Round 10: Cronulla Sharks vs Wests Tigers

[Tamwelg]

Cronulla Sharks vs
Wests Tigers
Sat 17 May, 5:30PM Remondis Stadium

[TITAN PETE]

Sharks
1 Michael Gordon
2 Sosaia Feki
3 Blake Ayshford
4 Ricky Leutele
5 Beau Ryan
6 Luke Lewis
7 Jeff Robson
8 Sam Tagatese
9 John Morris
10 Bryce Gibbs
11 Anthony Tupou
12 Wade Graham
13 Paul Gallen (c)

Interchange
14 Isaac De Gois
15 Chris Heighington
16 Tinirau Arona
17 Siosaia Vave
18 Michael Lichaa
19 David Fifita
20 Jonathan Wright

Coach: Peter Sharp

Wests Tigers
1 Kurtis Rowe
2 David Nofoaluma
3 Tim Simona
4 Chris Lawrence
5 Pat Richards
6 Braith Anasta
7 Luke Brooks
8 Aaron Woods
9 Robbie Farah
10 Keith Galloway
11 Cory Paterson
12 Bodene Thompson
13 Adam Blair

Interchange
14 Martin Taupau
15 Ava Seumanu***ai
16 Blake Austin
17 Suauso Sue

Coach: Mick Potter

[DIEHARD]

Sharks v Wests Tigers
Remondis Stadium Saturday 5:30pm

This week the Wests Tigers will take on the Wests Tig... hold on a second, we mean the Sharks.

You can understand our confusion, with the likes of Bryce Gibbs, John Morris, Chris Heighington, Beau Ryan, Isaac De Gois, Blake Ayshford and David Fifita lining up against their former club in a Cronulla jumper this Saturday afternoon. It could have been more, too, if it wasn't for the ankle injury suffered by Andrew Fifita last round.

While the final scores in their last games didn't really reflect how things went down, both sides were victims of large deficits in Round 9. The Wests Tigers failed to take advantage of their opportunities in a 30-6 loss to reigning premiers the Roosters, while Cronulla lost 42-24 to a rampant Eels side.

In team changes, the Tigers welcome back skipper Robbie Farah, Sauaso Sue and Braith Anasta from injury, and Tim Simona from suspension. Anasta's replacement Blake Austin drops back to the bench, while Joel Luani, Sitaleki Akauola and Keith Lulia drop out of the 17. Cory Paterson will start in the back row.

For the Sharks, they have produced a brand new front row this weekend, with Sam Tagataese and Bryce Gibbs returning. They replace the injured Andrew Fifita and the benched Siosaia Vave. David Fifita drops back to an extended bench, which also contains hooker Michael Lichaa and outside back Jonathan Wright.

This game should be a lot closer than their ladder positions suggest. With the 16th placed Sharks taking on the Tigers (who only last week were in the top four) the end result of this game is sure to shake the competition in one way or another – especially with the Sharks looking to make something of their season.

Watch out Sharks: Robbie Farah's impact for the Tigers is enormous. Four tries, four line-breaks, six try-assists, seven line-break assists, 20 tackle-breaks and 41.7 tackles per match in 2014 makes you think it’s no wonder the Tigers are so high on the ladder. It reads pretty great and it's even better to watch on the field. A massive game should be expected from Farah, especially with NSW Origin duties looming. The Sharks won't know what hit them if Farah returns in full force.

While the Sharks did go down by 18 to Parramatta last Monday night, when you look back on the stats you would think the boys from the Shire had snuck a win. With one extra line-break, 18 more offloads and nine fewer missed tackles then their more fancied opposition, the Sharks didn't play all that bad. With 47 minutes spent in the Eels’ half though, Cronulla will undoubtedly have to pick up their attack against the Tigers.

Watch out Wests Tigers: The Tigers simply made the Roosters look good last weekend. Two errors led to long distance tries and the score did not reflect a scrappy game of football. A 62 per cent completion rate will never win you a game of footy and despite being in possession of the ball for more than half the game against the Roosters, the Tigers only scored one try. A big lesson in cohesion will be drilled into the Tigers before facing the Sharks.

With State of Origin on the horizon, Sharks captain Paul Gallen has returned from his syndesmosis injury in a big way and it showed against Parramatta last round. Recovering from an earlier head knock, Gallen produced five offloads, 26 tackles, a try assist, 20 runs for 145 metres, six tackle-breaks and a line break assist. The Tigers will have to be on their game when it comes to Gal on Saturday afternoon.

Plays to Watch: The Sharks proved on Monday night that they have some quality when it comes to the second-phase plays. Paul Gallen's cheeky offload after beating several men to set up Isaac De Gois's try was just one example of the Sharks’ ability to turn nothing into something.

When it comes to sneaky plays, the Tigers are quite exceptional at them. While halfback Luke Brooks is usually the producer, delivering their one and only try against the Roosters to Chris Lawrence, the returning Robbie Farah is always good for a grubber himself and will surely try and pull one off at some stage on Saturday.

Where It Will Be Won: The Sharks and the Tigers both spent 47 minutes of their respective games in their opponent's halves in Round 9. While the Sharks managed four tries they still lost by 18, while the Tigers only produced a paltry one try. Both teams will go a long way to winning the game by capitalising on their opportunities when in possession – and in the Sharks’ case, backing it up in defence.

The History: Played 25; Sharks 7, Tigers 15, Draw 3. While the Sharks managed bragging rights over the Tigers in 2013, winning their last meeting 36-22 in Round 1, the Sharkies have struggled to beat the Tigers in recent times. Since 2003, the Tigers have only lost three times to the Sharks, including five 13-plus wins.

Match Officials: Referees – Gavin Morris & Henry Perenara; Sideline Officials – Jeff Younis & Adam Reid; Video Referees – Steve Chiddy & Steve Folkes.

Televised: Fox Sports 1 – Live 5.30pm.

The Way We See It: With both teams coming off miserable losses they will be up for a big showing when push comes to shove on Saturday afternoon. With history on their side, a forward pack that should turn up fired up and their captain Robbie Farah returning, the Tigers should do enough to sneak away with the competition points. Tigers by two

Source: http://www.nrl.com

[TITAN PETE]

Bite allegation as Tigers beat Sharks
By Ben Horne
AAP
6:08pm Sat 17th May, 2014


Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma has denied biting Cronulla forward Wade Graham, as the visitors secured a come-from-behind 22-20 NRL win over the Sharks at Remondis Stadium on Saturday night.

With five ex-Tigers in the Sharks line-up, emotions boiled over on several occasions in a brutal but action-packed affair, with the first-half biting allegation the biggest flashpoint.

The Tigers ultimately snapped a two-game losing streak to get their top-eight charge back on track, roaring home from 20-10 down, with Robbie Farah and Luke Brooks orchestrating the brilliant revival.

Farah made a successful return from a dislocated elbow which had kept him out since round six, while Paul Gallen produced a massive performance for the Sharks - in a double boost for NSW on the eve of State of Origin.

Cronulla say no official complaint has been made against Nofoaluma and Graham refused to comment post-match - with respective captains Gallen and Farah also claiming there was "nothing in it".

However, Graham was none too pleased on the field when the incident occurred midway through the first half, asking referee Gavin Morris, "why would I react like that?"

Morris replied: "What's the allegation?"

Graham then said "He bit me on the head."

The NRL don't necessarily need an official complaint to pursue the matter with the match review committee, however without video evidence any charge would be difficult and replays on Fox Sports seemed inconclusive.

Canterbury prop James Graham copped a 12 match suspension after biting Melbourne's Billy Slater in the 2012 grand final, even though the Storm didn't make an official complaint.

Nofoaluma - who wore a mouthguard during the game - told AAP post-match that any contact between his open mouth and Graham's head was completely accidental and says he never "clenched".

"I remember running and as I made contact with him my mouth happened to be open and as I came down I didn't clench or anything," he said.

"I'm confident I didn't and whatever he thought I have no idea.

"I couldn't really do nothing and it's one of those things.

"I don't think there's any dramas."

The game exploded early in the second half, with four tries being scored inside nine minutes.

It was the Sharks who came up with the first two through Gallen and Michael Gordon to assume control, but in the blink of an eye Cronulla's defence opened up and the Tigers hit back through Cory Paterson and Chris Lawrence.

Sharks playmaker Todd Carney, who strained his hamstring again early in the match, was unable to execute when the game was on the line, as the Tigers held on for 23 minutes at the death to leave Cronulla still languishing at the bottom of the ladder.

"It's satisfying for the players to show their grit," said Tigers coach Mick Potter.

"Other teams might panic but I thought our players kept their composure."

Sharks coach Peter Sharp described the loss as heartbreaking and blamed it on defensive errors.

"It's pretty tough to take, leading by 10 with not too long to go. But, again, the same old story - they're trying their socks off, trying really hard, but things aren't happening," he said.