Match Discussion: Round 24 vs Cronulla @ PointsBet Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2024 - Round 24
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Newcastle Knights
PointsBet Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal (TICKETS)

Sunday 18 August 2024
NRL kickoff 4:05pm
Broadcast live on Nine, 9Now, Fox, Kayo.

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Blayke Brailey 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Siosifa Talakai 13. Jack Williams 14. Jayden Berrell 15. Billy Burns 16. Royce Hunt 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Niwhai Puru 19. Braden Hamlin-Uele 20. Braydon Trindall 21. Ronaldo Mulitalo 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha

In: Niwhai Puru (reserve), Braden Hamlin-Uele (reserve), Braydon Trindall (reserve), Ronaldo Mulitalo (reserve), Tuku Hau Tapuha (reserve)

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 4. Dylan Lucas 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jack Cogger 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones 18. Thomas Cant 19. Thomas Jenkins 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Will Pryce 22. Kyle McCarthy

Out: Krystian Mapapalangi (centre)
In: Dylan Lucas (centre), Thomas Cant (reserve), Thomas Jenkins (reserve), Jackson Hastings (reserve), Will Pryce (reserve), Kyle McCarthy (reserve)

Referee: Gerard Sutton Sideline Officials: Jon Stone, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski; Video Referee: Chris Butler

HEAD TO HEAD - 1988 - 2023​

	TOTAL	CRONULLA	NEWCASTLE	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	61	27	32	2
POINTSBET	27	16	11	0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2021	Round 22	NEWCASTLE 16-14	Moreton Daily	3954
2022	Round 4	CRONULLA 18-0	Pointsbet	8927
2022	Round 25	CRONULLA 38-16	McD. Jones	16808
2023	Round 12	CRONULLA 26-6	C.ex Coffs	10156
2023	Round 26	NEWCASTLE 32-6	McD. Jones	29423

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2002	Round 6	NEWCASTLE 52-8	EnergyAustralia	26721
2016	Round 10	CRONULLA 62-0	Hunter	16150

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 25	Round 26	Round 27
CRONULLA	ST GEO ILLA (A)	WARRIORS (H)	MANLY (A)
NEWCASTLE	SOUTH SYDNEY (A)	GOLD COAST (H)	DOLPHINS (H)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 21		Round 22		Round 23
CRONULLA	NORTH QLD	L 22-30	SOUTH SYDNEY	W 20-6	GOLD COAST	W 44-0
NEWCASTLE	(BYE)		PENRITH	L 14-22	WESTS TIGERS	W 34-18

STATE OF PLAY: 2024 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
CRONULLA	4th	20	3	13-7-0	528	353
NEWCASTLE	10th	20	3	9-11-0	366	455

• Sharks have won their last 5 games against the Knights at Pointsbet Stadium (since 2015)
• Sharks have won 11 of their last 16 games against the Knights (since 2015)
• Kalyn PONGA (Newcastle) needs one try for 50 NRL tries

 

[Yosh]

Please smash Ramien.

 

[mozza91]

Need to be better than today. Get the defensive lapses and a few silly errors with the ball out of the game and we’re a shot.

We showed some positive signs in attack today and it was good to see Ponga so involved. Expecting a big last month from him.

 

[Knight Tales]

Sharks rely on power and bullying. If you can keep it close you are always a big chance. They are not good at chasing games. Maybe worse than us.

 

[Woody90]

I think this will be the game that finally and mathematically ends our season.

Not sure if it’s just me but this has seemed like the longest season ever. We’ve been out of finals contentions really from very early on but the seasons just dragged on.

 

[mozza91]

I think this will be the game that finally and mathematically ends our season.

Not sure if it’s just me but this has seemed like the longest season ever. We’ve been out of finals contentions really from very early on but the seasons just dragged on.

I found 2022 way slower. I was surprised there’s only 4 games left.

 

[Nuke]

I found 2022 way slower. I was surprised there’s only 4 games left.

Yeah, I'll 2nd this.

 

[Frederick]

Unchanged, but with Lucas in for Maps. Jenkins 19th man.......

 

[PhilGould]

Bloke on the other forum indicated Kyle McCarthy will be debuting though wasn't certain. Mapapalangi hurt his shoulder again. Even the most minor of hammy issues is generally 2-3 weeks minimum so would say Lucas is just a smokescreen regardless.

 

[Yosh]

Mapa can't seem to keep fit. He ain't the answer but on minimum wage I think he is okay to have in the 30.

Who is Kyle McCarthy??

 

[PhilGould]

20-year old centre/winger. Tall, quick when he gets going, a bit on the skinny side for now but a big frame. Decision making in defence can be a concern. Not expecting him to tear the house down this week if he plays but he’s a good prospect for down the line.

 

[Knight Tales]

Bloke on the other forum indicated Kyle McCarthy will be debuting though wasn't certain. Mapapalangi hurt his shoulder again. Even the most minor of hammy issues is generally 2-3 weeks minimum so would say Lucas is just a smokescreen regardless.

Clearly this dude is a trainer at the club at bare minimum. Or else has a relative there. Pretty shit to leak that information out on a forum if he is associated with the place. Why not just tell other clubs what the team sheet is while he is at it.

 

[Old dog]

Sometimes we should tread carefully

 

[Yosh]

Sometimes we should tread carefully

Tread carefully like how we don't put up big contested bombs but hand over the ball instead of going for an attacking play just in case we knock on? That sort of treading caefully??

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Sometimes we should tread carefully

New to the LU forum m8?

 

[PhilGould]

McCarthy definitely in now

 

[Woody90]

McCarthy definitely in now

Interesting that poster also saying that Jenkins was initially in but told AOB he didn’t want to play as didn’t feel that he’d been given enough confidence to play.

Could definitely point to a toxic culture or that he’s been tapped on the shoulder…I don’t see what Jenkins thinks he has to gain though by refusing to play FG. Going to be very hard to be picked up by another club if he’s turning down his few FG opportunities.

 

[Old dog]

New to the LU forum m8?

Think you’ll find a few years longer than you

 

[Scootsie]

Interesting matchup with Blake Brailey in the halves for the Sharks. Knights would be mad not to be targeting him.
Marzhew hates that high ball to his corner, but I don’t think the Sharks will be giving Sharpe much ball on the other wing.
Even though it’s at Shark Park and the fish are on a high after a big win last week, but I really think this is going to be a pretty even contest.
Knights are pretty much playing for survival here and I hope they respond. The way they’ve played this year they look like they’re over-coached by AOB- playing with no football instincts when opportunities arise.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Clearly this dude is a trainer at the club at bare minimum. Or else has a relative there. Pretty shit to leak that information out on a forum if he is associated with the place. Why not just tell other clubs what the team sheet is while he is at it.

yeh I have to agree, in a good team culture someone that close to the inner sanctum should show some loyalty and maintain silence.

One improvement to the culture would be locating him and removing him. If he's freely on a forum venting/blabbering he's a cancer.