Friday’s second NRL Round 9 match is between Wests Tigers and Cronulla Sharks with the opening kick to commence at 7:45 local time. The game is to be played at Allianz Stadium which see’s away team Cronulla Sharks hold favouritism in the market after narrowly beating the Knights last week. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Wests Tigers and Cronulla Sharks.
WHERE AND WHEN: Allianz Stadium, Friday @ 19:45
Opening Odds:
Wests Tigers $2.60 vs Cronulla Sharks $1.50 at Sportsbet Australia
Wests Tigers $2.65 vs Cronulla Sharks $1.50 at Luxbet Australia
Preview:
The Wests Tigers take on the Cronulla Sharks in the other Friday night game, 7.35pm at Allianz Stadium. With the Tigers having lost their last five games, they really need a win this weekend.
The Sharks performed well against Newcastle last week however, and they will go into this game as favourites. In fact, all signs are pointing towards the Sharks for this clash, with the Tigers struggling with cohesion in attack and stability in defence.
Teams:
Wests Tigers:
James Tedesco, Matt Utai, Joel Reddy, Tim Simona, Marika Koroibete, Benji Marshall, Curtis Sironen, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah (c), Suaso Sue, Liam Fulton, Adam Blair, Eddy Pettybourne
Interchange: Ben Murdoch-Masila, Jack Buchanan, Sean Spence, Bodene Thompson
Cronulla Sharks:
Michael Gordon, Sosaia Feki, Ben Pomeroy, Jonathan Wright, Beau Ryan, Todd Carney, Jeff Robson, Andrew Fifita, John Morris, Ben Ross, Luke Lewis, Wade Graham, Chris Heighington
Interchange: Isaac De Gois, Sam Tagataese, Jayson Bukuya, , Anthony Tupou, Mark Taufua (one to be omitted)
Referees: Ben Cummins/Phil Haines
Video Referee: Jason Robinson/Matt Rodwell
OK not good enough for Tigers: Potter
He’s dealing with the worst injury crisis of his 30 years in rugby league, but Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter says the excuses have to stop at the struggling club.
Potter, who made his first grade debut for Canterbury in 1983 and has spent the past six years coaching in the English Super League, can almost field a first grade line-up from players who’ve missed games through injury this year.
But his main concern is the middle-of-the-road performances from players which have left the Tigers in dead-last place for the first time in their 14-year history.
Only captain Robbie Farah and young prop Aaron Woods were spared from Potter’s critique of the sloppy start to the season.
“They’re also being honest with how they’re going individually,” Potter said on Thursday ahead of Friday’s clash with Cronulla.
“I think Robbie and Woodsy have been outstanding with what their contribution has been to the team.
“We’ve got some other people who are playing OK.
“But playing OK sometimes isn’t good enough.
“We need everyone to be at their best.”
Star playmaker Benji Marshall admitted during the week that his form wasn’t up to scratch, attempting to shoulder a large portion of the blame for the team’s poor form.
Potter agreed Marshall, one game back from a toe injury, had not played his best football yet this season.
“Benji is probably his hardest critic,” he said.
“He knows. He’s honest. He wants to get better.
“I’m happy for him because he wants to do the right thing for the team, he wants to do the right thing for himself.
“You haven’t seen the best of Benji yet this year.”
The Tigers opponents at Allianz Stadium, the Sharks, aren’t without their own injury concerns.
Skipper Paul Gallen is all but certain to miss the clash with a knee injury, despite working around the clock this week to prove his fitness.
Potter took some small pleasure from taking on a Gallen-less Sharks, but said the quality of Luke Lewis, Chris Heighington and Wade Graham certainly lessened his loss.
“We’ll take any positive we can get and maybe that’s part of it,” he said.
“…(But) they’ve got Luke Lewis and Chris Heighington to come in and fill that void.
“I know it’s a big void to fill (but) players step up as they did last week.
“I think they’ll be just as tough.”
Injury relief is still weeks away for the Tigers with Potter confirming five-eighth Braith Anasta (groin) is the only player due back in the next two-to-three weeks.
Chris Lawrence (hamstring) is between three and five weeks away, while centre partner Blake Ayshford is expected to be sidelined for another six weeks.
