Match 2026 NRL Round 5 - Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs New Zealand Warriors. 2:00pm, Sunday 5 April @ Ocean Protect Stadium

Match threads
Shark_Hatch said:
Gabrael has been named over Vei'la this time, maybe he realises his leaving end of the season so he's better off having Gabrael in there now as backup & 1st team training etc?
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Pretty concerning if he hasn’t realised he’s leaving before now.
Beyond that pretty much have to assume he has good reasons for small selection differences like that.

With Hiroti next man up before either it shouldn’t really matter whose in the extended squad - both will still train with the NRL side
 
after just watching the jets game the defence all round was pretty p*ss poor, and gabraels was definately p*ss. i think he's still a while off, especially for fitzys standards
 
Hopefully we're not in for episode 3 of ex-sharks half comes back to shark park to tear us up. Or would it be 4 or 5 by how?
 
bort said:
Pretty concerning if he hasn’t realised he’s leaving before now.
Beyond that pretty much have to assume he has good reasons for small selection differences like that.

With Hiroti next man up before either it shouldn’t really matter whose in the extended squad - both will still train with the NRL side
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Yeah Fitz will choose who is best fit now - not think about who won't be here next year
 
stalefish said:
after just watching the jets game the defence all round was pretty p*ss poor, and gabraels was definately p*ss. i think he's still a while off, especially for fitzys standards
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Yep, his defence is shithouse, and his tries are just Johnny on the spot
 
bort said:
Pretty concerning if he hasn’t realised he’s leaving before now.
Beyond that pretty much have to assume he has good reasons for small selection differences like that.

With Hiroti next man up before either it shouldn’t really matter whose in the extended squad - both will still train with the NRL side
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like maybe get him used to first grade game prep, put him on extended bench to get that experiece so he isnt startled if he gets a run later in the year
 
Nikoras return to first grade could be a perfect example of the new interchange rules work.

Under the old system he probably gets named as 1 of the 4. If there’s an injury in the back row then he goes straight on. No injuries, he probably gets some token minutes in the middle(or Burns moves to the middle)

Under the new system he gets named in the 6. Again if there’s an injury in the back row then he’s straight on. No injuries and he’ll miss out altogether.
 
Mr Ryan said:
Nikoras return to first grade could be a perfect example of the new interchange rules work.

Under the old system he probably gets named as 1 of the 4. If there’s an injury in the back row then he goes straight on. No injuries, he probably gets some token minutes in the middle(or Burns moves to the middle)

Under the new system he gets named in the 6. Again if there’s an injury in the back row then he’s straight on. No injuries and he’ll miss out altogether.
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There's no way in the world Nikora doesn't make the 17 and play if fit.
 
Tiger Shark said:
Given how the game is faster I like the idea of Nikora, Burns or Tieg being that 4th forward used in the middle, if last year is anything to go by Nikora off the bench worked well
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Yeah, we're pretty lucky to have versatility in our pack.

If a smaller, more mobile pack really is the way forward, we could easily run something like.

8. AFB
10. Toby
11. Nikora/Burns
12. Wilton
13. JC

14. Sifa
15. Nikora/Burns
16. McInnes/Puru
17. Kaufusi/Hazleton
 
Proud Shark said:
Yeah, we're pretty lucky to have versatility in our pack.

If a smaller, more mobile pack really is the way forward, we could easily run something like.

8. AFB
10. Toby
11. Nikora/Burns
12. Wilton
13. JC

14. Sifa
15. Nikora/Burns
16. McInnes/Puru
17. Kaufusi/Hazleton
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A smaller more mobile pack holds up a little better against runs of momentum in oppositions favour.
A bigger power based pack has better opportunity to turn momentum in our favour.

BUT the second is quite contingent on ball control and discipline. To generate the roll on down the middle to kick down their front door we need to complete and not give away cheap pressure releases. At the moment we don't have the completion rate and discipline, but if Roosters can go 50/52 no penalties so can we.

That is more the style of play we have built a side to play, with a big pack of AFB, Toby, Hazelton, Kaufusi, Uele, Colquhoun (McInnes lacked the size but ran like a missile).

Going smaller seems like a concession we can't execute that. And if we can't, then so be it, go smaller to cover the big packs deficiencies, and just have to find other ways to win. The rule change towards more 6 agains doesn't really do us any favours as it opens up more opportunities for opposition with good wrestle to slow our momentum at lower risk.
 
bort said:
A smaller more mobile pack holds up a little better against runs of momentum in oppositions favour.
A bigger power based pack has better opportunity to turn momentum in our favour.

BUT the second is quite contingent on ball control and discipline. To generate the roll on down the middle to kick down their front door we need to complete and not give away cheap pressure releases. At the moment we don't have the completion rate and discipline, but if Roosters can go 50/52 no penalties so can we.

That is more the style of play we have built a side to play, with a big pack of AFB, Toby, Hazelton, Kaufusi, Uele, Colquhoun (McInnes lacked the size but ran like a missile).

Going smaller seems like a concession we can't execute that. And if we can't, then so be it, go smaller to cover the big packs deficiencies, and just have to find other ways to win. The rule change towards more 6 agains doesn't really do us any favours as it opens up more opportunities for opposition with good wrestle to slow our momentum at lower risk.
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i think what we are missing is leg speed to get in behind the ruck, followed closely with our slow play the ball speed. it no surprise we look better though the middle with toby starting and then oregan coming off the bench. I think these rules may suit McInnes when he comes back
 
bort said:
A smaller more mobile pack holds up a little better against runs of momentum in oppositions favour.
A bigger power based pack has better opportunity to turn momentum in our favour.

BUT the second is quite contingent on ball control and discipline. To generate the roll on down the middle to kick down their front door we need to complete and not give away cheap pressure releases. At the moment we don't have the completion rate and discipline, but if Roosters can go 50/52 no penalties so can we.

That is more the style of play we have built a side to play, with a big pack of AFB, Toby, Hazelton, Kaufusi, Uele, Colquhoun (McInnes lacked the size but ran like a missile).

Going smaller seems like a concession we can't execute that. And if we can't, then so be it, go smaller to cover the big packs deficiencies, and just have to find other ways to win. The rule change towards more 6 agains doesn't really do us any favours as it opens up more opportunities for opposition with good wrestle to slow our momentum at lower risk.
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For sure. I'm not saying we should, more that we could if the feeling of the early rounds continue and it's untenable to keep rolling out a big pack.

It's a good situation because we have a decent quality of personnel to cover both situations.
 
Jasonstevenswedgie said:
i think what we are missing is leg speed to get in behind the ruck, followed closely with our slow play the ball speed. it no surprise we look better though the middle with toby starting and then oregan coming off the bench. I think these rules may suit McInnes when he comes back
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You may be right.
In the meantime, with the three backrowers healthy, I don't mind making Burns do it.
Talakai a good option too - agree with some others he hasn't been his usual barnstorming self so far this season though
 
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