Round 8 of the NRL 2013 season on Sunday will consist of three matches the second of which is between Newcastle Knights and Cronulla Sharks with the match being played at Hunter Stadium in Newcastle. Home team the Newcastle Knights hold favouritism in the match due to the home ground advantage. View our live NRL scores, stats, odds and results for the game between Newcastle Knights and Cronulla Sharks.
WHERE AND WHEN: Hunter Stadium, Sunday @ 14:00
Opening Odds:
Newcastle Knights $1.36 vs Cronulla Sharks $3.20 at Sportsbet Australia
Newcastle Knights $1.33 vs Cronulla Sharks $3.40 at Luxbet Australia
Preview:
The first Sunday game is between the Knights and the Sharks, with an AM kick-off at 11.45 at Hunter Stadium. This looks like one of the most uneven match-ups of the round on paper, with Newcastle coming directly from a comprehensive win against the Gold Coast and Cronulla suffering a massive 50-10 loss against the Bulldogs. The lacklustre defence shown by the Sharks is unlikely to have been fixed in one week, especially with Jake Mamo and others on fire for Newcastle.
Teams:
Newcastle Knights:
Darius Boyd, James McManus, Dane Gagai, Timana Tahu, Akuila Uate, Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden, Kurt Gidley (c), Willie Mason, Robbie Rochow, Alex McKinnon, Chris Houston
Interchange: Travis Waddell, Neville Costigan, Adam Cuthbertson, David Fa’alogo, Korbin Sims (one to be omitted)
Cronulla Sharks:
Michael Gordon, Nathan Stapleton, Ben Pomeroy, Jonathan Wright, Beau Ryan, Todd Carney, Jeff Robson, Andrew Fifita, John Morris, Ben Ross, Luke Lewis, Wade Graham, Paul Gallen (c)
Interchange: Chris Heighington, Jayson Bukuya, Isaac De Gois, Anthony Tupou, Sam Tagataese (one to be omitted)
Woods primed for ‘fiery’ Sharks NRL clash
NSW State of Origin hopeful and Wests Tigers prop Aaron Woods has tipped a fiery contest in the mate-against-mate clash between the joint venture and Cronulla on Friday night.
The 22-year-old Woods admits the game will have some extra spice as he lines up against four former teammates at Allianz Stadium.
Props Andrew Fifita and Bryce Gibbs joined the Sharks in 2012 from the Tigers before back-rower Chris Heighington and winger Beau Ryan defected to Cronulla this season.
“I can’t wait for the game,” Woods told AAP.
“Every game I look forward to playing but I’m looking forward to this a bit more because I’m playing against my mates.
“It should be a little bit fiery.”
Woods, who was 18th man for NSW last year, has been in outstanding form for the struggling Tigers who go into the Sharks’ match after five straight losses.
The City Origin representative from 2012 missed this year’s corresponding fixture with injury and insists NSW selection for game one on June 5 is not on his mind and his focus is on helping the Tigers.
“I’m just trying to get a win for the Tigers at the moment and doing everything I can to lift the spirits of the boys,” he said.
“It’s pretty hard going back to training every week losing and I haven’t really thought about it (Origin).”
The Leichhardt junior was immense for the Tigers in Friday night’s 40-4 loss to Canterbury.
Woods stood tall against returning top-shelf Bulldogs props James Graham and Sam Kasiano, making 35 tackles and 20 hit-ups for the injury-ravaged Tigers who are missing seven senior players.
But Woods refused to blame injuries for the Tigers’ woes.
“It’s no excuse,” Woods said.
“Our biggest fault this year is our lack of composure with the ball. We are trying to score off that one big play every time.”
