Sea Eagles v Sharks: Guest coaches Renouf and Kimmorley go head to head

Plan of attack

Renouf

We've been so strong in the middle and we have to look to continue that because we do so well off the back of that. We'll look to dominate the middle and from that we want Daly Cherry-Evans and Dylan Walker to create opportunities for our backs.

Kimmorley

We want to get the ball to the left edge with momentum as often as possible. The ability Wade Graham and Bronson Xerri have on that left edge to cause havoc for the defensive team will be crucial, so that's the strike to go to. How we get that momentum will depend on our forwards going forward. Briton Nikora is a wonderful guy to run into some space and create momentum, which then allows Graham and Chad Townsend to get some ball to that left-edge attack.

Plan in defence

Renouf

We just want to shut them down all over the park, and once again that comes back to our ability to control the middle. We have to get on top of their pack and be very mindful of Graham popping up on the left side with Xerri. 

Kimmorley

There's no Tom Trbojevic and no Marty Taupau, so that makes Addin Fonua-Blake's role extremely important. Cherry-Evans is the key and obviously the their dummy-halves Api Koroisau and Manaise Fainu are very dangerous. 

My key player

Renouf

With Tommy Turbo gone I'm confident we'll see DCE step up and raise the bar a notch or two. He's been playing some good footy and he can be devastating on his day. We need him to take the game by the scruff of the neck and lead us around.

Kimmorley

Graham is the key here. He's our leader and he's extremely tough. He loves getting into that brutal arm wrestle but then on the back of that he has the ability to come up with the big play - a kick down the short side or a cut-out pass. He's a massive key for us and him missing half the season is why we battled to make the eight.

Opposition's danger man

Renouf

It's hard to nail down one standout threat for the Sharks because of the style they play, but I think Andrew Fifita is a worry for us, simply because if you let him dominate and aggravate he can put you right off your game. We can't let him run riot because once he gets going in all parts of his game he can dominate.

Kimmorley

It has to be Cherry-Evans. He's been a wonderful captain in 2019, in a season when they were expected to miss the eight. He's had his best season under Des Hasler and he's going to be the main focus of attack on the weekend. I'm sure the No.7 is preparing himself to play a huge role.

We will win if we ...

Renouf

We have to stick to what we've done all year and just compete on every single play. We know we're going to be in for a tough battle against a team with a good sprinkling of finals experience, but we just need to withstand that grind and we should come out on top.

Kimmorley

Kick a few goals after scoring tries. In all seriousness it's important to go up by six points rather than four in semi-finals because of the closeness of the contest. I'm sure we'll grow in belief and confidence if we see a few go through the goal-posts after any tries we score.

Final message

Renouf

Compete, compete, compete. We have to go out and play for 80 minutes and compete for everything in attack and defence. The Sharks won't give us anything easy so let's go out and earn it.

Kimmorley

We've got our full roster back on the park, plenty of big-game experience and one of the best packs in the competition. We love to fight and scrap over a bone and on the back of that toughness let's play the brand of football we know we can play when we press the "go" button.