2021 NRL – New Zealand Warriors vs Cronulla Sharks Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is New Zealand Warriors vs Cronulla Sharks taking place? Saturday 7th August, 2021 – 06:00 (UK)
Where is New Zealand Warriors vs Cronulla Sharks taking place? Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Where can I get tickets for New Zealand Warriors vs Cronulla Sharks? Click here for ticket information on 2021 NRL matches
What channel is New Zealand Warriors vs Cronulla Sharks 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 New Zealand Warriors vs Cronulla Sharks? 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
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Starting 13: Walsh, Watene-Zelezniak, Hiku, Vailea, Montoya, Harris-Tavita, O’Sullivan, Fonua-Blake, Tevaga, Lodge, Aitken, Curran, Sironen – Interchanges: Nikorima, Afoa, Evans, Katoa – Reserves: Taunoa-Brown, Kosi, Murchie, Pompey
Unavailable: David Fusitu’a (Injured), Tom Ale (Injured), Wayde Egan (Injured), Tohu Harris (Injured), Rocco Berry (Injured), Chad Townsend (Injured), Leeson Ah Mau (Personal Reasons)
- Despite missing a host of players for a variety of reasons, New Zealand Warriors secured a brilliant win over Wests Tigers last week to bring a seven-match losing streak to an end.
- The Warriors showed some real character defensively in that contest and they will now hope to build on that as they aim to end the season with as many wins as possible which could be possible with numerous players such as Addin Fonua-Blake and Matt Lodge returning to action for this clash.
CRONULLA SHARKS
Starting 13: Kennedy, Katoa, Chambers, Ramien, Mulitalo, Tracey, Trindall, Rudolf, Brailey, Woods, Nikora, Talakai, Jack Williams – Interchanges: Hamlin-Uele, Hunt, Tolman, Fifita – Reserves: Lualua, Metcalf, Magoulias, Moylan
Unavailable: Bronson Xerri (Suspended), Jackson Ferris (Injured), Wade Graham (Injured), Franklin Pele (Injured), Josh Dugan (Isolation), Teig Wilton (Injured), Mawene Hiroti (Injured), Shaun Johnson (Injured)
- Cronulla Sharks were unable to make it back-to-back wins as their hopes of finishing inside the top eight suffered a blow with Manly Sea Eagles getting the better of them in their clash earlier in the week.
- The Sharks were unable to live with the Sea Eagles and despite scoring two late tries, it did not mask the one-sided nature of the contest as some of their defensive efforts left a lot to be desired in the 22-40 loss.
THE PREDICTION
New Zealand Warriors are playing for pride in the final rounds of the
season with the finals looking beyond them but after a brilliant win
over Wests Tigers last week, they will be hoping to make it back-to-back
successes. They ended a seven-game losing streak with that victory but
this will be a sterner test against Cronulla Sharks who will be looking
to earn a win to bolster their top eight hopes. They are bunched with a
cluster of teams hoping to finish in seventh or eighth spot and despite
their hopes suffering a blow in a heavy loss to Manly Sea Eagles last
week, they finished positively with ball in hand and they can build on
that to make an immediate return to winning ways.
