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The NRL premiership credentials of Cronulla are evidenced in one player picked on the team’s bench this weekend, according to Brad Fittler.
The Sharks are riding high after a 66-0 thumping of the Dolphins last week and are sitting fourth on the competition ladder.
Billy Burns of the Sharks in action. Getty Images
They’ve rocketed into title contention alongside the likes of the Panthers, Roosters, and Warriors and some believe they are steaming towards their first premiership in a decade.
They host the Knights at Shark Park on Friday night in an intriguing contest.
Newcastle and Cronulla each sit on 26 competition points and the winner could leapfrog the Roosters into third place, even if it’s short-lived given the Chooks play Melbourne on Saturday.
The Knights have been in solid form – despite a narrow loss to South Sydney on Sunday – but not a single expert on Nine’s tipping panel is backing them to win on Friday.
Fittler reckons the benching of gun backrower Billy Burns is proof of Cronulla’s current form.
“Billy Burns has been one of the best players all year for Cronulla, and he is actually on the bench,” Fittler told Wide World of Sports’ NRL Tips.
“So it shows you how far their depth goes. I’m going to go the Sharks.
“The Knights were unlucky (against South Sydney last week). The wingers, Dom Young up against Ronaldo Mulitalo, should be excited and interesting.”
The Sharks will be third on the NRL ladder if they can beat the Knights, given they have a better points differential than the Roosters.
The Chooks will reclaim third place if they beat the Storm in Sydney on Saturday night.
Scroll below for round 20 tips by all Nine’s expert tipsters!