Warriors v Sharks
VENUE & TIME: Mt Smart Stadium, Saturday night - 17:30 AEST
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 18, Sharks 10, Warriors 8
COVERAGE: Fox Sports
LAST TIME: Sharks 34 - Warriors 20 at Toyota Park, round 12, 2006
WALKING WOUNDED
Brent Webb returns from a hip injury at fullback for the Warriors, while winger Todd Byrne (broken arm) is still a week away from a return. Lock Sione Faumuina is out for the remainder of the season with a wrist injury, leaving him stranded on 99 career games. Prop Ruben Wiki is out suspended.
The Sharks have lost utility Greg Bird for up to six weeks with broken ribs and a punctured lung sustained last week in the closing stages against the Knights. At one stage Bird said he could not breathe and feared for his life. Sharks five-eighth Adam Dykes suffered a hand injury last week, but has been named to play, while utility Phil Bailey (fractured cheekbone) and fullback David Simmons (knee) are hopeful of returning next week. Hooker Kevin Kingston returns from suspension.
FORM
The Warriors were trounced by the Panthers at CUA Stadium last weekend in what was the club’s worst performance of the season. They completed 13 sets fewer than their Penrith counterparts and as a result enjoyed only 42 percent of possession. They are playing like a side who knows their season is over.
The Sharks slumped to their fifth successive loss last Friday night and are only hanging onto their position in the top-eight by a slightly better points differential than the Eels. The Shire club is heading southwards at a rapid rate.
WHO'S HOT
For the Sharks, lock Paul Gallen was outstanding in a losing side against the Knights. Scored a try and set up another for Lance Thompson to go with his nine tackle busts and five offloads.
The Warriors were devoid of star players against the Panthers, but second-rower Louis Anderson can at least stand tall after his whole-hearted defensive display which included 54 tackles.
WHO'S NOT
The Dykes-Kimmorley halves combination for the Sharks. They are good players in their own right, but as a halves pairing they are not getting the job done. In the 10 games they played together this season the Sharks have won on only two occasions. Coach Stuart Raper has an obvious problem and needs to fix it immediately.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Grant Rovelli v Brett Kimmorley
Simon Mannering v Nigel Vagana
Steve Price v Luke Douglas
LIKE TO SEE
The Sharks spice their attack up and that means less of the ball heading Kimmorley’s way and more in the direction of the dangerous Dykes.
WOULDN'T LIKE TO SEE
The Warriors throw the towel in for 2006. There were certainly some worrying signs against the Panthers last week.
WE THINK
The Sharks will be desperate to notch a win to stay in the top-eight and snap their worrying losing streak. The Warriors appear to have lost the desire of a few weeks ago now that they are officially out of finals contention and we could see the Sharks steal some soft tries as a result. The Sharks will win if they stick to the basics. Sharks by 10.
VENUE & TIME: Mt Smart Stadium, Saturday night - 17:30 AEST
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 18, Sharks 10, Warriors 8
COVERAGE: Fox Sports
LAST TIME: Sharks 34 - Warriors 20 at Toyota Park, round 12, 2006
WALKING WOUNDED
Brent Webb returns from a hip injury at fullback for the Warriors, while winger Todd Byrne (broken arm) is still a week away from a return. Lock Sione Faumuina is out for the remainder of the season with a wrist injury, leaving him stranded on 99 career games. Prop Ruben Wiki is out suspended.
The Sharks have lost utility Greg Bird for up to six weeks with broken ribs and a punctured lung sustained last week in the closing stages against the Knights. At one stage Bird said he could not breathe and feared for his life. Sharks five-eighth Adam Dykes suffered a hand injury last week, but has been named to play, while utility Phil Bailey (fractured cheekbone) and fullback David Simmons (knee) are hopeful of returning next week. Hooker Kevin Kingston returns from suspension.
FORM
The Warriors were trounced by the Panthers at CUA Stadium last weekend in what was the club’s worst performance of the season. They completed 13 sets fewer than their Penrith counterparts and as a result enjoyed only 42 percent of possession. They are playing like a side who knows their season is over.
The Sharks slumped to their fifth successive loss last Friday night and are only hanging onto their position in the top-eight by a slightly better points differential than the Eels. The Shire club is heading southwards at a rapid rate.
WHO'S HOT
For the Sharks, lock Paul Gallen was outstanding in a losing side against the Knights. Scored a try and set up another for Lance Thompson to go with his nine tackle busts and five offloads.
The Warriors were devoid of star players against the Panthers, but second-rower Louis Anderson can at least stand tall after his whole-hearted defensive display which included 54 tackles.
WHO'S NOT
The Dykes-Kimmorley halves combination for the Sharks. They are good players in their own right, but as a halves pairing they are not getting the job done. In the 10 games they played together this season the Sharks have won on only two occasions. Coach Stuart Raper has an obvious problem and needs to fix it immediately.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Grant Rovelli v Brett Kimmorley
Simon Mannering v Nigel Vagana
Steve Price v Luke Douglas
LIKE TO SEE
The Sharks spice their attack up and that means less of the ball heading Kimmorley’s way and more in the direction of the dangerous Dykes.
WOULDN'T LIKE TO SEE
The Warriors throw the towel in for 2006. There were certainly some worrying signs against the Panthers last week.
WE THINK
The Sharks will be desperate to notch a win to stay in the top-eight and snap their worrying losing streak. The Warriors appear to have lost the desire of a few weeks ago now that they are officially out of finals contention and we could see the Sharks steal some soft tries as a result. The Sharks will win if they stick to the basics. Sharks by 10.
