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Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Parramatta Eels Friday 6:00pm at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal

Sharks look for redemption against renewed Eels

The Cronulla Sharks will look for immediate revenge after golden point heartache last weekend, when they kickstart the NRL's Magic Round against the Parramatta Eels at Suncorp Stadium.

The Sharks are hard to get a gauge on through 2025, they look like premiership hot-shots one minute, then the next they are displaying football IQ that wouldn't pass the muster in junior representative level. They had that many opportunities to put the Tigers away last weekend, that's before getting to their field goal setup in golden point. Coach Craig Fitzgibbon would've been pulling his hair out at that strategy from the box and attacking execution needs to improve this weekend.

To defeat the Eels, they need the halves to execute. For the strong start Nicho Hynes has had this season, the questions continue to linger around his ability in clutch situations. The same goes for halves partner Braydon Trindall. Their forwards (outside of Addin Fonua-Blake) have gone back to the same question marks we had on them last season. Parramatta looked at their electric best on Easter Monday, so the Sharks edges have to be on their A game if Mitch Moses gets a chance to go on the outside.

On the team front, Mawene Hiroti hurt his knee last weekend and is out, it comes at a fortunate time with Kayal Iro returning from a hamstring injury. On the bench sees the return of Braden Hamlin-Uele after a strong performance for Newtown with Tuku Hau-Taupha dropping back to the reserves.

Now onto Parramatta, it has been a rough start to the Jason Ryles era but he is finally starting to put his stamp on this football team that we saw in the trials. One thing that is clear, is they are an up-tempo footy team. That was on full display in the second half of their win over the Tigers, they scored three tries in six minutes and blew the Tigers away. 

To beat the Sharks. They need to win the forward battle, dominate the ruck speed and take Addin Fonua-Blake out of the contest, the Sharks pack has proven that they can't run with teams (as displayed in losses to Canterbury and Wests). If the pack wins, Moses and Dylan Brown will have a platform to play off to go out wide and kick Cronulla into submission. 

Onto the team card, Kelma Tuilagi (suspension) is out with Charlie Guymer coming onto the edge. Elsewhere, there are no changes to the side that was victorious on Easter Monday.

Last meeting: Round 13 2024 - Eels 34 Sharks 22

Who to watch: My focus for the Sharks is on the high flying Will Kennedy. Having a mortgage on the fullback position with long-term injuries to other potential replacements (Liam Ison and Kade Dykes). Despite this, he is playing like a player that is fighting for his NRL future with a much improved start to 2025. Sitting second in Dally M voting, Kennedy has been electric at the back, having a hand in much of the Sharks attack and will be key to a win in this one.

For the Eels, my focus is on Ryley Smith. Smith has been an electric game changer for the Eels this season, his service out of nine and aggressive defence has been much improved. Despite that, we haven't truly seen the best of him running the ball yet. He will get his chance and against a potentially tired Sharks pack, it could be this weekend on the biggest regular season stage!

Favourite: Cronulla are favourites for this one. These sides have played 92 times with the Sharks holding a narrow head-to-head record.

My tip: I have my concerns over the Sharks pack as always as well as the short turnaround against a team with the longest turnaround in the NRL. I fancy the Eels kicking game turning the Sharks highly fancied back five around to come out of yardage but it's going to come down to the big moments and my gut feeling suspects Parramatta have a point to prove to turn their season around. Eels by 4.

1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 17. Thomas Hazelton 11. Briton Nikora 12. Billy Burns 13. Cameron McInnes 10. Oregon Kaufusi 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Jesse Colquhoun 19. Daniel Atkinson

1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Charlie Guymer 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J'maine Hopgood 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 16. Sam Tuivaiti 17. Jordan Samrani 19. Joash Papali'i

Referees: Peter Gough; Sideline Officials: Phil Henderson, Jarrod Cole; Video Referees: Chris Butler;