Big challenge for Wenty today as they host the dominant Cronulla/Melbourne joint venture at Ringrose Park.
The last time these two teams met, the Sharks overran a valiant but ultimately outgunned Wenty outfit 44-20. Fast forward to today and things certainly look grim as the Sharks field an equally imposing line up from that day (Gains: N.Gardner, B.Ross, C.Townsend Losses: B.Finch, B.Gibbs, D.Weston) while Wenty (Gains: P.Mataele, T.Lasalo Losses: S.Radradra, T.Moeakiola, N.Smith, Junior Paulo, K.Pritchard, P.Pauli, J.Loko, D.Harrison) are fielding a vastly weaker line-up from the previous loss.
While the head-to-head match up shapes up as a good old cliched David-vs-Goliath tale, Wenty enter the match with two key factors on their side: momentum and hope.
The Magpies are last start victors over the Auckland Vulcans as a ramshackle Wentworthville squad, that featured two players who had already played in the Ron Massey Cup that weekend, overcame an 16-point deficit to storm home in convincing fashion 42-22.
Adding to that is a favourable result in another fixture this week as Mounties capitulated to the Vulcans which means that a win in either this game or the next will secure a top eight berth for Wenty.
Despite the likely result I am looking forward to the game today. Wenty showed some character last week to set up an unlikely tilt at the post-season and ideally they will build on that.
