NRL Round 16 Preview and Prediction - Cronulla Sharks v Manly Sea Eagles @ Shark Park
Cronulla Sharks v Manly Sea Eagles @ Shark Park
Preview - The Sea Eagles will get a litmus test of their Premiership credentials when they visit the defending Premiers, the Sharks, at Shark Park on Saturday night. With the Sharks sitting in 3rd, and the Sea Eagles in 5th, this could well be a final's match up come early in Round 16. The Sharks got out of jail last week with 2 late tries getting them over the top of a gallant Tigers' side at Shark Park. Once again, the Sharks made too many errors and were hammered in the penalty count, with Coach Shane Flanagan sure to be keen to clean up areas of their discipline and control heading into the back end of the season. The Sea Eagles are flying, having won their past 3 games despite an indifferent performance in their 18-14 victory over the Knights. The game was played in atrocious conditions, and I'm sure the dangerous Sea Eagles' attack will relish drier condition and afternoon football this Sunday at Shark Park.
History - Manly have dominated the Sharks over the short term, medium term and long term - thats the only way i can put it!.Whilst both sides claimed narrow victories at home last season when the sides clashed Manly have won 13 from the last 15 against the Sharks. Overall they have won 62 agains the Sharks to just 24 losses and 2 losses.
Cronulla Sharks' Scouting Report - Coach Shane Flanagan has named all 5 of the Sharks' Origin stars in Valentine Holmes, Jack Bird, James Maloney, Andrew Fifita and Wade Graham, all in his starting side for this match. Daniel Mortimer has retained his place on the interchange bench after he played an outstanding cameo against the Tigers last week, setting up the match winning try in the final minute with a deft grubber kick.
Manly Sea Eagles' Scouting Report - The Sea Eagles welcome back enforcer Darcy Lussick who has been named on the interchange bench. Tom Trbojevic should be fully recovered from his ankle injury with the Sea Eagles having 16 days off between their victory against the Knights and this game against the Sharks on Sunday. Both Dylan Walker and Martin Taupau will be out to continue their outstanding form this season, after they failed to live up to expectations in their first season in Manly colours.
Verdict - Sharks by 1-6 in a high standard and high scoring game.
An outstanding game is the prospect here, however I think the Sharks are due to put an 80-minute performance together and I think they can beat Manly at home. The Sharks have really made a habit of winning at the death this year, and I think Shane Flanagan would be sick of the slow and messy starts they have made this year, particularly at home. The Sharks do have a number of players backing up, so if they all take the field I think they have the sort of attack that can trouble a Manly defence that has been hot and cold this year. On the flip side of that, Manly's attack have been devastating at times this year, with Daly Cherry Evans returning to near his best, with Blake Green providing a great foil for him. The likes of Martin Taupua and Dylan Walker have been in great form this season and have the potential to cause plenty of problems for the Sharks themselves. I think both these sides will enjoy the daytime conditions so I'm expecting an entertaining, high quality and high scoring game. I think both sides can score in the 20s in this game, however I think the Sharks can edge it and get another narrow win at home.