NRL Round 6 Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Friday 16th April 6pm @ McDonald Jones Stadium Newcastle

[Nulla Boy]

I wasn't able to watch the game tonight but I saw the score when I was able to, geez we've got to learn how to retain a lead rather then just let the other team get over us within the last 10 minutes. The matches go for 80 minutes, not 70 minutes.

His commentry about the ball being too high for Toby to contest was embarrassing. Ponga jumped for the ball at the exact same time as him and that fact wasn't even mentioned.

 

[MMsharks]

A direct quote from their coach!
So they clearly knew the extend of their illnesses.

It is one thing looking after players health with concussions etc but bacterial and virus illness/infections should rule players out until they have recovered.

I would have puked up myself if I was a player and landed in KP’s puke on the field!
Where is the players welfare/ health interests there???

Poor form firstly from the Knights to allow them to play and it would be poor form from the NRL if they don’t raise this.
Player welfare for both the sick player and the rest of the players playing in that match!

NRL will only do something about it when it impacts the bigger teams

 

[vicsharkfan]

Plenty spill blood over the field and it’s play on... I’m not sure it’s that big a deal, do wish the turd missed the game those bloody offloads gave me nightmares

 

[bort]

His commentry about the ball being too high for Toby to contest was embarrassing. Ponga jumped for the ball at the exact same time as him and that fact wasn't even mentioned.

He was acting like Ponga was standing there waiting for it. If Ponga had also jumped then Rudolf didn't jump unreasonably early

 

[BurgoShark]

Watched the final penalty again. It wasn’t downtown on Woods. All 3 chasers (Nikora, Ramien, Hiroti) are in front of the kicker and get within the 10 metres.

 

[vicsharkfan]

Watched the final penalty again. It wasn’t downtown on Woods. All 3 chasers (Nikora, Ramien, Hiroti) are in front of the kicker and get within the 10 metres.

So if ponga did fumble that awkward one, they still would have got the penalty?

 

[Greg86]

In the presser Hannay did talk about Ramien giving the penalty away. NRL app had it for downtown but Thanks Burgo for that. Poor play by that chase then. Just hold that 10m.

Poor those final stages

 

[Sharkmate]

A direct quote from their coach!
So they clearly knew the extend of their illnesses.

It is one thing looking after players health with concussions etc but bacterial and virus illness/infections should rule players out until they have recovered.

I would have puked up myself if I was a player and landed in KP’s puke on the field!
Where is the players welfare/ health interests there???

Poor form firstly from the Knights to allow them to play and it would be poor form from the NRL if they don’t raise this.
Player welfare for both the sick player and the rest of the players playing in that match!

Good point. I hadn't considered that. So what happens if 1/2 our side is sick this week because KP?

 

[apezza]

Good point. I hadn't considered that. So what happens if 1/2 our side is sick this week because KP?

I would have thought strict protocols would still in place around any signs / symptoms of illness.

We still have Warriors based in Australia due to Covid. I'm sure they wouldn't be happy knowing that teams in Aus are playing with sick players whilst they can't even see their families.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Did he have any covid symptoms? If not then I don't have an issue.

 

[Western Sharkie]

Did he have any covid symptoms? If not then I don't have an issue.

Will you have an issue if half our side pull up with a stomach bug during the week or can’t play as a result of one??

 

[vicsharkfan]

Not first time players have ran out feeling under the weather and spewed, just fox were wetting their pants about it...

 

[Western Sharkie]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...y/news-story/97fbc7ee4ce9ed14ca355993ad4532b9

New Sharks coach facing ‘first big headache’. But it’s ‘a good problem to have’
SHARKS
April 17, 2021 12:45pm
by ANDREW JACKSON
Source: FOX SPORTS

Josh Hannay is just one week into his stint as Cronulla Sharks interim coach but he admits his “first big headache” looms on the horizon.

Hannay confirmed after the Newcastle loss that halfback Shaun Johnson is “in contention” to make his comeback from an Achilles injury against the Bulldogs next week.

While adding Johnson may need the extra week to be physically prepared, it creates quite the dilemma and could be telling in the club’s long-term retention decisions.

Matt Moylan and Chad Townsend are currently the team’s first-choice halves pairing while Will Kennedy has been a revelation in the fullback jumper.

While Moylan has played at the back in the past, he has looked at home in the five-eighth jersey as he looks to build confidence after a string of hamstring injuries.

Moving Kennedy would also be a mistake given the confidence he is playing with, recording career-best numbers and backing his mix of speed and skill when taking on the line in set plays.

The 23-year old has six tries, four try assists, five linebreak assists and averages 133 running metres.

“I think he’s shown he’s one of the really good fullbacks in our competition now,” Hannay said post-game.

“I think it’s only onwards and upwards for Will and I’d be loathe to think that we’d be making any changes there.”

Then there is Townsend.

He has been exposed in defence at times but conversely is tied for the most try assists (11) in the league while also averaging the second-most kicking metres (499).

Johnson though was also in scintillating form before his injury with 23 try assists and 13 linebreak assists.

“Shaun Johnson is in contention,” Hannay said.

“I think Shaun Johnson is going to be close. It’s probably my first big headache in the position.

“We’ll work out a way that’s to get him back into the squad. The difficult thing is, you know, I think Chad and Matt Moylan are doing a pretty good job for us.”

Hannay though seemed to hint that Johnson will figure in the starting team, adding: “We’ve we also got to remember Shaun Johnson was elite last year when he was playing.”

Complicating matters is the fact Townsend has an option of two more years on his contract while Moylan, Johnson and Kennedy are all off-contract at the end of the year.

Hannay though may just want to focus on getting wins for the time being but who misses out could also determine retention decisions come the end of the season.

Fox League’s Ben Ikin tips that Kennedy and Townsend have locked down their spots in the team, with the decision to come down to Johnson and Moylan.

“It will be a good problem to have,” he told foxsports.com.au.

“I love what Will Kennedy brings. I think he’s just such an instinctive player with great natural ability who is going to continue to improve.

“Matt Moylan’s body has let him down over the last few years. I feel maybe fullback is past Matt Moylan. So it will come down to a decision between Shaun Johnson and Matt Moylan, again which is a good problem to have.

“Chad Townsend seems to be the calmest in the team and a very capable, consistent performer. So really it will be about who plays six.”

Ikin though said, with the new rules in mind, there could be a way to have all four in the team.

“Maybe Johnson wears 14, who knows,” he added.

“It is a situation where you might want him in the side and in a game that seems to be faster and more open with the new rules, to have someone like Shaun Johnson come into the game against a tired opposition could be the play.”

 

[HaroldBishop]

Will you have an issue if half our side pull up with a stomach bug during the week or can’t play as a result of one??

No. Like Vic said, players have played crook forever.

 

[Greg86]

Yeah we just pass it on to the dogs now! It will do the rounds haha

 

[bort]

No. Like Vic said, players have played crook forever.

Not really supposed to go to work sick these days

 

[BurgoShark]

So if ponga did fumble that awkward one, they still would have got the penalty?

Yep.

 

[bort]

Interesting stats out of last weekend

Distance covered (all games)
1st Adam Clune 9.69km
2nd Chad Townsend 9.63
3rd Jayden Brailey 9.57km
4th Enari Tuala 9.55km
5th Will Kennedy 9.41km

 

[Gards]

most of Chad's distance covered from sprinting across field to rack up his missed tackle stats

at least Gallen's stats padding gave us some go forward

 

[bort]

most of Chad's distance covered from sprinting across field to rack up his missed tackle stats

That's statistically unlikely.

The point of the post was more I thought it was interesting 4 of the top 5 were from the same game, not a request for people to try and figure out how to turn it into a Chad bash