NRL: Gow out to save Sharks

Peter Gow, pictured here with daughter Elle Macpherson, will be part of a consortium hoping to rescue Cronulla. Photo / Getty Images

Sharks v Warriors
Shark Park, 4pm tomorrow

The father of supermodel Elle Macpherson has joined a group of Cronulla businessmen who aim to save the Sharks after a year of turmoil.

Former chairman Peter Gow who resigned in acrimony in 1999 is part of the support committee which has met with the outgoing Sharks board to discuss the proposed repeat elections set for July and the future direction of the club.

Gow left after many years in club management when he cut up a St George jumper in front of some of their fans and following a row with former international Barry Beath at the Leagues Club's Chinese restaurant but this week said he had never stopped supporting the club.

The Sharks have had financial dramas that have forced player cuts along with the historic sex abuse allegation, star Reni Maitua's drug charge and a string of early-morning incidents involving too much alcohol.

But the Warriors will not go to Shark Park complacent or thinking the home side might be mentally off their game tomorrow.

"It's been the last thing I've been thinking of," coach Ivan Cleary said. "It's just another NRL team and they're all tough in their own way. Knowing what Ricky [Sharks coach Stuart] is like they will have a bit of a seige mentality about them. They play tough and we're respecting that."

The Warriors' preparation had been "the same as any other week".

The team is the same as that which held the Tigers to zero last weekend bar the return of captain Steve Price who has remained in Australia after the State of Origin. He came through with nothing more serious than bumps and bruises, Cleary said.

The Sharks also use a winning side, that which ground out a narrow victory over the Eels at Parramatta, just the second for them this season, with their captain Paul Gallen named but still battling a shoulder injury that kept him out of Origin. He was rated 50:50 yesterday and would be a big loss if he doesn't play. The side named mid-week includes six players who have a total 22 NRL games behind them and six of those were last Saturday.

Halfback Scott Porter has taken time off from his lawnmowing business and fronts again after steering the side well last weekend and fullback Nathan Stapleton plays his third premiership game. Blake Ferguson looks to be cementing a spot as backline utility after playing at wing, centre and fullback and his former under-20s teammates Matt Wright, 18, and prop Johnny Mannah appear headed for long NRL careers. The older Atelea Vea, 22, is the other new boy.

The Sharks also have concerns over Ben Pomeroy, who suffered severe bruising around his groin last weekend but is named on a six-man bench.

SHARKS v WARRIORS

Sharks

Nathan Stapleton
Blake Ferguson
Matt Wright
Reece Williams
Luke Covell
Trent Barrett (c)
Scott Porter
Kade Snowden
Tony Caine
Luke Douglas
Atelea Vea
Anthony Tupou
Paul Gallen
Interchange (from): Johnny Mannah, Grant Millington, Mitch Brown, Terence Seu Seu, Jacob Selmes, Ben Pomeroy.

Warriors

Wade McKinnon
Kevin Locke
Aidan Kirk
Jerome Ropati
Manu Vatuvei
Joel Moon
Stacey Jones
Sam Rapira
Aaron Heremaia
Steve Price (c)
Simon Mannering
Jacob Lillyman
Micheal Luck
Interchange: Lance Hohaia, Russell Packer, Jesse Royal, Ben Matulino, Lewis Brown.