Cronulla Sharks were the victims as Cameron Smith marked his landmark 400th NRL appearance in style last week.

And the Sharks are now in desperate need of a win as they approach a fixture with New Zealand Warriors, who they have a good record against.

Josh Mansour and Penrith Panthers are also facing favourable opponents, while Smith and Melbourne Storm might be able to further improve an outstanding season.

We take a look at the week's key statistics, courtesy of Opta.

 

Thursday

Brisbane Broncos (6-9-1) v Canterbury Bulldogs (5-11)

- Each of the past six NRL games between the Broncos and the Bulldogs have been won by the home team on the day.

- Anthony Milford has had four try involvements (one try, three assists) in his past four NRL matches against the Bulldogs.

Friday

New Zealand Warriors (6-9-1) v Cronulla Sharks (7-9)

- The Sharks have won nine of their past 11 NRL games against the Warriors, including four on the bounce.

- However, Cronulla are on a four-match losing run. The last time they endured more consecutive losses was a 10-match span across the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Penrith Panthers (8-8) v St George Illawarra Dragons (6-10)

- The Panthers have won four of their past five NRL games against the Dragons at Panthers Stadium, conceding an average of just 11 points per game in that time.

- Mansour has scored a try and produced at least two tackle breaks in each of his previous three NRL matches against the Dragons.

Saturday

Sydney Roosters (10-6) v Newcastle Knights (8-8)

- The Knights are looking to defeat the Roosters twice in a single campaign for the first time in premiership history.

- Kalyn Ponga has had three try involvements (two tries, one assist) in his past two NRL matches against the Roosters.

Canberra Raiders (10-6) v Wests Tigers (7-9)

- The Raiders have won five of their past six NRL matches against Wests, with those victories coming by an average margin of 40 points per game.

- Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has gained 999 metres returning kicks in NRL 2019, the most of any player this season.

North Queensland Cowboys (7-9) v South Sydney Rabbitohs (11-5)

- The Rabbitohs have won their past three NRL games in succession against the Cowboys – twice by a margin of just one point – after having won only one of their nine prior meetings.

- Cowboys have scored the joint-most tries (11, also Parramatta Eels) in the final 10 minutes of the first half of games this season.

Sunday

Gold Coast Titans (4-12) v Melbourne Storm (14-2)

- The Storm have won six of their previous seven NRL games against the Titans, keeping them scoreless in the second halves of three of their past four meetings.

- Smith has successfully kicked 13 of his past 14 shots at goal against the Titans in the NRL.

Manly Sea Eagles (9-7) v Parramatta Eels (9-7)

- The Eels have won seven of their past eight NRL games against the Sea Eagles, but they were defeated 54-0 when these teams last met at Lottoland.

- The Sea Eagles and the Eels have scored the joint-most tries (10, also Melbourne Storm) from their own half of the field of all the sides in the NRL this year.