Madimack 'Power Players' - Round 8

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Mon 24 Apr 2023, 01:29 PM

The Sharks made it back-to-back wins for the first time in 2023 with a round eight victory over the Bulldogs on Saturday night.

Let’s take a look at the Madimack ‘Power Players’ from the clash.

WILL KENNEDY

No surprises here! The Sharks' No.1 Will Kennedy has had a quality start to the season and was at his brilliant best once again on Saturday night.

A 16-minute blitz in the first half from Kennedy set the Sharks up to claim the two competition points, with his second hat-trick of the season on the board inside the first 23 minutes.

Over the opening seven games of the season, Will has already scored nine tries with five line breaks, two try assists and 17 tackle breaks to his name. Throw on top of that an average of 158 metres per game and you can see the impact the busy Sharks fullback has had over the opening rounds.

BRITON NIKORA

Arguably the most in-form back-rower in the NRL right now, Briton Nikora continued on with another strong and complete performance against the Dogs.

Known for running some of the best lines in the competition, Briton has been getting busy in the middle in 2023, finding his way closer to the action and taking some tough carries through the middle.

Nikora tore apart the Dogs with every carry in his 80-minute stint, starting things off with a line break in the seventh minute that saw him set up Will Kennedy for his first try of the night.

Nikora's stat line makes for nice reading with 132 metres, 41 post-contact metres, five tackle breaks, a line break assist and try assist to ice it off.

On the other side of the ball, Nikora's bone-jarring defence was once again on show, hitting with vigour on his way to 26 tackles at an efficiency rate of 90%.

When it's all said and done Briton looks like he could play on for another 10-minutes, but there's no denying the young backrower leaves it all on the field each and every week.

NICHO HYNES

Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes once again took control of the match in the second forty, helping his side to victory with a clinical and polished performance.

Two try assists, three line break assists and a personal haul of 13 points for the game, Hynes had impact on both sides of the ball.

A pin-point kick for Ronaldo Mulitalo to leap high and deliver Matt Moylan a try on a platter, before a nice cut-out pass to Sione Katoa put the winger over in the corner to extend the Sharks lead.

Hynes efforts on the other side of the ball highlighted by his textbook tackle on Bulldogs winger Declan Casey, dragging him into touch and saving what could have been a four-pointer for the home side. Add to this a perfect 5/5 from the boot with a field goal on top.

The reigning Dally M medal winner will have another chance to shine when he takes on the Cowboys on Thursday night at home.

RONALDO MULITALO

The put down gaffe aside, Ronaldo Mulitalo backed up his strong showing against the Roosters with another complete performance on both sides of the ball on Saturday night.

Strong under the 'Burton bomb' and high-ball, Mulitalo defused the Dogs attack consistently, but it was his strong showing in attack that made all the difference for the Sharks.

A mammoth 204 metres for the game, 54 of those post-contact, with six tackle breaks, three line breaks and a try assist to his name, Mulitalo ran riot down the Dogs right hand side.

One of Mulitalo's best moments coming off the back of a Hyne's pin-point kick, leaping high to send Matt Moylan strolling over in the corner.

Seven tries in seven games to start the year for the young Sharks winger, with 23 tackle breaks, three try assists and 11 line breaks to his name. Averaging over 130 metres per game, there's going to be plenty more big moments for 'Ronnie' moving forward!