Round 5: Sharks v Wests Tigers preview
Sink or swim in contest of contrasting fortunes
The Cronulla Sharks will be out to continue their recent run of form when they host the winless Wests Tigers on Sunday afternoon at PointsBet Stadium.
Surprising many over the opening rounds with a vastly improved approach under rookie coach Craig Fitzgibbon, the Cronulla Sharks will be eyeing off four straight wins for only the second time in the COVID era.
Coming off an emphatic display that saw the Sharks hold an opposition scoreless for the first time since their victorious premiership campaign, coach Fitzgibbon has stuck solid with the same side that got the job done over the Knights 18-0 last Friday in a welcome sign of continuity.
Holding a dominant record over the joint venture with seven wins from eight clashes since 2015, only five players named in the 24-man squad remain from the last time the Sharks hosted a Sunday afternoon match at Cronulla three years ago.
Staring down the prospect of recording their worst ever start to a season with zero premiership points after five rounds, the Wests Tigers will be desperate to make a lasting impression after a heartbreaking loss last Thursday.
Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory after a cruel error in the final moments allowed the Titans to emerge with an 8-6 victory on the Gold Coast, coach Michael Maguire has opted against changes in a bid to instil confidence and consistency throughout the playing group.
Returning to PointsBet Stadium for the first time in four years, the side holds a surprisingly strong overall record at Cronulla with eight wins and a draw from 15 visits; however only David Nofoaluma and Luke Brooks remain from the last Tigers side to prevail at the venue in 2014.
Last meeting: Round 23 2021 - Wests Tigers 20 Sharks 50
Who to watch: Producing one of the most outstanding games seen by a centre for some time last Friday, behemoth Siosifa Talakai will be looking to back up his efforts in the afternoon sun. Scoring a try, running for 223 metres and making an astounding 17 tackle breaks in a career best display against the Knights, the 24-year-old has established himself as a key player for the Sharks after making the most of his second chance at the top grade. Playing with a level of confidence and professionalism few would have envisioned from his time at the Rabbitohs as a teenager, Talakai could become a permanent fixture in the centres if last week is indicative of performances to come.
As Jock Madden can attest: rugby league can be a cruel game at times. Making a crucial error with the game on the line last week, the back-up playmaker will be determined to make amends on Sunday afternoon in a bid to elevate the Tigers to their first win since August last year. Showing signs of promise filling in for suspended recruit Jackson Hastings over the past fortnight, look for Madden's kicking game to feature prominently if the Tigers are to pull off an unlikely upset.
The favourite: Cronulla have been installed as the shortest priced favourites of the round, matching the odds offered alongside the contest between the reigning premiers and the incumbent wooden spooners.
My tip: Eyeing off their best start to a season since the centenary of rugby league in 2008, the Sharks should rise to expectations if they are serious about competing for the top four. Sharks by 10.
