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Dominic Brock | rugbyleaguelive.com | 24/07/08 | 0
AUDIO - Talking tips with Andrew Moore
Brisbane Broncos v Cronulla Sharks
Friday 25th July, 7.35pm
Suncorp Stadium
Referee: Shane Hayne
HEAD TO HEAD
Broncos 24 wins, Sharks 15 wins.
FORM GUIDE
Broncos: WWWLWLWWLLBWLLWDBLW
Sharks: WWLWWLLBWWLWWWWWBLW
Wayne Bennett was furious with the Broncos’ performance against the Cowboys last week – despite his team notching a comfortable 32-18 win.
He threatened to wield the axe after that game but has made only three changes this week, including the return of two stars.
Justin Hodges makes his long-awaited comeback from a six-match suspension, while Tonie Carroll is back after missing last weekend’s win through injury.
Nick Kenny is the other inclusion, with Dave Taylor, Joel Moon and Reece Robinson bumped out of the side.
The Sharks got away with another tight win last week, slipping past the Knights 16-13 at home.
Their high position on the ladder (they’re equal second with Melbourne) belies the fact the Sharks have been the worst attacking team in the NRL, scoring just 18.5 points a game on average.
With the likes of Darren Lockyer, Peter Wallace and Justin Hodges in the Brisbane lineup this week the home side have far more points in them and should get the win here.
In saying that, there’s a reason Cronulla keep winning games. They’re very tough to beat and have already conquered the Storm in Melbourne and Manly at Brookvale in 2008.
If Bennett’s spray doesn’t generate a form boost for the Broncos an upset here remains a real possibility.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Will the return of Justin Hodges spark the Broncos into finals form?
KEY MATCH UP
Justin Hodges v Ben Pomeroy
Brisbane can’t wait for Hodges to come back, and the Test centre provides plenty of strike power out wide. He’ll be fully fit after seven weeks on the sidelines and will be keen to return to the form that helped the Broncos rise to the top of the league at the start of the season.
He’ll come up against another talented ball-runner in Pomeroy, but the Sharks centre will need to put more focus on defence than attack this week.
Pomeroy has proved one of Cronulla’s better strike weapons himself with the ability to break tackles on the fringes, but he also comes up with a few missed tackles each week.
That could prove more costly than ever this week against the super-talented Hodges.
COACHES CORNER
Bennett’s blast after last week’s win was more an effort to fire up his side than a genuine threat of widespread changes, but it shows the master coach wants a change of attitude against the gritty Sharks this Friday.
If the Broncos forwards can match it with the Cronulla pack then there’s more than enough backline talent to get the hosts over the line.
Hodges will want to inject himself early but may not be at his best after such a long layoff, but also boast serious threats on the other flank with Maroons wide man Darius Boyd and the NRL’s equal-top tryscorer Denan Kemp.
Sharks fullback Brett Kearney was impressive against the Knights in his second game back from injury – breaking 10 tackles – and the visitors will want him sniffing around the centre of the park.
It’ll be safety-first football as usual from Ricky Stuart’s men but they need to take their chances in attack if they are to stop the Broncos.
PUNTERS GUIDE
Head-to-head: Broncos $1.30 – Sharks $3.30
The Sharks have been good away from home and beat the Broncos as Toyota Park in round 10, but this still looms as a win for the home side.
They may have been bad against the Bulldogs a fortnight ago and average last weekend, but Brisbane should be up for this one – particularly with a fitter Darren Lockyer and Hodges back in the backline.
Cronulla were less than convincing against Newcastle and couldn’t handle Manly’s firepower a week earlier, and that looks like being the case again here.
Brisbane to win, we’ll say by 13+. For a moneyspinner, take a look at Kemp as first tryscorer and Hodges as last tryscorer.
CASUALTY WARD
Broncos: Steve Michaels – knee (season), Nick Emmett – ankle (season)
Sharks: Reece Williams – knee (season), Greg Bird – knee (Rnd 21), Bryson Goodwin – thumb (Rnd 25), Karlos Filiga – pectoral (Rnd 25), Bryan Norrie – knee (Rnd 23).
BAD BOYS
Broncos: -
Sharks: -
TEAM LISTS
Broncos: Karmichael Hunt, Denan Kemp, Darius Boyd, Justin Hodges, Kaine Manihera, Darren Lockyer (c), Peter Wallace, Ben Hannant, Michael Ennis, Joel Clinton, Corey Parker, Sam Thaiday, Tonie Carroll. Interchange: Ashton Sims, Greg Eastwood, Nick Kenny, David Stagg
Sharks: Brett Kearney, Misi Taulapapa, Ben Pomeroy, David Simmons, Luke Covell, Brett Seymour, Brett Kimmorley, Ben Ross, Isaac de Gois, Luke Douglas, Grant Millington, Fraser Anderson, Paul Gallen (c). Interchange: Danny Nutley, Kade Snowden, Adam Peek, Terence Seu Seu, Blake Green (one to be omitted)
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