Date: Saturday July 2^nd

Venue: Southern Cross Group Stadium

Gates Open: 5:05pm

Kick off:  7:30pm (NYC U20s 5:15)

Head Referee: Ashley Klein

Assistant Referee: Adam Gee

Head to head:

Head to head odds: Sharks ($1.30), Eels ($ 3.45)

Broadcast: Live and televised 7:30pm, Fox Sports one.

 

Last four encounters:

 

1. Sharks 35, Eels 28 at Pirtek Stadium (2015)
2. Eels 32, Sharks 12 at Remondis Stadium (2014)
3. Eels 42, Sharks 24 at Pirtek Stadium (2014)
4. Sharks 32, Eels 14 at Remondis Stadium (2013)

 

Preview: This weeks round seventeen encounter features the red hot Cronulla Sharks against the fourth placed Parramatta Eels. The Eels enter this encounter coming off the bye so in terms of being well rested the Eels are just that whereas the Cronulla Sharks are coming off a close and physical encounter against the New Zealand Warriors at Southern Cross Group Stadium.

On paper the Sharks look too strong for the Eels. However, a loss for the Sharks could be just around the corner given the fact that they are shooting for twelve straight wins. Either way this is sure to be an interesting encounter between two top four teams, be sure to tune in any which way you can.

 

Value Bet:

My value bet for this one is for Eels rookie speedster Bevan French to claim the first try at $14. For the first try favourites for both teams, the Eels have Semi Radradra at $8 and Bevan French out at $14, whereas the Sharks have Valentine Holmes at $7 and Ben Barba at $9.50.

 

Interesting fact:

Former Eel Joseph ‘’sefa’’ Paulo has been named as 18^th man for the Sharks. It will be interesting to see if Paulo takes the field (or is a late inclusion in the 17) as he would be keen to show the Eels what they are missing with him now gone.

 

It will be a big week for:

This week shapes as a big week for Eels centre Michael Jennings. The NSW State of Origin centre has had a tough past week. Many NSW origin critics were quick to blame the NSW misfortunes on Jennings who made a few errors at pivotal stages in State of Origin 2. Jennings would know he didn’t play his best game in this encounter and would be very keen to show NSW Origin coach Laurie Daley he’s deserving of retaining his jersey for Game 3 despite it being a dead rubber game.

Ironically Jennings will come up against a player who would be one of the first in line to take his spot – Jack Bird. Bird, who made is debut for NSW just last Origin, was fairly impressive in his first outing in a NSW sky blue jersey. Jennings must be keen to show Laurie Daley he deserves to retain his origin spot, Jack Bird must be just as eager to prove to Daley he deserves to start in this team perhaps in place of Jennings.

Jennings has a habit of proving the doubters wrong – he has done it his whole career and now when the critics come a knocking again Jennings must answer the door.

Jennings is a player of immense talent, he posses great speed, agility, defence and the ability to read the game. Attributes like these made Jennings once the most electrifying centre in the NRL. His best games are certainly not behind him, everybody has bad games and players like Jennings don’t play too many per season. Expect Jennings to prove his critics wrong in the very near future, you can’t keep a good player down for too long.

 

 

Danger man:

This week’s danger man is Sharks winger Valentine Holmes. He has had a simply electrifying season, seemingly getting better with each game he plays. Some astute judges of NRL are even comparing Holmes to former Eels superstar Jarryd Hayne. Whilst Holmes may have a very long way to go until he reaches the heights Hayne did in his NRL career the comparison would no doubt suggest Holmes is going to be a bright star in the NRL in the very near future. In his short time in the NRL he has already amassed quite the highlight package and even this season he sits 2^nd on the top try scorers tally with twelve tries.

Depending on how things mark up on the day of the game Valentine Homes will be given the task of marking either Semi Radradra or Bevan French. Both are seemingly very challenging tasks, given the fact one is perhaps the worlds best winger and the other his an upcoming star who also happens to be the nephew of the great Nathan Blacklock.

 

 

Cronulla Sutherland Sharks (1^st coming into the round)

 

1. Ben Barba
2. Sosaia Feki
3. Jack Bird
4. Gerard Beale
5. Valentine Holmes
6. James Maloney
7. Chad Townsend
8. Andrew Fifita
9. Michael Ennis
10. Sam Tagataese
11. Luke Lewis
12. Wade Graham
13. Paul Gallen (C)

 

14. Ricky Leutele
15. Chris Heighington
16. Matt Prior
17. Jayson Bukuya

 

18. Joseph Paulo

 

Coach: Shane Flanagan

 

Late mail: No late changes expected for the Sharks they should run out as per the program, 1 through 17.

  

Parramatta Eels (4^th coming into the round, pending 12 point deduction)

 

1. Michael Gordon
2. Semi Radradra
3. Michael Jennings
4. Clint Gutherson
5. Bevan French
6. Kenny Edwards
7. Corey Norman (C)
8. Daniel Alvaro
9. Issac De Gois
10. Danny Wicks
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Beau Scott
13. Tepai Moeroa

 

14. Cody Nelson
15. Peni Terepo
16. David Gower
17. Rory O’ Brien

 

Coach: Brad Arthur

 

Late mail: There is some news saying Tim Mannah may make his return from injury however these reports are unconfirmed by Eels officials. If Mannah returns expect him to replace Rory O’ Brien and possibly start the game in place of Daniel Alvaro or Danny Wicks.

  

Two key match ups:

 

Chad Townsend vs Corey Norman:

The first key match up is a battle of the halfbacks as the Eels Corey Norman squares off against the Sharks Chad Townsend. The Cronulla Sharks are currently sitting first on the NRL ladder and a big reason for that is the combination between their halves James Maloney and Chad Townsend. Townsend and Maloney, both new to the Sharks this season (Townsend returning), have had outstanding years and were even discussed as a potential option to be the halves for New South Wales Origin this season. Chad Townsend at the beginning of this season was not even guaranteed a position in the Sharks starting line up. Indeed, he had his work cut out for him to even get into the Sharks starting team. Townsend’s preferred positions of halfback and five eighth had many contenders, such as; Jack Bird, Ben Barba and Joseph Paulo to name a few. Perhaps the biggest challenger to Townsend was Sharks boom rookie Jack Bird who was originally a five eighth last season.

Townsend is your typical modern day halfback. He possesses a great kicking game, both long and short, and the ability to read the game. The combination of Maloney and Townsend is an impressive combination and may be the key to whether the Sharks can claim the two points against the Eels or not come Saturday night.

Eels halfback Corey Norman has really had an impressive season. In the past, Norman was always a player with great talent. However, it was evident to many he would sometimes dish up performances that were well below expectation. Over the past couple of weeks Norman has been the creative mastermind behind a lot of the Eels recent victories. That feat is made even more impressive by the fact the Eels are without their usual halfback in Kieran Foran and to take it one step further, the Eels are without a qualified noted halfback or five eighth besides Norman himself. Indeed, for the past couple of weeks the Eels have been playing utility forward Kenny Edwards in at five eighth. Edwards is not an average five eighth. Edwards has done an adequate job filling in for Foran and other injured halves. However his days in the halves at the Eels may be coming to an end as the Eels have secured the services of former Sharks halfback Jeff Robson for the remainder of the 2016 NRL season.

 

 

Ben Barba vs Michael Gordon: The second key match up features a battle of the fullbacks as Sharks fullback Ben Barba prepares to do battle against former Sharks fullback Michael Gordon. This match up shapes as an interesting one as both these players have played fullback for the Sharks in the last 12 months.

Gordon signed with the Eels midway through last season in order to get more game time in his preferred position. He has had a fairly good season for the Eels this year and his good form has landed him a new opportunity with the Sydney Roosters next season. Whilst the Eels may not have wanted to lose Michael Gordon, recent salary cap issues have left them no choice and Gordon has become another in a list of many to be a victim of the Eels salary cap misfortunes over the past couple of years. However, Gordon’s departure is softened by the fact the Eels have two ready made fullbacks waiting in the wings for an opportunity in the Eels number 1 jersey in Bevan French and Clint Gutherson, the latter of which has already played fullback for the Eels a couple of times this season in Gordon’s absence.

Right now, Gordon is an Eel and as an Eels player I am sure he would want nothing more than to try and help his team claim a much needed victory against NRL table toppers the Cronulla Sharks.

Gordon is a very experienced campaigner and the Eels are going to need all of Gordon’s experience if they intend to take it to the Sharks come Saturday night.

Cronulla Sharks fullback Ben Barba has had an outstanding year. From being almost on the outer at the Sharks last season, he has really turned his form around, even to point where he was discussed a potential option for the Queensland Origin if they needed a utility on the bench rather than the Cowboys Michael Morgan. Little over five years ago Barba was one of the NRL’s brightest talents. However, a few scandals and changes of club greatly effected Barba’s form and many feared he would never be the same player he was. However, Barba has proved his critics wrong and brought new hope to his fans with his current form this season. Barba may very well be one of the contenders for fullback of the year at the moment, although that potential accolade would have not even entered Barba’s mind as he prepares himself to take on the Michael Gordon and the Eels come Saturday night.

 

 

My Tip:

This one on paper is a fairly simple one to tip, as you would have the Sharks beating the Eels, especially given the fact the Eels are without so many key players. However in saying that the Sharks are coming off a tough encounter against the Warriors themselves and to compound that the Eels are fresh off the bye coming into this one.

That said, the Eels may prove hard to run down if they can get an early lead against the Sharks. However, I’m going to tip this one with my head, put me down for Sharks win; Sharks 22, Eels 18.

 

Man of the match: James Maloney/Paul Gallen

 

Enjoy the game, GO THE EELS !!!

Nathan