VENUE & TIME: Toyota Stadium, Friday 22 August, 7:35pm (AEST)
COVERAGE: Channel Nine
LAST TIME: Roosters 23-12 Sharks, at Sydney Football Stadium, Round 18, 2007.
WALKING WOUNDED: Things are looking bright on the injury front for Cronulla, with only Karlos Filiga (torn pectoral), who is out for a fortnight, and Reece Williams (knee), who won't be back until 2009, on the sidelines. The Roosters have regained skipper Craig Fitzgibbon (ankle), Nate Myles and Setaimata Sa (shoulder) but Anthony Minichiello (back), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (knee) and Frank-Paul Nuuausala (eye) are all still unavailable.
FORM: The Sharks travelled across the Tasman and came home without the two points, beaten 18-4 by the Warriors. The loss was especially costly as they could have gone to second on the ladder with a victory. Already reeling from a surprise loss the week before to the Eels, the Roosters were hammered by a relentless Storm outfit that is ominously winding up for the finals. The premiers handled the ball like they were playing in dry conditions while their opponents constantly coughed it up.
WHO'S HOT: It was a disappointing outing for the Sharks at Mt Smart Stadium, with Luke Covell grabbing the only try for his side and Paul Gallen trying hard with 29 tackles and 130m gained. In a game where the Roosters got belted at The Graveyard, Mitchell Pearce wasn't given much room to run the ball but he wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty in defence, laying a team-high 35 tackles, while Mitch Aubusson grabbed the only try but that was after he'd fumbled a Cam Smith grubber a metre from his own line, allowing Smith to score an easy four-pointer.
WE THINK: Fans will be hoping that both these teams can lift for this, especially with so much on the line with top-four berths still to be locked in. If the Sharks win they will be too far in front of the fifth-placed Broncos to finish any lower than fourth, while the Chooks likewise desperately need the two points to maintain their gap ahead of Brisbane. Cronulla has won the past five clashes, dating back to 2005, although four of them were by a combined total of 17 points and both are travelling much better this year than they were last time they met. Expect this one to be a cracker and for the Sharks to fall over the line at home. Sharks by 6.
TEAMS:
Sharks: 1. Brett Kearney, 2. Misi Taulapapa, 3. Ben Pomeroy, 4. David Simmons, 5. Luke Covell, 6. Brett Seymour, 7. Brett Kimmorley, 8. Ben Ross, 9. Isaac De Gois, 10. Luke Douglas, 11. Paul Gallen (c), 12. Fraser Anderson, 13. Greg Bird
Interchange: 14. Danny Nutley, 15. Grant Millington, 16. Adam Peek, 17. Terrence Seu Seu
Roosters: 1. Sam Perrett, 2. Amos Roberts, 3. Mitchell Aubusson, 4. Sia Soliola, 5. Brent Grose, 6. Braith Anasta, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. Mark O'Meley, 9. Jake Friend, 10. David Shillington, 11. Willie Mason, 12. Anthony Tupou, 13. Craig Fitzgibbon
Interchange: 14. Lopini Paea, 15. Nate Myles, 16. Setaimata Sa, 18. Mickey Paea