Sharks

The 33-year-old has been in sensational form for the Sharks this season with two long-range tries in the past fortnight showing he still has what it takes to match it with the game's modern-day stars. 

Currently in his 17th NRL season, the two-time premiership winner has shown no signs of slowing down and revealed several clubs had made offers for his services for next season.  

"I definitely want to play on next year," he told NRL.com following Cronulla's 44-12 win over the Roosters on Saturday. 

The Springboks pivot started the game despite his discomfort, but was replaced after five minutes by teen talent Curwin Bosch, who went on to score 27 points in the match.

"It is difficult to say exactly the approximate length of recovery will be in Pat's case as he undergoes further scans, but his return is estimated at six to eight weeks," Sharks team doctor Alan Kourie said on Monday (NZT Tuesday).

Segeyaro is said to be looking for an NRL return, but is still contracted to Super League side Leeds.

With veteran Michael Ennis announcing his shock retirement last year, Flanagan says he still hasn’t decided on a replacement, but wouldn’t rule out making a play for former Cowboys and Panthers rake Segeyaro.

“We have spoken to James but we believe he’s got a contract in place with Leeds, so he’s got to deal with that before he does anything with our club,” Flanagan told Sky Sports Radio.

Long-suffering Shire fans will see their team contest a decider in a united competition for just the third time – and the first since 1978 – following the convincing 32-20 win in front of a huge crowd of 36,717 almost entirely home fans at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.

 book themselves into a Grand Final 20 years after their last decider.

Sharks skipper Gallen and Tagataese, both having completed training yesterday, are set to return from respective back and shoulder injuries to take their place against the Cowboys.

Gallen missed Cronulla's qualifying-final win over Canberra a fortnight ago, while Tagataese hasn't played for five weeks.

North Queensland have also rushed Kane Linnett straight back into the centres. He's overcame a hamstring injury that had kept him out of last week's semi-final win over Brisbane.

The hosts overcame one of the tightest defences in the competition despite appallingly wet conditions in the New Zealand capital, condemning the Sharks to the ignominy of being the first side to be held scoreless in a Super Rugby playoff.

Tries from prop Loni Uhila and fullback James Marshall in four minutes of the first half put the visitors well on the back foot and winger Jason Woodward and lock Vaea Fifita crossed inside two minutes of the second to seal the win.

RNZ reports Savea has been named on the bench for Saturday night's match in Wellington, with Jason Woodward preferred to start on the left wing.

Woodward moves from centre, with Matt Proctor returning to start after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Props Loni Uhila and Ben May come into the front row.

Uhila starts at loosehead prop in place of Reggie Goodes, who was unavailable for selection after leaving the field with concussion during the final match of the regular season against the Crusaders in Christchurch last weekend.

Game No.100 was a loss to the Warriors, game No.200 a rare Titans win over Brisbane but as he prepares for game No.250 on Sunday there is one game that still haunts Luke Douglas to this day.

It was game No.74 of a career now in its 11th season and was an agonising exit in finals football, a place Douglas has been unable to visit again in the seven years that have since passed.

While both sides failed to get out of second gear in attack in a game of varying quality, the Sharks out-muscled the Storm on Monday night and put them off their game.

Sharks winger Valentine Holmes provided what proved to be the match-winning play three minutes after halftime, when he burst through the middle of the field and sent halfback Chad Townsend under the posts.

In Durban, South Africa, the Crusaders recovered from two intercept tries to Sharks wing Lwazi Mvovo to win 19-14 thanks to a try in the last 10 minutes to All Blacks No. 8 Kieran Read.

The Crusaders had all the territory and possession at Kings Park, but two backline mistakes allowed Mvovo to speed away for a 14-7 lead for the home team.