Sharks v Sea Eagles: Finucane, Hamlin-Uele out; Harper returns
The battle of the beaches, south vs north, has been raging since 1967 and rarely fails to deliver a quality contest with plenty of drama thrown in.
The Sharks and Sea Eagles met twice in grand finals during the 70s with Manly getting the cash on both occasions, leaving Cronulla to wait until their 50th season in 2016 to claim their first ever title.
In more recent times it's Manly who have had the upper hand thanks to some Tom Trbojevic magic in 2021 and a couple of monster performances by Addin Fonua-Blake in 2019, although the Sharks prevailed in their only meeting in 2020.
Both sides sit 4-2 after six rounds and look to be building nicely into the season.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Sharks v Sea Eagles
The Rundown
Team news
Sharks: The Sharks are 1-17 with no late changes. Cameron McInnes will start at lock, Aiden Tolman comes into the starting side and Royce Hunt joins the bench in a new-look Sharks pack this week. Briton Nikora (COVID protocols) has been named to return and is expected to play. Nicho Hynes takes over as captain with Dale Finucane out.
Sea Eagles: Karl Lawton has been promoted to the starting side an hour before kick-off with Taniela Paseka going to the bench. Tolutau Koula has been added to the bench and Kurt De Luis drops out.
Morgan Harper returns in the centres after his COVID-enforced lay-off. A head knock sidelines Sean Keppie so Ethan Bullemor joins the bench. Prop Martin Taupau (COVID) is still sidelined.
Match: Sharks v Sea Eagles
Round 7 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William KennedyFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Reuben Garrick
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Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione KatoaWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
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Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse RamienCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
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Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa TalakaiCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan Harper
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Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo MulitaloWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu
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Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt MoylanFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran Foran
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Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas HynesHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
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Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby RudolfProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Toafofoa Sipley
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Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke BraileyHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
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Prop for Sharks is number 16 Royce HuntProp for Sea Eagles is number 12 Andrew Davey
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 15 Karl Lawton
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Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnesLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
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Interchange for Sharks is number 10 Aiden TolmanInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 10 Taniela Paseka
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Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Braydon TrindallInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dylan Walker
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Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Jack WilliamsInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
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Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Andrew FifitaInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Tolutau Koula
Reserves
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Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Lachlan MillerReplacement for Sea Eagles is number 18 Ben Trbojevic
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Key match-up
Nicho Hynes v Daly Cherry-Evans: The kicking game of both No.7s has been on song in the opening six rounds and whoever gets the upper hand in the battle of the boot will go a long way to deciding the winner on Thursday. Hynes has settled beautifully into his new role at halfback after spending most of the past two years at fullback or coming off the bench for the Storm. Cherry-Evans has been masterful by hand and foot, calmly steering Manly around the paddock and driving the standards set by astute mentor Des Hasler.
Stat attack
Ronaldo Mulitalo has been a line breaking machine in 2022, leading the NRL with 10 in five games, while fellow Sharks winger Sione Katoa has chalked up seven line breaks.
Match: Sharks v Sea Eagles
Round 7 -
home Team
Sharks
4th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
7th Position
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
