Northern Sharks amped to get back on the field in top of the table NRL NT clash against Nightcliff Dragons

NORTHERN Sharks captain Jacob Collie is looking forward to a good hit out against Nightcliff, with his side hoping to nail down a top-two position in the 2021 NRL NT premiership

Sharks captain Jacob Collie is looking forward to his side getting back on the field against Nightcliff. Picture: Che Chorley

NORTHERN Sharks captain Jacob Collie is looking forward to a good hit out against Nightcliff, with his side hoping to nail down a top-two position in the 2021 NRL NT premiership.

The second-placed Sharks have been out of action for a couple of weeks with a Covid-enforced break, followed by a cancelled game against Palmerston, which breached NRL NT Covid guidelines.

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They will return to the field with a hint of rust as a result but have the ingredients to do real damage to the league’s top side in Nightcliff.

“It’s been quite frustrating because it feels like we’ve been off for a few weeks now and we were looking forward to a good hit,” Collie said.

“But to be almost guaranteed finals is definitely pleasing, and we are now looking at securing a spot in the top two and getting an extra week in finals.”

However, Nightcliff is as tough as they come in 2021 with the Dragons only conceding one loss.

Brent Crisp in tandem with Robbie Butcher and Matt Woolmington have added plenty of direction to the Dragons this season.

And it’s that cohesion that the Sharks will look to unravel with Collie, Tommy Gunn and Lachie Wright all making their returns this round.

“We’re expecting similar from them as we’ve seen all year. They’ve been the most consistent side,” Collie said.

“We’re looking forward to the test against them. Their defence is strong, not particularly physical but controlled especially around the edges.

“For us we just need to be better. We start well but have lapses in games and need to work on that. We need to focus on being consistently good throughout a game.

“They’re the only side we haven’t beaten yet so it would be nice to beat them before finals come along.”

Sharks have been through their hard times across the grades in recent years, but 2021 has been a standout for the club with finals all but locked in for their senior sides.

A-grade sits in second, as do the women, and there are plenty of promising results coming to the fore for Sharks across the junior ranks.

And that is perhaps the most pleasing thing for the stalwart clubman Collie, who has stuck around the club through the difficult years.

“This year has been massive for us right across the club,” Collie said.

“It’s so easy to walk away when it’s difficult, but for those that stayed with the club this year in both seniors and juniors it is making it worth the hard times.”

South Darwin hosts Palmerston Raiders at Warren Park and Darwin Brothers will do battle with Litchfield Bears at TRL Stadium.