Round 9: Sharks v Wests Tigers NRLW preview
The final round of the NRLW regular season has crept up on us incredibly quickly - starting with the last game at Leichhardt in 2024 as the Cronulla Sharks take on the Wests Tigers on Thursday night.
The Sharks had a home final in their hands for the first 68 minutes last week, before a disastrous last 90 seconds saw a ball get kicked dead and the Broncos scoring with the last play of the game. The 20-16 loss was the Sharks second defeat in a row, with the compounding effect in that finals are no longer guaranteed for last week's ladder leaders.
Coming off a 40-0 trouncing loss at the hands of the Roosters two weeks ago, it means that the Sharks must win this week against the Tigers in order to host a home final - and that is assuming that results go their way. A points differential of +26 also means that in the unlikely event that the Parramatta Eels can beat the Roosters by more than 30 points, the Cowboys defeat the Dragons and the Sharks lose to the Tigers - the Sharks could slip out of finals contention.
They will look to avoid that by winning against the Tigers - the same Wests Tigers that won their first game of 2024 last week against the Dragons. While the Tigers are basically confirmed to win the wooden spoon, it is a shining light on their struggling season that has seen them so close on a couple of occasions before watching the win slip away.
Two tries to Rebecca Pollard last week sealed the win for the Tigers, who were able to get that elusive win and have something to smile about in what has been a tough season. One can expect that the Tigers will come out firing as they look to double their season tally with the upset in their last home game of the season.
Cronulla have one change from last weeks game, with Chloe Saunders making way for Manilita Takapautolo on the bench.
The Tigers have an enforced change with an injury to Claudia Brown, likely ending her 2024 season. Montana Clifford returns from concussion protocols to replace Brown, who is on the extended bench should she be okay to go this weekend.
Last meeting: Round 2 2023 - Wests Tigers 10 Sharks 0
Who to Watch: Tayla Preston has been brilliant for the Sharks this season, moreso in just pure organization around the park than anything else. Despite only having two try assists this season for the competition leaders, Preston has been able to ensure that the attack is firing on all cylinders bar one game against the Roosters - something that has been lacking for the Sharks across the past few seasons in September.
Coming off a two try performance last week, Rebecca Pollard will look to replicate that performance against a Sharks side that has been leaking points in the last few weeks. Pollard, who ran for 167 metres with four line breaks, has grown into this season with four tries in five games. The Tigers will no doubt target Pollard's side this week as they look to cause a huge upset to finish off the 2024 season
My Tip: Put simply, a Cronulla Sharks win allows them to host a preliminary final without the need to worry for other results. The Tigers, riding high off their first win of 2024, will look to play party pooper to the Sharks efforts but the Sharks will be too strong as they look to tune up for next week's finals with a win away from home. It won't be a blow out, but it will be a comfortable Sharks win. Sharks by 12.
