Match Preview: NRL Round 10

With two losses in their past two NRL matches, Wests Tigers will no doubt be looking to get back in the winners circle when they take on the Cronulla Sharks for their Round 10 match.

The Sharks will no doubt be boosted by the home crowd at Remondis Stadium, and will have plenty of incentive to win as well — currently sitting on the bottom of the NRL ladder and desperate to find some form heading into several key fixtures.

Given that plenty of former Wests Tigers players are set to line up for the Sharks this weekend, there’s certainly going to be plenty of feeling and emotion in this week’s match, and will no doubt make for excellent viewing for both netural and fans of both teams.

Which team, as they say, will be more “desperate” for the two points on the day?

Read on for a full preview of the match including all the need-to-know details, live stream and TV information as well as full match analysis, statistics and insights.

Match Details

Date — Saturday, May 17, 2014

Time — 5:30pm AEST (Gates Open at 1:15pm, with NSW Cup and NYC both before NRL)

Venue — Remondis Stadium, Cronulla

TV and Live Stream Details

Fox Sports will provide live coverage of the match via Channel 501.

A live stream of the match is available via FoxtelGo and NRL’s Digital Pass, although there is a subscription required to both.

Confirmed Squads

Wests Tigers

1. Kurtis Rowe 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Tim Simona 4. Chris Lawrence 5. Pat Richards 6. Braith Anasta 7. Luke Brooks 8. Aaron Woods 9. Robbie Farah 10. Keith Galloway 11. Cory Paterson 12. Bodene Thompson 13. Adam Blair (Interchange: 14. Martin Taupau 15. Ava Seumanufagai 16. Blake Austin 17. Sauaso Sue).

Cronulla Sharks

1. Michael Gordon 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Blake Ayshford 4. Ricky Leutele 5. Beau Ryan 6. Luke Lewis 7. Jeff Robson 8. Sam Tagataese 9. John Morris 10. Bryce Gibbs 11. Anthony Tupou 12. Wade Graham 13. Paul Gallen (Interchange: 14. Isaac De Gois 15. Chris Heighington 16. Tinirau Arona 17. Siosaia Vave 18. Michael Lichaa 19. David Fifita 20. Jonathan Wright).

Last Five Matches

Wests Tigers

R5 — Wests Tigers 34 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 18

R6 — Wests Tigers 16 def. North Queensland Cowboys 4

R7 — Wests Tigers 21 def. Parramatta Eels 18

R8 — Gold Coast Titans 22 def. Wests Tigers 6

R9 — Sydney Roosters 30 def. Wests Tigers 6

Cronulla Sharks

R5 — Cronulla Sharks 37 def. New Zealand Warriors 6

R6 — Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24 def. Cronulla Sharks 4

R7 — Sydney Roosters 24 def. Cronulla Sharks 18

R8 — Cronulla Sharks 24 def. Penrith Panthers 20

R9 — Parramatta Eels 42 def. Cronulla Sharks 24

Last Time They Met

Round 17, 2013: Cronulla Sharks 36 def. Wests Tigers 22

A back-and-forth match at Remondis Stadium saw the Cronulla Sharks win an entertaining match that featured 10 tries by 14 points, as Andrew Fifita again returned to haunt his former club. First half tries to Wade Graham, Nathan Stapleton, Luke Lewis and Fifita gave the hosts a commanding 24-0 lead heading into the break, but the visitors soon responded and threatened to pull off a very unlikely comeback. James Tedesco, Bodene Thompson and Tim Simona all crossed to reduce the gap to eight points in the second half, but when Chris Lawrence was controversially disallowed a try with just over 10 minutes remaining, the hosts were able to hang on for the win. Fifita crossed late in the match for his second try to restore the 14-point margin.

Match History: Played 23, Wests Tigers 15, Cronulla Sharks, Drawn 1

Number to Know — 13

Wests Tigers have won 13 of their last 16 games against Cronulla Sharks, including six of the last seven games played between the two Clubs at Remondis Stadium.

Stats Leaders

Key Matchups

Check out all the facts, figures and match analysis ahead of our Round 10 match against the Cronulla Sharks with our full Key Matchups. Click here for more.