SJ move adds spice to rivalry
in 2017 as the Warriors endured a miserable end to the season.
But the drama returned last year with Sharks winger Edrick Lee scoring off a missed forward pass to steal an 18-15 win at the death. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, Cronulla captain Paul Gallen proceeded to rub it into the home crowd during his postmatch interview.
The Sharks arrived in Wellington this week on a four-game losing streak and under pressure after falling out of the top eight.
But they have built their reputation over the years on being able to grind out tight results.
Cronulla started the season with a new coach at the helm in John Morris following Shane Flanagan’s deregistration.
Yet with the likes of Gallen and Fifita leading the way in the trenches, they have more than enough experience to fight their way out of trouble.
‘‘They’re a tough footy club,’’ Warriors coach Stephen Kearney said. ‘‘They’ve got a couple of really experienced forwards, a couple of hard-nosed professionals in ‘Gal’, Fifita and [Matt] Prior. They set a real good platform for [Matt] Moylan, Shaun and Chad [Townsend] to work off the back of.’’
The 12th-placed Warriors have virtually entered must-win territory in the race for the finals and are preparing for another close contest.
After last week’s draw against Brisbane – their second golden point match in three weeks – Kearney called on his side to own the big moments.
‘‘I reckon maybe the last six to eight weeks, the boys have put themselves in a position to get the right result in most of those games. We’ve probably lacked a bit of polish to finish some of them off,’’ he said.
‘‘We have to be better. Each week we find where we can improve and that process doesn’t stop this week.’’
The Wellington Saints, as always, will have a big target on their backs at the National Basketball League final four.
The 10-time champions perennially come into the NBL’S showpiece weekend as heavy favourites.
That’s especially so this year, with the TAB lining them up as $1.60 favourites to lift their 11th title after an 18-0 regular season. The season matched their 2017 heroics, when they were last crowned champions in a perfect 20-0 season.
But they know just how tough the final four can be, having lost last year’s decider, and the 2015 final, to the Southland Sharks.
They meet the Sharks (12-6) in the first semifinal at Horncastle Arena in Christchurch tomorrow afternoon.
They comfortably beat the
Sharks 126-102 and 122-77 this season, but that will mean nothing in playoff basketball.
Wellington’s strengths are across the court.
They are led by Australian forward Nick Kay, who is a strong favourite for league MVP, but have the likes of Tall Blacks Shea Ili, Tom Abercrombie, Reuben Te Rangi, Rob Loe and Jordan Ngatai to call on, as well as former Tall Black Leon Henry and improving Australian Sunday Dech as ample bench cover.
‘‘To be the champs you have to beat the champs and that is our task on Saturday,’’ Saints coach Paul Henare said.
‘‘The Sharks have been playing some great ball of late so we know we are in for a hell of a fight. Their size and presence on the board will test us but it’s a