2022 NRL Round 17 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs. Melbourne Storm @ Pointsbet Stadium, Sydney, Thursday 7th July 7:50pm

[Western Sharkie]

It’s Monday, so thought I’d kick this round off.

Hope you are all safe and well.

The boy and I are making our way over for this one so fingers crossed the weather eases off and this game goes ahead.

 

[HaroldBishop]

As I said in another thread Melbourne have been pretty average for a little while now and they'll be missing Munster and Grant. Their defence in particular has been bog average as well. If we can win the middle I'd back us to put on quite a few points.

Unfortunately the issue is going to be fatigue after playing our last game in a pool and a short turnaround.

Hope I'm wrong but I fear fatigue is going to be our undoing.

 

[Sir Chadley]

Thanks for posting @Western Sharkie, you're up early!!

Yes, I have the same concerns as HB, Melbourne had the extra day to recover and didn't play in a swamp like we did. Great to have Munster and Grant out but still lots of worries with Hughes, Big Nelson, Brandon Smith, Paps (if he doesn't make Origin) and the Bromwich brothers. Justin Olam is a tough nut as well. I'll be out there on Thursday night, it'll still be wet according to the forecast, so won't be easy going for both sides.

But if we can jag a win, it'll cement us just that bit more in the top 4. With Cows and Panthers to come, it's a game we really need to win. Otherwise we could find ourselves out of the four and sitting precariously in the bottom half of the 8.

 

[Sparkles]

Thanks for posting @Western Sharkie, you're up early!!

Yes, I have the same concerns as HB, Melbourne had the extra day to recover and didn't play in a swamp like we did. Great to have Munster and Grant out but still lots of worries with Hughes, Big Nelson, Brandon Smith, Paps (if he doesn't make Origin) and the Bromwich brothers. Justin Olam is a tough nut as well. I'll be out there on Thursday night, it'll still be wet according to the forecast, so won't be easy going for both sides.

But if we can jag a win, it'll cement us just that bit more in the top 4. With Cows and Panthers to come, it's a game we really need to win. Otherwise we could find ourselves out of the four and sitting precariously in the bottom half of the 8.

I can never work this out on my own... is Olam on the same side of the park as Talakai? That'd be a cracking contest.
Make sure you've got a thermos full of chicken noodle soup for that game, Chad!

 

[HaroldBishop]

I can never work this out on my own... is Olam on the same side of the park as Talakai? That'd be a cracking contest.
Make sure you've got a thermos full of chicken noodle soup for that game, Chad!

I don't think it matters, I'd back either one of our centres to handle him.

 

[snowman]

As I said in another thread Melbourne have been pretty average for a little while now and they'll be missing Munster and Grant. Their defence in particular has been bog average as well. If we can win the middle I'd back us to put on quite a few points.

Unfortunately the issue is going to be fatigue after playing our last game in a pool and a short turnaround.

Hope I'm wrong but I fear fatigue is going to be our undoing.

kaufusi will also be out as he is in the US

they have a lot of injuries, so they are there for the taking

pap coming back hurts, but if we aim up we should be good

pray to god that wighton is the 18th man for the origin game and not nicho

 

[Sir Chadley]

I can never work this out on my own... is Olam on the same side of the park as Talakai? That'd be a cracking contest.
Make sure you've got a thermos full of chicken noodle soup for that game, Chad!

I am pretty sure Olam plays left centre, so he'd be up against Ramien. Still a good contest that's for sure.

Chicken noodle soup? What are you @Sparkles - from the 1950s?

Meat pie and sauce is the thing to warm you up at Shark Park!

 

[snowman]

I can never work this out on my own... is Olam on the same side of the park as Talakai? That'd be a cracking contest.
Make sure you've got a thermos full of chicken noodle soup for that game, Chad!

talakai wont be playing, but olam will be marked up on ramien

 

[MrDravid]

talakai wont be playing, but olam will be marked up on ramien

Olam on Ramien is probably preferable to Olam on Tracey.

 

[Sir Chadley]

kaufusi will also be out as he is in the US

they have a lot of injuries, so they are there for the taking

pap coming back hurts, but if we aim up we should be good

pray to god that wighton is the 18th man for the origin game and not nicho

I heard somewhere they were only picking 18th men from teams who had the bye. Is this correct mate or just a myth?

 

[HaroldBishop]

kaufusi will also be out as he is in the US

they have a lot of injuries, so they are there for the taking

pap coming back hurts, but if we aim up we should be good

pray to god that wighton is the 18th man for the origin game and not nicho

Yep they're definitely there for the taking, the timing is a shame.

 

[MrDravid]

I heard somewhere they were only picking 18th men from teams who had the bye. Is this correct mate or just a myth?

While it makes sense, they pick who they like. Having said that, I suspect Wighton gets the 18 this time around.

 

[snowman]

I heard somewhere they were only picking 18th men from teams who had the bye. Is this correct mate or just a myth?

i wish that were the case but i doubt it

 

[Sparkles]

talakai wont be playing, but olam will be marked up on ramien

You'd think Wighton comes back into the blues side with Talakai missing out, but Olam V Ramien is still worth the ticket price.

 

[puma1355]

Nicho is in. They allowing 18th man to play.

 

[Patrick]

Nicho is in. They allowing 18th man to play.

Was just about to ask! That's a big in for us.

 

[HaroldBishop]

You'd think Wighton comes back into the blues side with Talakai missing out, but Olam V Ramien is still worth the ticket price.

I don't know how they can have Cook and Wighton on the bench, that's very risky.

Nicho is in. They allowing 18th man to play.

Where are you hearing this? I'd be surprised if they allowed this.

 

[Sir Chadley]

Was just about to ask! That's a big in for us.

You're going to believe Puma? Not sure that's wise mate. I hope he is correct but I don't think so.

 

[Sir Chadley]

I don't know how they can have Cook and Wighton on the bench, that's very risky.


Where are you hearing this? I'd be surprised if they allowed this.

It's the voices in his head...

 

[MrDravid]

Where are you hearing this? I'd be surprised if they allowed this.

DT reporting that Nicho part of squad and will be allowed to play for the Sharks.

I'm not sure that equates to he's 18th man (article is paywalled) and will be allowed to play (IMO more likely he's just part of extended squad).