Our Dragons tragic Stephen Gallagher is back, with this week’s Game of the Round.

GAME OF THE ROUND: ROUND NINE – South Sydney Rabbitohs V Cronulla Sharks – Monday, ANZ Stadium 19.00 local time.

LAST WEEK: South Sydney put in a strong first half effort which saw them hold off a fast finishing North Queensland Cowboys side 20-16

One way traffic for Cronulla Sutherland as they dispatched a hapless Canberra Raiders team 44-22 in Canberra.

THIS WEEK: The Rabbitohs sitting at an even record will set out to have more wins than losses, as they will prepare to beat the in form Sharks. A forward pack hampered by injury but still putting out big metres and tough defence, it’ll be all about trying to win the physicality battle up front.

The Sharks will be out to make it seven consecutive wins in a row. Something the Sharks fan always believed their talented side could do, but a surprise to the rest of us considering their recent form over the last few seasons. It seems they’ve finally put it on the field – and it’s a great sporting spectacle.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Souths will be ready to go. A confidence boosting win last weekend will lay the platform for another solid performance this week. Their backline has been terrific this season, and has the potential to guide them to bigger and better things for the remainder of the season. Try scorers all around, it’s not hard to see why Souths can produce such emphatic victories some weeks. Last week they slipped off in the second half and that’s a big no-no against this tough Cronulla team. Souths need to be at the top of their game to compete.

Cronulla to go the distance again in this one. Have not fallen short in any areas of their performances this year, with the two losses only coming to a combination of 13 points. They have a big ticker of a forward pack, which is what has given this team such success in 2012. The combination of their hard work, respect for the ball and the discipline will be the ultimate factors in a victory this weekend. Cronulla have turned the corner this season, and they need to stick to what has given them all this success.

THE BATTLE OF: The locks. Rabbitohs hard-man Michael Crocker will face off against Paul Gallen. These two define what the Rabbitohs and the Sharks are. Crocker is a man who has given his all week in, week out throughout his illustrious career. Paul Gallen has been toted by rugby league immortal Johnny Raper as the most inspirational forward in fifty years and can seemingly only get better with each performance. Big hearts in these two, as well as big tackles and even bigger runs. These two can barely be separated. Greats of the game for sure.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Dave Taylor – Can change the game by a single barnstorming run. A big time player.

Matthew Wright – Finding a home at the back, and can make the most of it at all times.

PREDICTION:
Oh I can’t wait for this one. I got a feeling Cronulla fans will have a 7th reason to smile with a hard fought 16-10 victory.


SWT Gallagher

By ricky

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