Round 24: Cronulla v Brisbane preview
Sharks host Broncos away in another must win clash
In a week where Josh Dugan was busted 150km beyond his lockdown radius, you wouldn't bat an eyelid if his Sharkies teammates, clad in Brisbane kit, were spotted around a Lithgow campfire riding the Broncos home against the Warriors.
For Cronulla, clinging to eighth spot, the Kiwi's loss keeps them one win shy of the three team cluster level with the Sharks on 20 points.
If only convenience was a two-way street. Now just a week later, if Brisbane happen to turn on Cronulla, then Josh Hannay's men could find themselves reunited with Dugan sooner than they thought.
Last week's 50-20 touchup of the Tigers in Rockhampton not only gave Cronulla's for-and-against a welcome boost, it also ended a horror three match losing streak. But with Melbourne to come in the final round, the lights could already be out if they don't claim the two competition points at Suncorp this week.
Brisbane upset the Sharks earlier this year, and with two wins from their past four including a narrow loss to the Roosters, for Kevin Walters the green shoots have started to sprout.
Led by Payne Haas, Brisbane's young brigade complimented a vintage Anthony Milford performance.
If only Walters knew what a Rabbitohs contract would do for the dejected playmaker six months ago. With Albert Kelly steadying the ship in the No.7, Milford broke the shackles in a throwback to the good old days.
Now up against Cronulla young guns Braydon Trindall and Luke Metcalf, on a fast track, this promises to be a points fest.
In a boost for Cronulla, Aiden Tolmen returns to sure up the middle in what will be the vetran's 295th NRL outing. And with the Sharks needing a win to remain in the hunt for a seventh consecutive finals series, Mawene Hiroti gets another chance after a broken jaw ended the season of crowd pleasing winger Ronaldo Mulitalo.
For the Broncos, chasing back-to-back wins for the first time since the opening two rounds of 2020, they'll be out to upset the Sharks using the same 17 who left the Warriors' season on life support.
Last meeting: Round 16 2021 - Broncos 26 Sharks 18
Who to watch: Josh Hannay said, ‘it was probably a coming of age game for him'. With five line breaks and two tries in just his fifth top grade game, Luke Metcalf finished as the toast of the beef capital. Long known for his pace, the penny finally dropped and the 22-year-old was rewarded for continually backing himself at the line. In tandem with Trindall's creativity, the five-eighth has breathed life into an otherwise lethargic finals charge.
Anthony Milford, where have you been? The smiling assassin looked slimmer and free of the Broncos' million-dollar burden. By half time against the Warriors the tricks had returned. He'd laid on two tries, almost scored another and left fans with a spring in their step. Then after the break, he troubled the Warriors some more before crashing over for the match winning try. With only a fortnight remaining in Brisbane, here's to a grand 150th in Broncos colours.
The favourite: Cronulla are firm favourites despite a horror record against Brisbane with only one win from the last eight.
My tip: This one is harder to tip than a busker in lockdown. Firstly, Brisbane's goal line defence is worlds away from its early season shambles, and secondly, the Sharks are playing for tomorrow. Perspective says after recent losses to Newcastle and the Warriors, Cronulla don't deserve another chance. To believe they've turned the corner could well turn out to be another slap in the face. Brisbane by 4.
