Cronulla Sharks vs Newcastle Knights – Regular Season – Preview & Prediction | NRL 2022
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Cronulla Sharks vs Newcastle Knights on and what time does it start? Cronulla Sharks vs Newcastle Knights will take place on Friday 1st April, 2022 – 08:00 (UK)
Where is Cronulla Sharks vs Newcastle Knights taking place? Cronulla Sharks vs Newcastle Knights will take place at PointsBet Stadium in Sydney, Australia
Where can I get tickets for Cronulla Sharks vs Newcastle Knights? Click here for ticket information on 2022 NRL matches
What channel is Cronulla Sharks vs Newcastle Knights 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 Newcastle Knights? 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
- Cronulla Sharks were brilliant in seeing off local rivals St. George Illawarra Dragons last week, producing some superb attacking play despite the dreadful conditions and they will now go in search of a third straight win.
- The Sharks have started life under new head coach Craig Fitzgibbon in impressive fashion and they will be confident of recording another success despite being forced into making two changes to their three-quarter line with Matt Ikuvalu and Connor Tracey ruled out but Ronaldo Mulitalo will make a timely return.
Starting 13: Kennedy, Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Mulitalo, Moylan, Hynes, Rudolf, Brailey, Hamlin-Uele, Nikora, Wilton, Finucane – Interchanges: Tolman, McInnes, Trindall, Fifita – Reserves: Hiroti, Williams, Metcalf, Hunt, Miller, Taumoepeau, Pele
Unavailable: Wade Graham, Matt Ikuvalu, Connor Tracey
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
- Newcastle Knights were denied the chance to realistically test themselves against defending premiers Penrith Panthers as Mitch Barnett’s moment of madness saw them go down to 12 men early in that contest.
- The Knights played well despite playing the majority of the game a man down following that red card but they ultimately fell away late on as they suffered their first loss of the campaign with Barnett now banned for the next six games, although key man Kalyn Ponga returns in what is a huge boost.
Starting 13: Ponga, Young, Gagai, Best, Tuala, Clifford, Clune, J. Saifiti, Randall, D. Saifiti, Frizell, Jones, Mann – Interchanges: Crossland, Momoisea, Thompson, Sue – Reserves: Sasagi, Hoy, Lee, Croker, Saulo, Lucas, Musgrove
Unavailable: Bailey Hodgson, Hymel Hunt, Jayden Brailey, David Klemmer, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Mitch Barnett
THE PREDICTION
This should be a superb contest between Cronulla Sharks and Newcastle Knights with both teams starting the season well. Both have won two of their three games so far and there appears to be very little to split the pair based on how they have performed so far. Nicho Hynes has been brilliant in the halves for the Sharks while Kalyn Ponga’s return to action should provide the Knights with more to their attack too. Newcastle have won the past four matchups between the pair so they will believe they can extend that winning streak but with the two teams looking so well-matched in this early part of the campaign and the game able to go either way, it should be a tight affair with the victors set to prevail by a winning margin of 1-12 points.
