The Benji Marshall era for Wests Tigers began with a loss last week, and their upcoming Round 3 match against an in-form Sharks side poses another tough challenge. The Sharks have started the season with two wins, and Wests Tigers will need to address some old habits that resurfaced in their loss to the Raiders.
Despite some positives, such as Lachlan Galvin’s debut performance at five-eighth and Jahream Bula’s continued growth at fullback, Wests Tigers struggled with familiar issues that have plagued them in recent years. They must rectify these issues before facing Craig Fitzgibbon’s Sharks at Leichhardt Oval. The Sharks, led by a standout performance from halfback Nicho Hynes, punished the Bulldogs for similar mistakes in their recent win.
Benji Marshall faces a decision regarding his halves combination, especially after replacing Jayden Sullivan with Aidan Sezer in the previous game. Star recruit Justin Olam is likely still a week away from returning due to a knee injury.
The Sharks are expected to welcome back Royce Hunt after missing last week due to illness, and Braden Hamlin-Uele is nearing a return from a knee injury, providing a significant boost to their forward pack.
Wests Tigers have struggled against the Sharks recently, winning just once in their last 11 encounters. Additionally, Cronulla has won on their last two visits to Leichhardt Oval.
Here’s a breakdown of some key statistics:
– The Sharks have maintained an unbeaten record at Leichhardt Oval since 2014.
– This upcoming game marks the Wests Tigers’ return to Leichhardt Oval since their dominant 66-18 victory over the Cowboys in 2023.
– Sharks winger Sione Katoa has been prolific against the Wests Tigers, scoring five tries across two previous encounters.
– On the other hand, Wests Tigers winger Charlie Staines has been particularly effective against the Sharks, tallying seven tries in three past matchups.
