Finals Week 1: Roosters v Sharks preview
After finishing minor premiers for the third time in the past five years, will the Sydney Roosters take one step closer to converting their dominance into a premiership?
It is the question everyone is asking of Trent Robinson's men who, despite continually asserting themselves as premiership contenders during the regular season, have only one premiership in 2013 to show for it.
And their first-place finish may mean even less this year given that the eighth-placed Warriors ended up just one win shy of drawing level with the Tricolours.
Last week's 44-10 thumping of the Parramatta Eels was highly impressive although Robinson will know not to get too carried away as the last-placed Eels offered very little resistance in defence.
After recent losses to the Raiders and Broncos, the Roosters' title credentials were questioned and while their victory over Parramatta silenced some of their critics, some still remain unconvinced.
What isn't unconvincing is the Roosters' defence, which remains the best in the league. Their opponents this week - Cronulla - are the third-best defensive unit in the competition and are the kings of the grind.
Therefore, defensive resolve alone won't be enough to see the Roosters through to the preliminary finals.
Rather, the class of their spine is the biggest advantage they have over the men from the Shire and it was on display in their 28-10 win over the Sharks earlier this year.
That win was all the way back in Round Five and since then Cronulla have sneaked their way into the top four and premiership contention.
Cronulla's greatest strength is the experience and variety of their forward pack, which lays the platform for star fullback Valentine Holmes.
The Sharks head into the finals in arguably the best form out of any side having won four-straight games to finish the season.
While well-known for their effectiveness in low-scoring, grinding affairs, Cronulla also showed that they have the attacking flair to put teams away, crushing Newcastle 38-12 three weeks ago.
With a preliminary final on the line it will be interesting to see how Matt Moylan and Chad Townsend handle the pressure against the smartest playmaker in the game - Cooper Cronk.
Last meeting: The Roosters easily took care of the Sharks 28-10 in the Round 5 meeting earlier this year in the Shire.
Who to watch: The battle of the big men will likely decide this one and each side has their own enforcer up front. For the Roosters, it is Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. With Dylan Napa still suspended for another two weeks, the Tricolours will be needing more aggression from their pack and that is where the 29-year old comes in. Waerea-Hargreaves best performance of the season came against Penrith, when he ran for 244 metres and single-handedly tore apart the competition's most in-form side.
This week he faces another tough assignment against one of the most dependable and yet explosive packs in the game, led by the enigmatic Andrew Fifita. There is no doubt that Fifita's ill-discipline can cost his team at times. But by the same token, his aggression and intensity can also win them games and even premierships. Fifita carried Cronulla to glory in the 2016 Grand Final and shapes as their most important player heading into September.
Favourite: The Roosters are slight favourites at home.
My tip: Saturday night's clash shapes as a low-scoring affair, which will suit the Sharks' experienced pack perfectly. Cronulla by 2.
Sydney Roosters Form Guide
