Match 2024 NRL Round 4 - Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Canberra Raiders, 6:15pm Sunday 31 March @ PointsBet Stadium

[bort]

Been at club for ages, might even be a local junior?

 

[SF]

Just saw the extended bench… who tf is Blake Hosking? Did the raiders lend us a player?

Engadine Dragons junior, won a number of Sharks awards in SG Ball and Flegg, and has been playing well for Newtown this year (though not his best game yesterday).

He is a lock/second row, not the biggest forward around, but there is just something about his play that stands out and makes you notice him, puts more into every tackle and hit up than the average player.

 

[BurgoShark]

Engadine Dragons junior, won a number of Sharks awards in SG Ball and Flegg, and has been playing well for Newtown this year (though not his best game yesterday).

He is a lock/second row, not the biggest forward around, but there is just something about his play that stands out and makes you notice him, puts more into every tackle and hit up than the average player.

Hasn’t played much second row coming through. Bit of good and bad seeing him do it for Jets. Might not get his best when playing out of position, but it’s also good for Sharks depth that another guy is getting plenty of minutes there.

Was originally a hooker I believe. I think he played in the NSW u15’s at 9.

Edit - just checked. 2017 U15 Australian Schoolboys merit side at hooker.

 

[Go Nulla]

Not gunna watch then?

I will still watch.

 

[Sevshark]

Hasn’t played much second row coming through. Bit of good and bad seeing him do it for Jets. Might not get his best when playing out of position, but it’s also good for Sharks depth that another guy is getting plenty of minutes there.

Was originally a hooker I believe. I think he played in the NSW u15’s at 9.

Edit - just checked. 2017 U15 Australian Schoolboys merit side at hooker.

I'm hoping we see Coutts move up to Cup later in the year and get some consistent time on an edge against bigger bodies.


I assume the cook who started at 9 yesterday is a Newtown contract player Burgo? Hadn't heard of him before.

 

[sharkboy18]

I'm surprised the bookies have us at favourites despite having the home ground advantage today if I'm honest. I would have thought with the number of players we have out & considering how we went last week I'd have thought the bookies would have been leaning towards Canberra today. One of my 1st ever times in over 4 years I've tipped against us today ironically.

A week before our bye comes in handy with the amount of players we have out but today is where our senior players in our forward pack really have to step up, play harder then last week for sure. Cam McIness might have to play a full 80 today aswell if I'm honest especially considering he is sole captain today.

 

[Western Sharkie]

Would Really like a win going into a bye.

Not sure we can match it up front though

 

[CrazyMatt]

I give us a decent chance. Looking at our lineup, our pack isn’t THAT bad and if the outside backs pitch in as much as they usually do, then we can give ourselves a chance.

 

[Proud Shark]

I have a feeling Cam goes close to playing 80 today. If he does it could free up Tuks to have two small stints rather than a longer one.

Williams and Tommy I'm backing to step up in a big way. Williams MOM.

Game plan has to be to kick early and kick long. I want their big boppers turning around and jogging back all day.

 

[sharkboy18]

I have a feeling Cam goes close to playing 80 today. If he does it could free up Tuks to have two small stints rather than a longer one.

Williams and Tommy I'm backing to step up in a big way. Williams MOM.

Game plan has to be to kick early and kick long. I want their big boppers turning around and jogging back all day.

Tommy only just made his 1st grade debut at the end of 2022 & didn't play every game last season but I already consider him one of the leaders of our forward pack today with Finucane out. He'll step up today without a doubt imo. I don't think he'll play 80 but I reckon he'll be one of the players that get the most minutes of our pack & steps up, maybe 50-60 minutes. He is a unit & a leader in general imo.

 

[bort]

I have a feeling Cam goes close to playing 80 today. If he does it could free up Tuks to have two small stints rather than a longer one.

Williams and Tommy I'm backing to step up in a big way. Williams MOM.

Game plan has to be to kick early and kick long. I want their big boppers turning around and jogging back all day.

Win the kicking dual would help a lot.
Pressure Fogarty out of the game without giving away a penalty (maybe an early one to put a tickle in his ribs)

On the flip side, kick on different tackles, mix up main kicker and chase chase chase

 

[Gards]

Blake Hosking is a name that sounds familiar (like an established NRL player) but I don't know why cause I didn't know much about the bloke until this week (still don't know much) and he has never played firsts.

Maybe Zac Hosking or David Hosking is the name ringing around in my ears.

Blake doesn't even have a photo or any text on his profile on the Sharks website so we really are reaching down deep into the bottom of our depth.

At least our reserves in Blake and Berrel are forwards cause our bench looks kinda sus with only 1 genuine big bodied prop middle on it and Fitz doesn't have great form in making use of an off the bench half/utility (Atkinson) and it's a selection I don't really get unless there are fitness concerns in our halves.

We have lost 3 middle players and Fitz only really replaced 1 of them by bringing Burns into the team and he looks kinda underdone or maybe just underwhelming / both - hope he can come good cause we need massive games from all the bench, can't be any passengers or dead weight this game.

I'm actually starting to get worried about not just the size and strength advantage the Raiders have but also the pace / agility advantage they have around the middle/ruck & edges. Our 8 to 13 are good players for sure but not the best lateral movers. I really hope we don't get exposed up main street, nightmares coming back of Morris era (and some of Fitz era too).

The odds in our favor do seem strange but it reflects alot of where the punters are putting their money and I don't know why they would pick a game like this with us down on troops and against a team that always gets it over us and put money on us at short odds. Either they know something we don't or they got no idea and don't watch enough Sharks games.

They are overestimating the bounce back favour. It will wear off after 10 mins.

Both teams have been kinda sporadic and tough to get a read on over the seasons - I wouldn't go anywhere near trying to pick the outcome of this one but the safer bet is probably the Raiders.

 

[vicsharkfan]

Let’s arm wrestle the whole80 minutes.
Nothing flashy just solid grind
18-12 sharks

 

[sharksandwich]

Brailey needs to have a blinder

 

[Super Impose]

Let’s arm wrestle the whole80 minutes.
Nothing flashy just solid grind
18-12 sharks

Do we have the middles to out - arm wrestle these guys ?

 

[Gumby]

We can win this!

 

[Sevshark]

Nicho's 50th in the black, white and blue.
Think he'll be on today.

 

[dosit]

The biggest question I have today, is raiders by how much. I reckon they at least put 30- 40 on us. Sharks are no chance.

 

[Gumby]

If we score first and start well we will win imo. Needs to be a real grind though.

Kick to the corners. Repeat sets. Pressure pressure pressure. Move the ball around to tire out their big pack. 2-3 in a tackle, wrap the ball up. Can’t allow offloads like last week.

If we just do this one out stuff we will get bashed. Need to be adventurous today.

 

[Thresher]

Only chance I think we have is the Raiders taking us lightly.

Every now and then they don't turn up .