4:05 pm SUNDAY AUGUST 18th 2024 POINTSBET STADIUM CRONULLA SYDNEY
Sharks Gear Up to Defend Home Turf Against Determined Knights
The Sharks are ready to defend their home turf as they gear up to face a determined Newcastle side on Sunday afternoon.
The Knights moved to within two points of the top eight after their victory over the Wests Tigers and are focused on continuing their ascent up the ladder.
The quest doesn’t get any easier this week with Cronulla riding high after a commanding victory over the Titans and eager to return to PointsBet Stadium with another win.
Knights Aim for Top 8 with Confidence Boost from Recent Win
The Sharks have solidified their spot in the top four, but the Bulldogs are close behind, just two points adrift.
Halfback Braydon Trindall is in contention to return from a hamstring injury, while Braden Hamlin-Uele also has a chance to play after missing last week’s game due to knee soreness.
Coach Craig Fitzgibbon has named the same winning 17 for this weekend, with Braydon Trindall, Ronaldo Mulitalo, and Braden Hamlin-Uele returning from injury to further strengthen the team.
Players like Daniel Atkinson, Jesse Ramien, Sione Katoa, and Samuel Stonestreet certainly proved they are worth their weight in gold, with an impressive performance last weekend that proved no match for the Titans.
Katoa has scored seven tries in his last eight games at Pointsbet Stadium, and Stonestreet has added four tries in three NRL appearances. Together, they present a significant threat to the Knights’ defense.
Sharks
1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet , 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Blayke Brailey 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Oregon Kaufusi , 11. Briton Nikora 12. Siosifa Talakai 13. Jack Williams , 14. Jayden Berrell 15. Billy Burns, 16. Royce Hunt 17. Thomas Hazelton, 18. Niwhai Puru 19. Braden Hamlin-Uele , 20. Braydon Trindall 21. Ronaldo Mulitalo 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha
Brothers Blayke and Jayden Brailey Set to Clash in Key NRL Match
Brothers Blayke Brailey and Jayden Brailey are set to face off, with Newcastle’s Jayden eager to get the better of his younger sibling.
The Knights have had a challenging season with inconsistency, but they hope to have turned a corner after their 34-18 win over the Tigers on Sunday.
The victory moved them to 10th on the ladder, and securing another two points will be vital for their finals aspirations.
The Knights will see only one change with the return of Dylan Lucas from a hamstring injury while youngster Krystian Mapapalangi will make way for his return to the centres.
The Knights have faced a tough season in their quest to secure a spot in the top eight, following a devastating 22-14 loss to the Panthers in Round 22.
However, last weekend saw a disciplined Knights side bounce back with a decisive 34-18 victory over the Tigers at their home ground.
With a strong defensive line, they were looking like a team that was hungry for the win, and last weekend’s triumph will provide a much-needed confidence boost for their imposing game this weekend.
Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 4. Dylan Lucas 5. Greg Marzhew , 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson , 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott, 14. Jack Cogger 15. Mathew Croker , 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones , 18. Thomas Cant 19. Thomas Jenkins 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Will Pryce 22. Kyle McCarthy
Referee. Gerard Sutton, Touch Judges, Jon Stone, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski ,Bunker, Chris Butler.
Sharks vs Knights: Key Players and Match Prediction
The Sharks have won three of their last four games against the Knights.
The Knights have not won at PointsBet Stadium since 2014.
Sharks winger Sione Katoa has scored seven tries in his last eight games at PointsBet Stadium.
Knights second-rower Tyson Frizell has scored three tries in his past four games.
Sharks winger Sam Stonestreet has scored four tries in three NRL appearances.
Prediction.
The Sharks appeared to return to their best form last week, dismantling the Titans on the Gold Coast, while the Knights managed a solid win against the Tigers without truly dominating the match. The Sharks need to keep winning to secure their spot in the Top 4, while the Knights still harbor hopes of sneaking into the Top 8. Given their performance at Shark Park and last week’s effort, Cronulla is likely to come out on top in this clash.
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