The Bull Sharks play their final home game for the season at The Canal on Saturday and have vowed to go out with a bang against Souths who have been in red hot form in Premier Men and Colts 1.
The Premier Women get the weekend off.
Premier Men
Last time they met:
Rd 8, 2024 at Souths.
Bull Sharks lost 25-21.
The opponent:
They are one of the top three teams in the competition at the moment, we respect them a lot. But while saying that we believe we were unlucky the first time we played them, we let it slip through our fingers we believe we owe them one this round.
Shuffling the magnets:
We are lucky to have a couple of returns from the Reds this round. Matt Gibbon and Josh Cannon will be available for us, adding a bit more grunt to our forward pack.
Ones to look out for:
Hamish Roberts and Rhian Stowers will find a lot of opportunities this weekend.
The focus:
Our small defence is where we need to focus most. If we can strengthen this area, we have a good chance at eliminating tries. We know our attacking game is as good as anyone else’s and we can score like the best. We need to limit their scoring to come out on top.
Final word:
We are really looking forward to this game, it is our last home game of the season, hopefully we put on a great final performance at The Canal for the final time this season.
With Mick Heenan
Colts 1
Bull Sharks lost 31-22.
On reflection:
The last time we met them really hurt the side. We had three tries disallowed. It was a really competitive game, there was nothing in it and it was just a really tough battle and a great game of rugby. We are expecting the same again this week.
Where it will be won:
They have a very big, tough pack and the battle is going to be won or lost up front. They have a really good set piece, probably one of the strongest scrums in the competition so we are going to have to be organised there. And at the lineout it will be a big challenge to get that right because that is where we will look to attack.
Shuffling the magnets:
We aren’t expecting any changes this week.
One to watch:
Our front row. I’m expecting a big game from them. They will be tested by Souths’ props and I’m really looking for Harry Bell and Nikotimo Mateiwai to rise to the occasion.
The focus:
It is about being confident and getting the energy up. It is late in the season, we have done all the training, done all the plays. It is about showing up confident, with good energy and ripping in in front of a home crowd.
The final word:
Get down and watch. It will be basically a grand final for us so it would be worth coming along.
With Rico Gear