Sunday’s NRL 2018 Round 21 match is between Cronulla Sharks and Manly Sea Eagles. The opening kick is set to commence at 14:00 local time with the game to be played at Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney. The home team Cronulla Sharks are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Cronulla Sharks and Manly Sea Eagles.
When: 14:00 | Sunday 05/08/2018
Where: Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney
Preview:
Both sides are coming off a loss however the Sharks would be desperate to stay in striking distance of the top 4.
They were beaten last week by a determined Brisbane outfit that tackled their way to victory.
I can’t see Manly being able to do that this week.
Leading one of the heavyweights 24-6 and then getting run down suggests this won’t be the case.
KEY BATTLE: Andrew Fifita v Martin Taupau
The Sharks have an ability to be able to throw the ball around off the back of some 2nd phase footy which really troubles teams.
Actually, these two sides have the best in the business in that area and the battle between Andrew Fifita and Marty Taupau who are sitting 1 and 2 in NRL for offloads, should be a real treat.
The Verdict
Look for the Sharks to get the Eagles into a real arm-wrestle.
This is how they play their footy and if they do so, they will win for mine.
Too experienced in this area.
The Eagles can look to really challenge the Sharks if they stick to their game and execute for the full 80.
That’s has to be a real focus for them this week.
Cronulla too strong at home.
The Sharks have a 45-34-1 (56.3 percent) record at Southern Cross Group Stadium since 2012.
Unibet Odds:
Cronulla Sharks at $1.35
Manly Sea Eagles at $3.25
Odds:
Tip: Cronulla Sharks at $1.34
Value Tip: First Try Scorer: Edrick Lee at $11.00
More Info:
Teams:
Cronulla Sharks:
1 Valentine Holmes, 2 Sosaia Feki, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Sione Katoa, 6 Matt Moylan, 7 Chad Townsend, 8 Andrew Fifita, 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Matt Prior, 11 Luke Lewis, 12 Wade Graham (c), 13 Paul Gallen (c)
Interchange: 14 Scott Sorensen, 15 James Segeyaro, 16 Aaron Woods, 17 Jayson Bukuya
Reserves: 18 Josh Dugan, 19 Ava Seumanufagai , 20 Joseph Paulo, 21 Kyle Flanagan.
Manly Sea Eagles: 
1 Tom Trbojevic, 2 Jorge Taufua, 3 Moses Suli, 4 Brian Kelly, 5 Bradley Parker, 6 Dylan Walker, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Manase Fainu, 10 Martin Taupau, 11 Joel Thompson, 12 Shaun Lane, 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 14 Trent Hodkinson, 15 Kelepi Tanginoa, 16 Frank Winterstein, 17 Taniela Paseka
Reserves: 18 Matthew Wright, 20 Jack Gosiewski, 21 Toafofoa Sipley, 22 Lloyd Perrett.
NRL News:
He left everything out on the field – mostly his lunch.
But Andrew Fifita’s gutsy effort for Cronulla in their 12-10 NRL loss to Brisbane, after battling food poisoning, did not impress coach Shane Flanagan.
Fifita appeared to typify the brave Sharks in their Suncorp Stadium defeat on Thursday night, producing some head turning numbers despite at one stage vomiting on the field after a dodgy lunch.
He was forced off the field after 26 minutes as he overcame the effects of food poisoning but returned to finish with 131m to his name from 18 runs plus six tackle breaks.
He also polished off 24 tackles.
But Sharks mentor Flanagan rolled his eyes when it was suggested after the round 20 loss that Fifita had been impressive.
“I don’t think it was one of Andrew’s better games at all,” he said.
“If that is your opinion of Andrew’s game that’s nice but by his standards and our standards it wasn’t one of his better ones.”
Flanagan said he would pull Fifita aside after the loss to address his concerns but refused to elaborate.
Asked what he didn’t like about Fifita’s game, Flanagan said: “I will keep that and work with Andrew on those”.
The hulking forward blamed the hotel buffet for his upset stomach.
Fifita revealed he was made to pay for not sticking to his unorthodox pre-game routine.
“I missed my Subway today. I tried just going with the hotel food and I got really, really sick and I wouldn’t go near the tryline down here at the south end,” Fifita told Triple M Radio.
“It’s the first time and it’ll be the last time not eating Subway (on game day).
“I’ll never go off it again. I don’t care how far it is, I’ll keep walking there.”
While Fifita received tough love, Sharks halfback Chad Townsend got a bit of sympathy after being left to rue a key missed conversion.
After fullback Valentine Holmes bagged a double to take his try tally to a league leading 17, Townsend somehow butchered the kick right in front of the posts by hitting the left upright.
It left the scores locked at 10-10 early in the second half.
Sharks co-captain Paul Gallen felt for the playmaker post-match.
“We had opportunities at the back end of the game and didn’t execute,” Gallen said.
“Chad Townsend was under enormous pressure and we are not listening to him at times.”
The fifth-placed Sharks hope to welcome back Wade Graham next round against Manly after the co-captain and flyer Edrick Lee both missed the Brisbane clash with groin injuries.
