Sharks v Wests Tigers: Cronulla chase top spot; Clifford back on deck
The Cronulla Sharks have their sights on the NRLW minor premiership when they host Wests Tigers on Thursday night.
The Sharks have stumbled in recent weeks, dropping their last two games after winning their first six matches of the season.
They now enter the final round of the competition in third place on the ladder but level on points with the Roosters and Broncos.
A win on Thursday will guarantee a top-four sport and provide a dose of momentum heading into next week's sudden-death semi-final.
Cronulla will face a confident Wests Tigers team at PoinstBet Stadium after Brett Kimmorley's side claimed their first win of the season last weekend.
The Tigers outlasted St George Illawarra in wet and windy conditions at Leichhardt Oval and they'll be eager to replicate that defensive display on Thursday.
Halfback Losana Lutu has emerged as a future star this season and she has the chance to make a major statement in the final game of her sides campaign.
Match: Sharks v Wests Tigers
Round 9 -
home Team
Sharks
3rd Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
10th Position
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Sharks: Manilita Takapautolo comes onto the bench in the place of Chloe Saunders in the only change to the Cronulla line-up for their last game before they play in this year's finals series.
Wests Tigers: Brett Kimmorley has made one change to the side that posted their first win of the season last week, with Montana Clifford returning from a head knock to start in the second row in place of Claudia Brown, who took a knock to the face in her debut against the Dragons. Brown is the new 18th player this week, with Jessica Kennedy reverting to the extended reserves.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sharks is number 1 Emma TonegatoFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Botille Vette-Welsh
-
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Cassie StaplesWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Rebecca Pollard
-
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Tiana PenitaniCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Leianne Tufuga
-
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Annessa BiddleCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Rikeya Horne
-
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Georgia RavicsWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Claudia Nielsen
-
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Georgia HannawayFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Evie McGrath
-
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Tayla PrestonHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Losana Lutu
Forwards
-
Prop for Sharks is number 8 Ellie JohnstonProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Sarah Togatuki
-
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Quincy DoddHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Ebony Prior
-
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Holli WheelerProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Christian Pio
-
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Talei Holmes2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Brooke Talataina
-
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Rhiannon Byers2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Montana Clifford
-
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Brooke AndersonLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Najvada George
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Filomina HanisiInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Chelsea Savill
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Manilita TakapautoloInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Natasha Penitani
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Vanessa FoliakiInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Tara Reinke
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Tegan DymockInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Pauline Piliae-Rasabale
Reserves
-
Replacement for Sharks is number 19 Nakia Davis-WelshReplacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Claudia Brown
-
Reserve for Sharks is number 20 Chloe SaundersReserve for Wests Tigers is number 19 Tess Staines
-
Reserve for Sharks is number 21 Dominique du ToitReserve for Wests Tigers is number 20 Jessica Kennedy
-
Reserve for Sharks is number 22 Sharni SmaleReserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Emily Curtain
-
Reserve for Sharks is number 23 Leki LeiluaReserve for Wests Tigers is number 22 Iemaima Etuale
Sharks Ins
- Dominique du Toit
- Leki Leilua
- Manilita Takapautolo
- Sharni Smale
Wests Tigers Ins
- Emily Curtain
- Iemaima Etuale
- Montana Clifford
- Tess Staines
Sharks Outs
Wests Tigers Ins
Match Officials
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Sharks have won three of their past four games at PointsBet Stadium.
- The Tigers are aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time since the opening rounds of 2023.
- Sharks winger Georgia Ravics has scored five tries in her past three games.
- Tigers winger Rebecca Pollard has scored four tries in five appearances this season.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
