2021 NRL – Cronulla Sharks vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Cronulla Sharks vs St. George Illawarra Dragons taking place? Friday 21st May, 2021 – 10:55 (UK)
Where is Cronulla Sharks vs St. George Illawarra Dragons taking place? Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Where can I get tickets for Cronulla Sharks vs St. George Illawarra Dragons? Click here for ticket information on 2021 NRL matches
What channel is Cronulla Sharks vs St. George Illawarra Dragons on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here
Where can I stream Cronulla Sharks vs St. George Illawarra Dragons? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL
THE TEAM NEWS
CRONULLA SHARKS
Starting 13: Kennedy, Hiroti, Dugan, Chambers, Tracey, Moylan, Townsend, Tolman, Brailey, Woods, Nikora, Graham, Rudolf – Interchanges: Trindall, Wilton, Jack Williams, Fifita – Reserves: Johnson, Magoulias, Pele, Taumoepeau
Unavailable: Bronson Xerri (Suspended), Royce Hunt (Injured), Sione Katoa (Injured), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Injured) Siosifa Talakai (Suspended), Braden Hamlin-Uele (Suspended), Jesse Ramien (Injured), Jackson Ferris (Injured)
- Cronulla Sharks’ dreadful run of form continued as they lost for the sixth game in succession with South Sydney Rabbitohs the latest side to get the better of them last week and they are coming under increasing pressure to turn their form around.
- They already have plenty of ground to make up if they are to work their way into the top eight but their defensive efforts will have to improve after conceding 32 last week, meaning they have allowed at least that total in their last three matches.
ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Starting 13: Ramsey, Max Feagai, Bird, Burns, Pereira, Norman, B. Hunt, Lawrie, McCullough, Vaughan, Kerr, Ford, Faamausili – Interchanges: Ellis, J. Hunt, Alvaro, Amone – Reserves: Clune, Brittain, H. Lomax, Beale
Unavailable: Jack de Belin (Suspended), Cameron McInnes (Injured), Zac Lomax (Injured), Mat Feagai (Injured), Brayden Wiliame (Injured), Josh McGuire (Suspended), Mikaele Ravalawa (Suspended), Tariq Sims (Suspended), Tyrell Fuimaono (Suspended), Matt Dufty (Injured)
- St. George Illawarra Dragons were made to pay for their ill-discipline as Tyrell Fuimaono was shown a red card in the early stages of their clash with Melbourne Storm last week which ultimately led to a heavy defeat.
- The Dragons were game despite playing almost 70 minutes with 12 men but that is now four losses in their last five and they will come into this without the injured Matt Dufty and suspended Fuimaono, Tariq Sims, Mikaele Ravalawa and Josh McGuire.
THE PREDICTION
St. George Illawarra Dragons will come into this contest without four of last week’s side because of suspension after falling foul of the NRL’s crackdown on contact with the head. All teams were informed before Magic Round that foul play would be punished more severely but they did not heed the warning and they had to play almost 70 minutes with 12 men as a result of Tyrell Fuimaono’s red card. That has caused a major reshuffle which Cronulla Sharks will hope to capitalise on but the hosts have lost their last six games so it will still not be a straightforward task for them. Both teams are likely to throw caution to the wind so expect the pair to combine for over 44.5 points with that total being surpassed in Cronulla’s last three games.
