LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
It's a grand final rematch to kick off this weekend's preliminary finals, featuring the formidable Roosters up against the Sharks.
The last encounter between these teams occurred just two weeks ago, where the Roosters dominated in their Round 11 meeting, finishing the regular season with a decisive 40-10 victory.
However, the Roosters faced setbacks in that match, losing halfback Tarryn Aiken to an ACL injury and also being without rising star Aliyah Nasio, who is suspended due to a shoulder charge.
The Sharks enter this match after a narrow victory against the North Queensland Cowboys, marking the Cowboys' first appearance in the finals. The Sharks secured a 24-18 win, giving them a chance to redeem themselves after last year's grand final defeat to the Roosters, where they fell just short despite an impressive second half, losing 32-28.
With the undefeated Roosters being heavily favored by fans who anticipate a back-to-back championship run, the Sharks are fueled with motivation to pull off an upset.