We go into another round of the Battle of Botany Bay. Souths who's junior area is to the north and Cronulla who holds the turf to the south. This match has become a new local derby for Souths with both clubs having close ties over the years. Games down at Endeavour field have always been tough and the Sharks are last up winners in the Shire. Again complaincy will be a issue for Souths. This time in the form of big win complaincy.

Fifita, Carney and Gordon are the key men for the Sharks. Carney controls he team and his elusiveness in attack has always been difficult. Gordon also likes to rake up oints against Souths using his size as a big fillback against our ruck defence. Fifita and Lewis are the two dangermen up the middle with their ability to break tackles. Cronulla will take us on up the middle as that is their strength. They also have the defence to frustrate clinical teams.

The Tigers main go forward will come from Fifita and Gallen. Followed closely by Lewis and Heighington. So they will try and take us on up the middle as that that is their strength.

The Sharks defence is one of the best in the league missing less than 20 tackles and making few errors. So we will need to take a Top 4 mindset into this game. Their halves are their defensive weakeness. There are fitness questions of Gallen, Lewis and Gordon this week. With Carney, Robson and Graham have all missed 4 or more tackles in recent matches. The Sharks base their game on working for good field position and then attacking the opposition centers.

Rd10 Home W 30-20 v Canberra
Rd09 Away W 30-6  v Wests-Tigers
Rd08 Away W 21-20 v Brisbane

Rd10 Home W 54-10 v Wests-Tigers
Rd09 Home W 28-10 v Nth Qld
Rd08 Away W 26-12 v Brisbane

2011 Rd08 StAu W 31-12  9,263 T.Archer/B.Suttor
2011 Rd11 Ende L  4-26 18,829 S.Lyons/C.James
2012 Rd09 StAu W 34-28 13,281 M.Cecchin/C.James
2012 Rd24 Ende L  7-20 16,423 T.Archer/B.Suttor
2013 Rd02 StAu W 14-12 14,128 J.Maxwell/A.Gee

Souths will win this game through their decipline and strength out wide. Sutton is in career best form and he will want to show up NSW selectors for choosing Carney rathe than himself. It was a close game in Rd02 this year as was the case in both games last year. Both teams are 3 from 3 in their last 3 games and both in form. Inglis and Merritt both played well against teh Sharks last year and after GI's 4 try romp is looking more dangerous than ever.

In this game I expect it to be a power play up the middle with Sam Burgess or Sutton being the scorer.

Souths by 4