2023 NRL Round 20 New Zealand Warriors v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2:00pm Sunday 16 July @ Go Media Stadium, Auckland NZ

[stormshark]

Gut feel we win, also that Uele plays

 

[Spanner shark]

I don’t really rate Warriors as a top team tbh (yet)

We should’ve won that game ; I think our winning ways against them will continue this week but if it doesn’t then that’ll mean they’ve really changed their ways and we are still the same

Not a bad run to the finals for the Warriors after our game.

 

[Gards]

I feel like weve always had the wood over the warriors.. for what that’s worth this week I don’t know, it’s a wobbler

They have been a bottom 8 team most of their existence so most teams would have the wood over them.

They have had some bad losses this year including twice to the Roosters and once against Knights

They are still inconsistent and wildly unpredictable - a good and bad thing for oppositions

Sharks on the other hand you know what you are gunna get

Sharks vs. Bottom 8 team = Sharks destroy them
Sharks vs. Top 8 team = tough Sharks loss by 10 points or so
Sharks vs Top 8 team = Sharks get murdered

Outside of the Eels (who we have a habit of beating) if we had to play any other Top 8 team right now I would want it to be the Warriors because we are hopeless against the other teams

I don't think we are clearly superior to them or anything but reasonably matched and in with a chance. If they turn up and play at their best though our defense won't be able to handle it but play it down their end and take our chances we can come home with 2 points.

 

[Shortfin Mako]

Do you think the fact the top teams have better defence than the lower teams might have something to do with it mate?

Definitely.

We struggle even with the lower teams when they rush out. We only win against them because we out-score them and/or they run out of juice.

 

[bort]

Definitely.

We struggle even with the lower teams when they rush out. We only win against them because we out-score them and/or they run out of juice.

Deep

 

[Shortfin Mako]

Deep

LOL - I meant it as in either their defence gets tired or our attack proves to be too much for them.

But if they shut down our attack and we can’t score 30 some points, we do not win. I do not see us winning a low scoring game (like 10-6) this year.

Hope it’s clearer.

 

[SF]

Gun playmaker Shaun Johnson is expecting his second child this week and could be a late scratching from the team, withRonald Volkman or Dylan Walker the likely replacements.

Warriors’ nervous Johnson wait; Knights’ boost as Dolphins, Dogs make big calls: Teams Analysis

Dolphins, Dogs make big calls as Warriors face nervous Johnson wait: Teams Analysis

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Capital_Shark]

hahaha will a win against them without SJ count?

 

[bort]

hahaha will a win against them without SJ count?

The top 8 wins against us without Hynes count but I'm sure they will find just the right spot to move the goal posts to.

"Cronulla haven't beaten a top 8 side that isn't affected by a player being unavailable for 3 years"

 

[Wiz]

hahaha will a win against them without SJ count?

Not really we should prefer they have their full strength team

Been embarrassed by most of our performances against top teams, would be good to see where we are at against a full strength warriors

 

[Tiger Shark]

Not really we should prefer they have their full strength team

Been embarrassed by most of our performances against top teams, would be good to see where we are at against a full strength warriors

I see where you’re coming from but first priority should be securing as many points as possible with such a congested ladder.

Plenty of games coming up to test where we are at imo.

 

[Wiz]

I see where you’re coming from but first priority should be securing as many points as possible with such a congested ladder.

Plenty of games coming up to test where we are at imo.

i hear you

Just don’t want a repeat of last year

 

[apezza]

Funny - all those stats etc. I still feel we lose most games due to poor discipline and handling. Apart from the Melb game (and maybe Dolphins), we could have won had we controlled the ball and not give away dumb penalties

 

[bort]

Funny - all those stats etc. I still feel we lose most games due to poor discipline and handling. Apart from the Melb game (and maybe Dolphins), we could have won had we controlled the ball and not give away dumb penalties

Possession and field position even bandaid solution our trash try line defence.
Doesn't matter as much it is leaky if we don't keep letting teams walk up to test it out.

Can work on our tryline systems once we sort out field position issues

 

[Proud Shark]

Funny - all those stats etc. I still feel we lose most games due to poor discipline and handling. Apart from the Melb game (and maybe Dolphins), we could have won had we controlled the ball and not give away dumb penalties

Spot on, same can be said for last year also. Losses against Canberra, Brisbane and Penrith, not to mention the qualifying final could all have easily been wins.

I guess that's the pattern though, we are winning the games we should win and not the games we could win that would take us to that next level.

 

[GF78]

When we say “top teams” who are we talking about?

Sharks lost to Souths and Canberra without Nicho, choked vs the Warriors, and put in a stinker vs the Dolphins. From my point of view when we say top teams we are talking about the Brisbane and Melbourne games.

Brisbane game the Sharks had no problem moving the ball or creating opportunities. Brisbane just had outstanding try line defence and the Sharks fifth tackle options were poor.

Melbourne game the Sharks outside backs struggled to move the ball out of their own end, and the team compounded that with a bunch of errors.

For us, Canberra is a top team, which gawls me. Their forwards treat our pack like their bitch - have done since circa 2015.

 

[Western Sharkie]

For us, Canberra is a top team, which gawls me. Their forwards treat our pack like their bitch - have done since circa 2015.

Except 2016.

 

[Hughesy215]

Mmmmmm... dat Matt Prior run *reaches for tissues

 

[BurgoShark]

Funny - all those stats etc. I still feel we lose most games due to poor discipline and handling. Apart from the Melb game (and maybe Dolphins), we could have won had we controlled the ball and not give away dumb penalties

I think the big thing is that those stats don’t necessarily indicate the cause. They could very well be the result.

i.e. lots of errors in your own end will mean you spend more energy in defence, and likely spend more time rucking it off your own try line. That will lead to making less metres.

 

[vicsharkfan]

Mmmmmm... dat Matt Prior run *reaches for tissues

Almost my second favourite try of all time behind fif’s.