Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 26 clash between the Sharks and Warriors.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Vs New Zealand Warriors
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Date: Saturday, August 31, 7:35 pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Siosifa Talakai, 4. Kayal Iro, 5. Samuel Stonestreet, 6. Daniel Atkinson, 7. Braydon Trindall, 8. Toby Rudolf, 9. Blayke Brailey, 10. Oregon Kaufusi, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Teig Wilton, 13. Cameron McInnes, 14. Jack Williams, 15. Royce Hunt, 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele, 17. Thomas Hazelton, 18. Chris Veaila, 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha, 20. Jayden Berrell, 21. Billy Burns, 22. Nicho Hynes
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 4. Ali Leiataua, 5. Marcelo Montoya, 6. Luke Metcalf, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Marata Niukore, 12. Kurt Capewell, 13. Dylan Walker, 14. Freddy Lussick, 15. Tom Ale, 16. Jazz Tevaga, 17. Demitric Sifakula, 18. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 20. Leka Halasima, 21. Edward Kosi, 22. Paul Roache, 23. Jacob Laban
Referee: Chris Butler
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Sharks proved too strong for the Dragons in last weekend’s local derby (38-10). This win was needed for the Sharks to try and shore up the fourth spot on the ladder heading into the finals. Though the Sharks were in control for most of the game, there were points where the Dragons made them work for it. Despite the Dragons getting within four points, the Sharks would overrun them in the back end of the second half.
Jesse Ramien will miss this week due to suspension, and Siosifa Talakai will move into the centres after missing the win against the Dragons. Sione Katoa returns from concussion protocols. Nicho Hynes, who has been out since round 18 with an ankle injury, has been named as a reserve.
In their final home game of the season, the Warriors lost to the Bulldogs by 16 points (34-18). The Warriors started well, racing to a 12-nil lead before the Bulldogs kicked away. There was a controversial moment when Bulldogs centre Stephen Crichton connected with the head of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. While Crichton was put on report, he was not sent to the sin bin, with the referee saying there were mitigating circumstances in the tackle.
Tuivasa-Sheck is out due to concussion protocols, and Charnze Nicholl-Klokstad moves from fullback to centre. Taine Tuaupiki is the fullback. Ali Leiataua is the other centre, filling in for Adam Pompey (who is out with a knee injury). Tom Ale has been added to the bench, and Chanel Harris-Tevita is the 18th Man.
Whether or not Hynes plays, the match-up between the halves will be one of the features of this game. Braydon Trindall and Daniel Atkinson have played well this season, and getting the Sharks to a top four spot has been because of these two. When Hynes is ready, it will be interesting to see what coach Craig Fitzgibbon will do to his in-form halves combination. This is the last time for Luke Metcalf and Shaun Johnson to play together since the Warriors have the round 27 bye; they will want to end the season on a high.
These two teams have played 45 matches since the NRL started. During that time, one player scored four tries, and three scored three. Nathan Stapleton scored four tries when the two teams met in April 2014. The Warriors’ Manu Vatuvai (2010) and Bill Tupou (2010), and the Sharks’ Sione Katoa (2022), have each scored three.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Number Crunch Stats.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
Sharks by 8 points.
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