Round 7: Sharks v Sea Eagles preview
Sharks searching for revenge against soaring Sea Eagles
The Cronulla Sharks will be searching for a return to the winners circle against the in-form Manly Warringah Sea Eagles to kick off the NRL's ANZAC Round at Pointsbet Stadium.
Cronulla comes into the Round 7 opener after a 34-18 loss against Melbourne, but the score-line doesn't give Cronulla enough respect. The Sharks were able to hang with one of the competition heavyweights for more than an hour last weekend without the services of regular first-graders Nikora, Katoa and skipper Dale Finucane (who left in the opening 10 minutes with a cat 1 concussion symptom). This goes to show the buying spree in the off-season was well worth it for the boys from the shire. However, the same disciplinary issues that plagued Cronulla against the Tigers hurt their chances last Saturday night. Set restarts allowed Melbourne to build sustained pressure and against high-quality opposition, you cannot invite attacking chances to come so easily. Manly is one of the form teams in punishing opposition's poor discipline as the Titans found out last weekend, so it will have to be a significant point of emphasis for Craig Fitzgibbon. On the positives, the left-hand edge of Talakai and Mulitalo is slowly developing into one of the more lethal combinations with all three Cronulla tries coming down that side of the field against Melbourne. This week they're going up against Manly's left edge of Koula/Harper and Saab which could see another 80 minutes of attacking raids could be on the cards.
As far as the team news is concerned, Braden Hamlin-Uele is out with a pec injury and is replaced by Aidan Tolman with Royce Hunt earning a recall on the bench after missing last week. Dale Finucane is out with concussion which sees Cameron McInnes move to lock. Briton Nikora will come back into the side after missing last week through COVID protocols. Sione Katoa returns on the wing replacing Mawene Hiroti.
Manly have won 4 in a row but let's just check who they've beaten. Canterbury, Canberra, Newcastle, and the Gold Coast, to me it's the games that a team like Manly should be winning comfortably and they've done that so far this season. This will be a tough test for the Manly side who are still without the services of last year's Dally M Medallist Tom Trbojevic. Manly's biggest issue last season was their inability to win against the big clubs and their only two losses this season have come against Penrith and the Roosters. If Manly wants to prove their premiership aspirations, they need to defy a horrible record against the in-form clubs.
Last weekend, they led by 20 at half-time over the Gold Coast and they were at one stage within a converted try of taking the game into golden point. Manly was also guilty of some poor attacking options which allowed the Titans some quality field position and saw them close the gap so expect some improvement in their sets this weekend. Reuben Garrick's form has gone to another level since moving to the fullback spot which has seen his runs in general play improve considerably this season. Morgan Harper has been named to return from COVID protocols with Tolatau Koula moving to the reserves, Josh Aloai's shoulder injury and Sean Keppie's concussion rules them out with Taniela Paseka moving into the front row and Kurt De Luis and Ethan Bullemor added to the bench.
Last meeting: Round 20 2021 - Sharks 22 Sea Eagles 40
Who to watch: Cronulla has been struck by cruel luck in the outside backs with injuries to Connor Tracey and Matt Ikuvalu. But one man who has stepped up in many ways has been Siosifa Talakai. Talakai has taken the most out of his second chance in the NRL with the Sharks since he arrived in 2020. His carries were devastating for the Sharks last weekend causing all sorts of problems for the Storm defence. If Talakai is at his bone-crushing best, it could be a long night for Manly's right edge.
Manly has been without the services of boom backrower Josh Schuster to start 2022, but one man that has stepped up considerably is Haumole Olakau'atu. The young backrower who had a breakout year in 2021 has continued his progression with a brilliant first-half double last weekend. Olakau'atu recorded his first back to back 100-meter performances the last few weeks and is primed for a potential Tonga call-up for the end of season World Cup. His presence coming out of yardage will be vital for Manly who have struggled coming out of their end against the stronger clubs in the opening rounds of the season.
The favourite: Despite a last-start loss, Cronulla enters as the favourites here at home. Although Manly has had a good record in Cronulla since 2010 with the Sharks only winning on two occasions (2012 and 2016).
My tip: Cronulla showed me last weekend that they can beat anyone, keeping it that close against Melbourne with all the issues identified above is rare and hasn't been done by many teams in the past five seasons. Manly will start strong and fierce but the class of Cronulla through Nicho Hynes will ultimately shine through and take the victory in this one. Manly's history against the big clubs is my main reason for the tip in this one. Cronulla by 8.
