Jared Waerea-Hargreaves of the Roosters is tackled by of the Sharks Cronulla host the Roosters on Super Saturday and the clash stands as the biggest test of their resolve this season. The Sharks lost last time out to Parramatta — shipping 24 points — in their worst defensive display of 2019. What made the defeat worse was the loss of front-rower Aaron Woods to a broken foot. Every game of every round of the 2019 NRL Premiership LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. Get it all on Foxtel Star half Shaun Johnson pulled out pre-match with quad tightness, while Matt Moylan and captain missed the game after picking up injuries. In good news, Gallen and Johnson are expected back this week. The Roosters, too, are boosted by their own returning veteran in Cooper Cronk. The pivot sat out a large part of his side’s win over the Broncos last week with a hamstring injury, but is expected to feature The Sharks will have to be at their best when they come up against a Roosters side who, going into Round 5, have the best attack in the competition. It’s a point which isn’t lost on star prop Andrew Fifita, who remains optimistic about the Sharks’ chances despite defeat by the Eels and the Chooks’ red-hot form. “We had a really good training session and talked about where we went wrong,” said the Tongan prop. Andrew Fifita gets hit by the Eels defence Source: AAP “Moving on from Parra and straight onto the Roosters. They’re the team to beat and the reigning champs for a reason and we’ll be prepared for the 80 minutes. “I’m upbeat, we’re still in the top 8 and it’s early days. “I know we have a fair amount of injuries at the moment. But when they come back, we’ll have these ultra fresh people ready to roll for the end of the year. “I prepare every game like it’s my last game, I’m not going out there to lose, I’m going out there to win and we’re quite excited for the challenge. “Gal has done everything in the game, he’s one of those quality players you need in the team. “He knows the right things to say at the right times, and that comes from experience. He is our captain and that’s how he leads us.” Read on to get the lowdown on the crunch clash between the Cowboys and the Raiders in the Saturday Selection, brought to you by Bundaberg Rum. Cronulla Sharks v Sydney Roosters at Shark Park (7.35pm) Sharks: 1. Josh Dugan 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Josh Morris 5. Stone Katoa 6. Shaun Johnson 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Matt Prior 11. Briton Nikora 12. Kurt Capewell 13. . Interchange: 14. Blayke Brailey 15. Jayson Bukuya 16. Jack Williams 17. Scott Sorensen. Reserves: 18. Kyle Flanagan 19. Will Kennedy 20. Braden Hamlin-Uele 21. Aaron Gray Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Joseph Manu 5. Matt Ikuvalu 6. Luke Keary 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Victor Radley 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Angus Crichton 13. Isaac Liu. Interchange: 14. Lindsay Collins 15. Zane Tetevano 16. Poasa Faamausili 17. Mitchell Aubusson. Reserves: 18. Nat Butcher 19. Sitili Tupouniua 20. Sam Verrills 23. Lachlan Lam KEY STATS, courtesy of the Fox Sports lab Sharks — After becoming the most capped Shark player of all time against the Cowboys, will play his 330th match this week, equalling Eels legend Nathan Hindmarsh as the 10th most capped player of all-time. — Since the start of the 2018 season, the Sharks have won 10 of 14 games at home, including winning three of the past four games by 12 points or more. — Since the start of the 2018 season, the Sharks have won 16 of 18 games when level or leading at the halftime break but just three of 13 games when trailing at the break. Roosters — The Roosters have won back to back games against the Sharks at Cronulla (2017 & 2018). Prior to this, they had only won one game at the venue dating back to 2010 (Round 7, 2014), suffering five losses and a draw (Round 18, 2012). — The Roosters have won 21 of their past 25 games when leading or level at the halftime break. They have not trailed at the break in the past eight games, losing just once (Round 1 this year against the Rabbitohs). — Sydney Roosters will be looking for a fourth straight win away from home for the second time since the start of the 2018 season (Rounds 14-22). They have not conceded over 18 points in six of the past seven away games. HEAD TO HEAD 95 played, Sharks 35, Roosters 59, drawn 2. THE FORM GUIDE Roosters (most recent games first) 36-4 WON v Broncos (home) 32-18 WON v Eels (away) 26-18 WON v Sea Eagles (away) Sharks (most recent games first) 24-12 LOST v Eels (away) 42-16 WON v Cowboys (away) 20-6 WON v Titans (home)<doc-sep>Cronulla Sharks coach John Morris has described an eight-minute period in which his side conceded four tries as like having their “pants pulled down”. The Sharks loss 30-16 against a rampant Roosters side who scored just before the break through Latrell Mitchell. Then the floodgates opened and the Roosters blitzed the Sharks to add three more scores in the space of eight minutes after halftime to put the game beyond Cronulla. Live stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial > “We got absolutely blown off the park,” said Morris. “And that’s including the last play of the first half I said to the boys after the game there were a couple of schoolboy errors which put some pressure on us and undid all our hard work in the first half. “I thought the Roosters were nowhere near their best. We rolled dice off the scrum and kicked with 15 seconds to go. It was a really bad play, a decision and we got our pants pulled down. “My message before was complete on every play, you’re playing the Roosters — the defending premiers — if you don’t that’s what happens. It’s a silly play, the game’s not lost there but it certainly makes it hard.” MORE NRL NEWS IT’S A BAD ONE: Graphic images show Guerra’s suspected broken leg WIND UP MERCHANT: Fonua-Blake antagonises Knights after high shot on Pearce IT RISES: Brown aware of building pressure after fourth straight Knights loss HASLER’S DAZZLERS: Manly end two-year wait to seal victory<doc-sep>It didn't take long for the Sharks' clash with the Roosters to become heated, with Andrew Fifita angrily slapping Victor Radley on the head in the opening minute. Sydney captain Boyd Cordner carted the ball up in the first set at PointsBet Stadium in the Sutherland Shire and Radley attempted to push Fifita off his captain. The Cronulla prop's fuse ran out quickly, spinning on his heel to grab young Radley before whacking him over the noggin as he ran back onside. MORE: Manly fans blow up at The Bunker after Knights forward Aidan Guerra's try "Now there's a problem here," said Fox League commentator Warren Smith. "Victor Radley and Andrew Fifita, it was an open-handed slap across the chops from Fifita on Radley." Watch the hit below. Radley, again filling in at hooker with Jake Friend injured, was seemingly stunned by the blow from Fifita and missed the next play-the-ball, with Sio Siua Taukeiaho arriving just before Cronulla's markers pounced. "They could have easily turned it over," said Smith. Fifita was named skipper of the Sharks for the Roosters match with Paul Gallen pulling out late due to the rib cartilage injury that sidelined him last weekend. Cronulla scrapped hard in the first half but Sydney led 12-0 at the break after tries from Cooper Cronk and Latrell Mitchell. Sydney ran away with the contest in the second stanza to secure a 30-14 win.<doc-sep>
The lead would have been greater still had Angus Crichton not botched what appeared a certain four-pointer. The scary thing is that the premiers played ordinary for extended periods, but turned it on when they had to. And how they turned it on. Keary had a hand in four tries, giving Brad Fittler further food for thought. Up close and personal: Braden Hamlin-Uele of the Sharks is crunched. Credit:AAP Most of the big names were involved in the highlight-reel moments. James Tedesco, Cooper Cronk, Mitchell and Boyd Cordner all crossed the stripe. But the most spectacular moment belonged to the unheralded Matt Ikuvalu. The winger defied the sideline and the cover defence to produce a miracle put-down, prompting Fox commentator Greg Alexander to ask “Is that the best ever?”. The Sharks bagged the last three tries but they were of the consolation variety. To make matter worse, Andrew Fifita limped off late in the game. If he doesn't recover in time to take on the Storm, Sharks coach John Morris estimates he will be missing about 1000 NRL games of experience. Loading However, Fifita said he was "positive" he will take his place. “It’s not as bad as first thought," Fifita said. “I’m going to get scans but I’m confident I’ll be right." When the game was tight early, Siosiua Taukeiaho again stood up. Is there a more effective front-rower at the moment? With his side again missing Jared Waerea-Hargreaves with a rib injury, he again took it up himself to take the tri-colours forward. The Tongan international is an apprentice mechanic, but there is perhaps no more impressive motor in the NRL than his. In his first stint, he produced 25 tackles and 131 metres from 11 hit-ups against a famed pack, albeit one still missing Paul Gallen. Another enthralling battle was the one between Bronson Xerri and Latrell Mitchell. Xerri is the new kid in town, a teenager with the world at his feet. It wasn’t so long ago that Mitchell was that guy. Loading The NSW and Australian centre presented Xerri’s biggest challenge to date and the newbie was given a lesson. Xerri was thrown the ball with no one in front of him on several occasions, only for the Steeden to end up on the turf. Mitchell nailed all of his opportunities. The NSW and Australian centre took the honours in the first of a series of battles that could well continue for a decade. Asked for an appraisal of how his side was tracking, Roosters coach Trent Robinson - without trying to play things down - described their form as "ok".