, all of which have been by single figures. Against a team like Cronulla ? known for their ability to grind out hard-fought victories rather than blow teams off the park ? that spells danger.

Danger Sign: With some of their big names returning to the field the Sharks are no doubt going to be a more dangerous outfit? but in recent weeks, without the star power of their first-choice line-up, it?s been their fringe players who have really stood up. Last week former Tiger Andrew Fifita was a standout; Fifita recorded 22 runs for 181 metres against Penrith ? the most managed by any Sharks interchange player in eight years and the best figures recorded during his 57 career matches. If the stars return and lesser-known players also produce strong showings, the Warriors could be in for a long afternoon.

Watch Out Sharks: Cronulla have lost seven of their past eight games at Mt Smart Stadium ? a statistic coach Shane Flanagan will desperately hope is improved come Sunday evening. Also, this year Cronulla have conceded an average of 4.47 extra points away from Toyota Stadium ? 20.67 points at away venues compared with just 16.2 points in the Shire.

Danger Sign: The Warriors always perform better at home, as their 5-4 Mt Smart record (compared with their 3-7 away record) in 2012 shows. The Warriors really ride the wave of support at home and prove a greater threat in front of their fans ? they also bust the defensive line 5.5 times per match in New Zealand compared to just 3.1 times on the road. If the Warriors crack the Sharkies? defensive code, the home side will have too much attacking potency for the visitors to match.

Nathan Friend v Isaac De Gois: It all starts ? and ends ? with the teams? two determined No.9s. Former Titan Friend is a defensive warhorse who has good ability to crack the line from dummy-half. This season, however, he?s averaged just five runs and 36.4 metres per match ? an output he can no doubt improve. De Gois? record is remarkably similar ? he runs just 5.2 times per match for an average of 33 metres.

Whoever provides better service to his big men ? and gives himself a better opportunity to take advantage of momentum from dummy-half ? will gain the upper hand for his team.

Where It Will Be Won: The final 40 minutes of this clash will be where it?s all won and lost ? both teams can string together good periods but have failed to play for the full 80 minutes in recent weeks. Against the Knights and Sea Eagles, the Warriors squandered huge early leads to suffer shocking losses. Cronulla also choked on a seemingly unassailable lead against the Panthers? with just 60 seconds remaining! Concentration for the full 80 minutes will make or break each team in this clash.

The History: Played 28; Warriors 14, Sharks 14. At Mt Smart, however, the Warriors hold a decisive advantage, winning eight of the 12 matches.

Last Time They Met: The Warriors had a sizeable lead against the Sharks in Round 15 earlier this year, before allowing their opposition back into the clash and losing 20-19 in the dying moments. It?s been the story of their season to date.

In front of 9,271 fans at Toyota Stadium, the visitors dominated most of the match, leading 19-8 with just 10 minutes remaining.

Somehow the home side found a get-out-of-jail-free card, stunning their legion of dedicated fans with some scintillating, determined play in the closing stages.

It was a couple of plays from NSW five-eighth Todd Carney that shifted the momentum in this game ? a 40/20 kick and a try assist for a Jeff Robson try late in the second half the defining moments. Carney?s goal-kicking (three from three, compared with James Maloney?s three from four) ultimately proved the difference.

The Sharks ? without Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita and Wade Graham ? somehow overcame the Warriors? huge advantage in field position to record the win. The visitors ran for a total of 1362 metres ? almost 200 metres more than the home side.

Match Officials: Referees ? Tony Archer and Alan Shortall; Sideline Officials ? Jeff Younis and Shane Rehm; Video Referee ? Chris Ward.

The Way We See It: This could be the best match of the round ? two sides desperate to return to the winners? list and keep their finals hopes alive after disappointing performances over the past few rounds. The home side, however, have more to play for with Friend?s 150th match? and are likely to be slightly more desperate given their lower position on the ladder. We expect last year?s runners-up to continue the wounded Sharks? wretched run in the past month on the back of a power-running game and their livewire, intelligent halves combination of Maloney and Shaun Johnson. Warriors by seven? but don?t put your house on it!

Televised: Fox Sports 2 ? Live 12 noon.

*Statistics: NRL Stats

[TITAN PETE]

Sharks game 'season defining' say Warriors

Daniel Gilhooly AAP Thu, Aug 02, 2012 - 1:45 PM


As the television camera panned across the distraught Warriors following their latest NRL implosion, one player caught the eye.

Lock Elijah Taylor was down on one knee following their 24-22 loss to Manly in Perth, a look of desolation on his face that reflected the pain of blowing an 18-0 lead for the second straight week.

"Personally I've taken it very hard. I'd rather get thrashed by 60 points than lose a game like that," Taylor told NZ Newswire.

"Those games hurt and it's happened twice in a row at a crucial time in our season.

"This week is going to define our team, it'll define the rest of our season."

Taylor said the build-up to Sunday's match against seventh-placed Cronulla in Auckland had been one of introspection. The Sharks are also in a slump and desperate to stop the rot against the 12th-placed New Zealanders.

The Warriors had gone over their Perth meltdown and the near-identical failure against Newcastle a week earlier with a fine-tooth comb.

Their planning is even more pertinent as the Sharks pipped them 20-19 courtesy of two late tries by halfback Jeff Robson in their last meeting seven weeks ago.

"Our confidence has taken a hit, no doubt," Taylor said.

"The first thing we did this week was have a great contact session, the boys got their shoulders in."

Then came a video session which exposed how Manly had scored through short kicks which the Warriors failed to counter.

There was a collective focus to stay alert late in the tackle count and particularly at the end of both halves.

"(Manly's) Kieran Foran caught us out three times with a grubber kick, a chip kick and a crossfield kick," Taylor said.

"They all led to tries and that was in the last minutes of both halves. We can't afford to let that to happen again."

Hard-working forward Taylor said the Warriors' current problems were ironic given it was their slow starts that held them back earlier this season. It forced them into playing catch-up rugby league.

"Now we're starting really well and falling off the back end. If we can combine the start of the season form with form right now, we'll be able to beat any team."

[Rage]

Ian McCullough AAP Thu, Aug 02, 2012 - 5:26 PM

Talismanic skipper Paul Gallen is straining at the leash to return for Cronulla as the Sharks look to end an alarming slump that's threatening to kill off their finals aspirations.

Gallen has not played in the NRL for almost two months having damaged his posterior cruciate knee ligament in May and sustaining an abdominal problem during State of Origin.

The 30-year-old's inclusion in the team to face the Warriors on Sunday cannot come soon enough for Shane Flanagan's outfit, who've slipped to seventh on the ladder on the back of three straight losses.

Having looked a top-four certainty for much of the year, the Sharks travel to Auckland for a difficult encounter with the enigmatic Warriors, who are clinging to the hope of making the finals.

The Sharks are three points clear of eighth-placed Gold Coast and a win across the Tasman will go a long way to securing a first finals berth in four years.

Gallen has been told by a specialist he needs to spend at least another two weeks on the sidelines, but the back-rower says he's had enough of the gym and will play through the pain barrier.

"I am playing Sunday, no matter what," Gallen said.

"I am sick of sitting on the sidelines. If I pull up sore tomorrow or after the game, I don't care.

"I am sick of the gym, sick of being on a bike - I just want to play some footy."

The NSW captain admits he's found it hard watching on as the injury-hit Sharks battle to rediscover the form with which they reeled off six straight wins earlier this year.

"We don't want the season to slip away," he said.

"This game is a big game for us. But we're only one or two refereeing decisions away from sitting in fourth spot.

"One win or loss can move you two or three places up or down the ladder. But we're sitting here with five rounds to go. It's in our hands.

"It's a tough road trip but we have to go over there and get a win."

[Julius Sezer]

LOL there is a 'commentary choice' option for this match. At last we dont need to listen to those annoying kiwi commies.

[TITAN PETE]

Sharks crush woeful Warriors in Auckland

RSS
By Daniel Gilhooly AAP Sun, Aug 05, 2012 - 4:09 PM


Warriors coach Brian McClennan described it as the "darkest day" in his first NRL season as Todd Carney-inspired Cronulla dished out a 45-4 flogging in Auckland on Sunday.

Last year's beaten grand finalists are still alive mathematically but the nature of their fourth straight defeat and a growing injury toll suggests they can start planning for 2013.

"This would be our darkest day this year," McClennan said.

"They were just way too good for us today ... Todd Carney was very, very good.

"They ended up with a lot of possession and most of it was our fault. You're going to get beat up a lot when the other team has 14 more sets."

Carney scored 25 points, including the first two of their seven tries, while landing eight from eight goals and a field goal as the Sharks ran rampant to end their own three-match losing streak.

Winger John Williams and impressive interchange prop Andrew Fifita also crossed for doubles as the Sharks leapfrogged North Queensland to consolidate their position in the top eight.

Paul Gallen's return from injury was nearly as impressive, the skipper racking up a game-high 195 metres in his first club game for almost two months.

Flanagan praised Carney for an inspirational performance and Gallen for his gutsy return.

"It's not just what Gall does on the field, it's the presence and confidence he gives to the players around him," Flanagan said.

"For someone who hasn't run for six weeks since Origin, to do that was a pretty special effort."

Gallen said he felt "pretty busted" at halftime but was relieved to come through unscathed and for his team to end their slump.

"Every team hits a flat spot and we happened to get 4-5 injuries when we did hit it.

"We're getting some troops back now and it's good to get back on the winners' list. It gives the team and the club some confidence."

The Warriors were listless and offered little on attack, particularly after playmaker James Maloney left the game in the 16th minute with a knee ligament injury.

He is an unlikely starter next week while prop Ben Matulino suffered a chest injury that may rule him out.

The Warriors slumped to 13th on the ladder, four points adrift of the top eight with four games remaining, and suffered serious damage to their for-and-against points differential.

There was an element of luck to Carney's first try, when a Shaun Johnson grubber cannoned into his foot. He scooped up the loose ball and raced almost 90 metres, evading the valiant dive of prop Russell Packer when halfway there.

Carney sliced through some muddled Warriors defence in the 12th minute before landing a penalty goal and converting a try to halfback Jeff Robson, which was set up by an electric Colin Best burst.

Winger Bill Tupou crossed for the Warriors' only try when the video referee ruled Robson had stripped possession from Elijah Taylor in the leadup.

However, Carney's field goal before halftime and Fifita's easy try soon after secured the outcome.

Williams out-pointed opposite Tupou for his two tries before Fifita bagged his second in the dying stages.

[TITAN PETE]

What a flogging & poor Friendy made 65 tackles & not 1 Sharks player made more than 27 :surprise:

[Rage]

Ben Horne AAP Mon, Aug 06, 2012 - 6:22 PM

Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has revealed the extent of how drug rumours about star player Todd Carney affected the club but he's confident they can win every remaining game and push hard for a place in the NRL top four.

Flanagan said he had no other choice but to knock it on the head after the Sharks were swamped by inquiries about alleged drug use that first surfaced in internet forums.

With the burden lifted, he now believes the resurgent Sharks are capable of building on their 45-4 thrashing of the Warriors and win every game on a tough road into the finals.

"The speculation has just gone on for too long," Flanagan told AAP.

"There've been inquiries - phone inquiries and sponsor inquiries and the board of directors and all that stuff (have become involved).

"It's got to affect him and I'm just sick of it from a coach's point of view. And from an administration point of view were just sick of it and had to knock it on the head."

Carney's form has been down in recent weeks as he battled niggling injuries and the burden of rumours.

He broke those shackles with a brilliant two-try, 25-point performance against the Warriors in Auckland.

Flanagan said Carney has been tested by the Sharks and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and rumours were 100 per cent incorrect.

The club says the rumours surfaced after Origin III and before Carney faced former club the Sydney Roosters on July 9.

"He's going OK, he's a tough kid but I just don't think it's fair," Flanagan said.

"If it was any other player I'd be out there defending them as well."

The fifth-placed Sharks face a desperate Newcastle next Monday and a win would cement their top eight position and keep them in the running to break into the all-important top four.

Flanagan expects regular starters Bryce Gibbs, Wade Graham and Ben Pomeroy back from injury following last week's return of inspirational captain Paul Gallen.

"We'd like to think we can win all our games on the way home. I can't see why not," he said.

"It's going to be hard and, not being arrogant, but if you want to play finals you've got to beat some of the better teams and we're playing some of the better teams on the way home (Knights, Rabbitohs, Storm, Cowboys) so let's have a crack at it."