2022 NRL Round 18 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs. North Queensland Cowboys @ Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville, Friday 15th July 6:00pm

[Sir Chadley]

Ok guys, confess. Who has had this game marked in their calendar once the draw came out?

Well if you didn't I bet Chad Townsend and Valentine Holmes did.

Gonna be one tough clash up there against these guys, Todd Payten has got them playing an exciting and tough brand of footy and it is no fluke they are second on the ladder. Chad and Val are going to do their best to spoil our party and prove to those in charge at the Sharks that they should not have let them go. Well maybe not Val as he left us in not so great circumstances.

Like most games likely I'll settle for a close win but we've got to start showing these top sides that we mean business now and we also deserve to be up there. Let's hope Fitz gets them motivated for this one and we get the 2 points. Chance to go 2nd here if we win.

 

[Sparkles]

Ok guys, confess. Who has had this game marked in their calendar once the draw came out?

Well if you didn't I bet Chad Townsend and Valentine Holmes did.

Gonna be one tough clash up there against these guys, Todd Payten has got them playing an exciting and tough brand of footy and it is no fluke they are second on the ladder. Chad and Val are going to do their best to spoil our party and prove to those in charge at the Sharks that they should not have let them go. Well maybe not Val as he left us in not so great circumstances.

Like most games likely I'll settle for a close win but we've got to start showing these top sides that we mean business now and we also deserve to be up there. Let's hope Fitz gets them motivated for this one and we get the 2 points. Chance to go 2nd here if we win.

It should be a lot of fun. And we know how to unsettle CT7... the only problem now is he has a few other pretty good options around him if we do put the pressure on. Deardon has been great this year too, with both helping share the load and balance out their kicking and attacking options. I'm looking forward to a really tough contest with a few points in it for good meaure!

 

[bort]

Ok guys, confess. Who has had this game marked in their calendar once the draw came out?

Well if you didn't I bet Chad Townsend and Valentine Holmes did.

Gonna be one tough clash up there against these guys, Todd Payten has got them playing an exciting and tough brand of footy and it is no fluke they are second on the ladder. Chad and Val are going to do their best to spoil our party and prove to those in charge at the Sharks that they should not have let them go. Well maybe not Val as he left us in not so great circumstances.

Like most games likely I'll settle for a close win but we've got to start showing these top sides that we mean business now and we also deserve to be up there. Let's hope Fitz gets them motivated for this one and we get the 2 points. Chance to go 2nd here if we win.

Val requested an early release and Chad chose not to take up an option because he got a fantastic offer elsewhere.
Not sure we did much wrong in either case.

But yeah would be nice to get the win... tbh I'd rather beat a team above us on the ladder than worry about it being Chad and Val... I just really don't want either of them to be responsible for beating us. Chad surely owed a botched 3 on 1 or something.

 

[Sir Chadley]

Val requested an early release and Chad chose not to take up an option because he got a fantastic offer elsewhere.
Not sure we did much wrong in either case.

But yeah would be nice to get the win... tbh I'd rather beat a team above us on the ladder than worry about it being Chad and Val... I just really don't want either of them to be responsible for beating us. Chad surely owed a botched 3 on 1 or something.

Yes, yes, but why let the truth get in the way of a good story!

And I agree with your second point mate, but you can bet your bottom dollar the media will paint it as a grudge match.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Hasn't Val played against already?

 

[HaroldBishop]

Shame this is the early game, well worthy of the later kick off

 

[Sharkbyte]

Will b there for my annual trip south, really looking forward to this one...

 

[Sir Chadley]

Hasn't Val played against already?

Yeah, I think he has, but now he has his mate Chad with him it just adds to the intrigue!

 

[Shortfin Mako]

It’s just 2 days after the SOO. They may not be at full strength.

 

[bort]

Our team selections tomorrow will be interesting with Hynes and Rudolf due back.

We need to account for Nikora out - I think we start Wade and Teig but do we bench Talakai and rotate him in here? Fits what we need (edge) and the fact he has just played a game.
It was previous starter BHU who came in for Toby who is available again so you'd think both of them make the team.
Trindall played well but does he hold a jersey or go back to Cup with Hynes back? I think if we play Tracey at centre and Talakai off the bench Trindall has to be 18th man or play Jets. If Talakai is named at centre maybe Tracey is 18th man and Trindall sneaks onto bench.

For them Murray Tualagi comes out of iso that day so he can play but will have done nothing with team.
Without McLean they will be a step down in the middle.

It’s just 2 days after the SOO. They may not be at full strength.

Dearden, Holmes, Nanai & Gilbert playing...
If NSW do a good job Dearden may not be up for another game, Ben Hampton probably comes in.
Maybe if Nanai plays big minutes they might rest him and start Lucy but I think unless hurt Holmes will play and Gilbert is a bench man so likely will be okay.

Could be some consideration to keep knocking Val around though with Ramien if he faces a lot of work in SOO

 

[stormshark]

Target their secondrowers.Make em tackle,tire them out,blunted their attack.Keep it more straight this week against this mob.Golden point either way.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Win this and there can't be any excuses for missing the top 4. Sure, we lose the following week but our run home is pretty good.

 

[BurgoShark]

Win this and there can't be any excuses for missing the top 4. Sure, we lose the following week but our run home is pretty good.

Speaking of top 4, what are the current rules around home finals? Can the Sharks have one, and if so, is that week 1 only?

If they are the same as 2019 and the ladder stays as is… Finishing 4th, playing at Penrith and then if you lose playing a “home” semi against the Eels at their own stadium.

Sounds great

 

[HaroldBishop]

Speaking of top 4, what are the current rules around home finals? Can the Sharks have one, and if so, is that week 1 only?

If they are the same as 2019 and the ladder stays as is… Finishing 4th, playing at Penrith and then if you lose playing a “home” semi against the Eels at their own stadium.

Sounds great

Yeah was going to ask the same thing. Pretty sure you can host at home ground week 1, I'd be amazed if we're allowed to though with such a small capacity.

 

[Sparkles]

Speaking of top 4, what are the current rules around home finals? Can the Sharks have one, and if so, is that week 1 only?

If they are the same as 2019 and the ladder stays as is… Finishing 4th, playing at Penrith and then if you lose playing a “home” semi against the Eels at their own stadium.

Sounds great

Yeah was going to ask the same thing. Pretty sure you can host at home ground week 1, I'd be amazed if we're allowed to though with such a small capacity.

You can see them pushing the games to Commbank Stadium

 

[MrDravid]

Speaking of top 4, what are the current rules around home finals? Can the Sharks have one, and if so, is that week 1 only?

If they are the same as 2019 and the ladder stays as is… Finishing 4th, playing at Penrith and then if you lose playing a “home” semi against the Eels at their own stadium.

Sounds great

Shark Park couldn't have one with a full capacity, there's no chance we'll get one there with reduced capacity.

Maybe Accor instead of Commbank? Doubt SCG would be an option. The new football stadium should be open by then?

 

[egg]

Yeah was going to ask the same thing. Pretty sure you can host at home ground week 1, I'd be amazed if we're allowed to though with such a small capacity.

I reckon we'd play here instead

Sydney Roosters v South Sydney Rabbitohs​

Fri 02 Sep 2022
Allianz Stadium, Moore Park, NSW

 

[MrDravid]

Yeah, I think he has, but now he has his mate Chad with him it just adds to the intrigue!

Already played us twice so its old news for Val (although he hasn't beaten us yet).

It's all about (almost) State of Origin half Chad!

 

[apezza]

Re Talakai - I suppose whether he starts from the bench will be determined on the amount of minutes played.

If he only plays 15 odd minutes again then he might be ok to start, otherwise you can bring him off the bench.

 

[Proud Shark]

Shame this is the early game, well worthy of the later kick off

You definitely wouldn't have picked that at the start of the season looking at a 15th v 9th match up.

Re Talakai - I suppose whether he starts from the bench will be determined on the amount of minutes played.

If he only plays 15 odd minutes again then he might be ok to start, otherwise you can bring him off the bench.

Yeah if he plays a similar role i'd expect him to start. I'd say we may see him start regardless, and if he has played extra minutes maybe there is an argument for Tracey as the last bench spot.

I'm very interested as to what the pack/bench will look like this week. Possibly something like:

8. Toby
10. Hunt
11. Teig
12. Wade
13. Finucane

14. McInnes
15. BHU
16. Tolman
17. Fifita/Tracey

Hopefully we don't see McInnes on an edge again.