Monday’s NRL match with the last game for Round 1 is between Cronulla Sharks and Gold Coast Titans with the opening kick to commence at 7pm (AEDT). The game is to be played at Remondis Stadium with the favourite for the match being Cronulla Sharks. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Cronulla Sharks and Gold Coast Titans.
WHERE AND WHEN: Remondis Stadium, Monday March 10, 7pm (AEDT)
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Odds Comparison:
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| Cronulla Sharks | 1.70 | 1.65 | 1.67 | 1.65 | 1.70 | 1.65 |
| Gold Coast Titans | 2.20 | 2.27 | 2.25 | 2.27 | 2.20 | 2.25 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
Preview:
The final match of the opening round sees the Sharks host the Titans.
Despite being dogged by off-field drama last season, as they have been again in recent months with the suspension of Coach Shane Flanagan, the Sharks produced a solid year in 2013, winning fourteen of their games and finishing in fifth spot on the ladder.
The team announced for the opening round is a solid one for the Sharks – if all players do make the field.
Injury clouds over five-eighth Todd Carney and lock-forward Wade Graham are a concern, especially with regular half-back Jeff Robson already missing due to injury. If Carney misses this game, the Sharks will have to put together a new and inexperienced halves combination.
The Titans toughed out last season well against a long injury list. The just missed out on making the finals and finished in ninth spot on the ladder with eleven wins from their twenty-four matches.
This is the seventh year in the competition for the Titans in which time, they’ve only made the finals twice (2009, 2010) and will be desperate to improve their finals record this season.
Beside Jamal Idris’ move to Penrith, the Titans remain largely the same squad as that of 2013.
With four representatives in their impressive forward pack, it is this area where the Titans will have to assert their authority if they are to win more games.
The Sharks have won three of the last four against the Titans at home including sneaking home by two points in this game last year.
Expect this game to be closer than the current market suggests and for the market to tighten considerably if Carney is omitted. The value in this match may be with the Titans
Teams:
Cronulla Sharks:
Michael Gordon, Sosaia Feki, Blake Ayshford, Jonathan Wright, Beau Ryan, Todd Carney, Daniel Holdsworth, Andrew Fifita, John Morris, Bryce Gibbs, Matt Prior, Wade Graham, Paul Gallen (c)
Interchange: Isaac De Gois, Sam Tagataese, Tupou Sopoaga, Siosaia Vave, Tinirau Arona (one to be omitted)
Gold Coast Titans:
William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Brad Tighe, Maurice Blair, David Mead, Aidan Sezer, Albert Kelly, Luke Douglas, Beau Falloon, Nate Myles (c), Greg Bird (c), David Taylor, Ashley Harrison
Interchange: Matthew White, Luke Bailey, Mark Minichiello, Paul Carter, Ryan James, Brad Takairangi, Ben Ridge (three to be omitted)
News:
Cronulla’s Todd Carney and Beau Ryan have been ruled out of Monday’s clash with Gold Coast at Remondis Stadium after failing fitness tests.
Interim coach Peter Sharp confirmed on Sunday that Carney’s hamstring issue had not cleared up sufficiently to risk him so early in the season and Ryan is still suffering the affects of a neck problem.
“With Todd it’s just a week too soon,” Sharp told AAP.
“We could play him and then risk losing him for six weeks, but that would be madness. The same goes for Beau.”
The absence of Carney means the Sharks are without their two starting halves with Jeff Robson still sidelined after breaking his cheekbone in a trial.
Sharp confirmed Wade Graham will move to five-eighth with former Canterbury halfback Daniel Holdsworth playing his first NRL game since 2009 having spent five years in Super League with Salford and Hull.
Ricky Leutele will replace Ryan on the wing after overcoming a foot injury that has kept him on the sidelines since round three of last season.
“Ricky is a good kid who’s had some bad luck with injuries and is champing at the bit to play,” Sharp said.
“Wade has played in the halves before and Daniel Holdsworth is an experienced head.”
It will be a case of deja vu at Remondis Stadium for the season opener with the future of suspended coach Shane Flanagan very much the backdrop to the game.
Flanagan is set to appeal a 12-month ban by the NRL following a probe into the club’s supplements program during the 2011 season.
NRL chief Dave Smith announced last Wednesday that a first appeal by Flanagan against the term had been rejected, with the Sharks mentor now ready to go to the Supreme Court in a bid to clear his name.
Twelve months ago Flanagan was absent from the coach’s box for the round one visit of the Titans having been stood down by the club following an investigation by former deputy chair of ASADA Trish Kavanagh.
Flanagan was reinstated by the club for the season opener, but like this year it’s the veteran former Manly and Hull coach Sharp who will look after the team.
“It’s all water off a duck’s back for these blokes, we just all want to stop talking and playing some footy,” he said.
There was speculation promising hooker Michael Lichaa was in line for his first grade debut, but Sharp resisted the temptation to field him and he played in the Sharks’ NSW Cup win over Canterbury on Saturday.
“He’s a good young player, but this is a game for incumbents,” he said.
“John Morris and Isaac De Gois haven’t let us down. Michael will have to bide his time and keep knocking on the door.”