Round 3: Wests Tigers v Sharks preview
Lachlan previews all the action from Saturday evening's battle between the Wests Tigers and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
Confident Cronulla have 8th wonder in their sights
Leichhardt Oval plays host to its first game of 2024 on Saturday night, with their tenants the Wests Tigers aiming to bounce back from their round two defeat against the Raiders. The Cronulla Sharks make the trip to Leichhardt with two wins from two to begin their campaign, and sit in a very handy third place on the table. The match is set to the backdrop of yet another round of media headlines surrounding concerns about Leichhardt Oval's future as an NRL venue.
The Wests Tigers have only needed to play one game proper this season to be written off for the year, but whilst some coverage has been extreme, it's clear to see why. A short period in which the Tigers crossed for twelve unanswered points was the highlight for fans in their 32-12 loss to the Raiders in Canberra. NRL debutant 18 year old Lachlan Galvin was impressive in the six jersey, and he has retained his position in the starting 13 for this game.
It's Aidan Sezer who has been given the number seven after an injury cloud saw him start on the bench last week. Jayden Sullivan reverts to the bench after an underwhelming first time out in Tigers colours. An ankle injury to Starford To'a is timed well with Justin Olam's recovery, with the PNG centre named to make his first NRL appearance not for the Storm. Fonua Pole moves into the starting lock role, forcing Alex Seyfarth onto the bench.
Meanwhile, The Cronulla Sharks are going swimmingly. They are coming off a home win against the Bulldogs, scoring 19 unanswered points in the second half to finish 25-6 winners. They faced some minor issues early on, with Briton Nikora sin binned in the 5th minute, and the Bulldogs opening the scoring just a few minutes later. They will want to bring that second half energy right from the start against the Tigers.
A two week suspension for Briton Nikora gives Jack Williams a shot in the starting back row. Royce Hunt joins the bench after missing last week through illness, as does Billy Burns, who will make his Sharks debut. Tuku Hau Tapuha is relegated to the reserves.
Last meeting: Round 19 2023 - Wests Tigers 12 Sharks 36
Who to watch: Fonua Pole has been chipping away quietly since making his NRL debut in 2022 for the Wests Tigers. The forward will start at lock this weekend as he enters his second season as an established member of the 17. Now still at only 21 years of age, Pole was raised in Melbourne and showed promise on the Australian Footy field before joining the Victoria Thunderbolts junior pathways. Pole played a whopping 58 minutes off the bench last week, so it makes sense that Benji has upgraded him into the starting side this weekend.
Jack Williams has been with the Sharks since 2017, making his NRL debut in 2018. He recently brought up 100 first grade games and will be looking to add to that tally significantly throughout 2024. Despite making only six NRL appearances in 2022, he fell back into favour last year, becoming a consistent second row option and playing 24 games. The 27 year old played 37 minutes off the bench last week but gets the opportunity to make his case to become a regular in the starting side.
Favourite: The Sharks are heavy favourites to push aside the Tigers to keep their unbeaten start to the 2024 season alive.
My tip: The Sharks have started on fire, but it's hard to maintain consistency in the NRL. The Wests Tigers have absolutely nothing to lose in front of what will be a heaving Leichhardt crowd. Unfortunately for the Tigers, even at their best Cronulla should get the job done. Sharks by 16.
