Sharks v Warriors: Finucane back, McInnes starts; DWZ, Pene return
Cronulla return home to PointsBet Stadium on Sunday afternoon looking to bounce back after a shock loss to Brisbane in round eight.
Their opponents, the Warriors, did exactly that last start with a field goal in golden point to Shaun Johnson turning around a 60-point loss a week earlier.
Johnson, the former Sharks halfback himself, will be looking to get one over his old club in his return to the Shire.
The match-up between Johnson and Hynes will be worth the price of admission alone while the Warriors' forward pack aimed up against Canberra's big men and will need to do so again in enemy territory.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Sharks v Warriors
The Rundown
Team news
Sharks: Connor Tracey has been promoted from the reserves list to start on the wing as he returns from injury for his first game since round three. Ronaldo Mulitalo (illness) is out. Dale Finucane moves to prop with Aiden Tolman moving back to the bench. Cameron McInnes starts at lock for the first time in his Sharks career. Andrew Fifita comes onto the bench. Club captain Wade Graham will come off the bench for his second appearance after getting through 23 minutes last week.
Warriors: There are no changes for the visitors. A heart-warming sight for all league fans with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak back after a nasty concussion against the Storm on ANZAC day. DWZ replaces Jesse Arthurs (shoulder) on the wing with Rocco Berry and Viliame Vailea maintaining their spots in the centres. Bayley Sironen moves to 18th man, replaced by Eliesa Katoa in the back row while Aaron Pene returns from a one-match suspension on the bench.
Match: Sharks v Warriors
Round 9 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William KennedyFullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh
-
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione KatoaWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse RamienCentre for Warriors is number 3 Viliami Vailea
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Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa TalakaiCentre for Warriors is number 4 Rocco Berry
-
Winger for Sharks is number 22 Connor TraceyWinger for Warriors is number 5 Adam Pompey
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Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt MoylanFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Daejarn Asi
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Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas HynesHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson
Forwards
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Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby RudolfProp for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
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Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke BraileyHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Sharks is number 13 Dale FinucaneProp for Warriors is number 10 Matthew Lodge
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Euan Aitken
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Eliesa Katoa
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Lock for Sharks is number 15 Cameron McInnesLock for Warriors is number 13 Jazz Tevaga
Interchange
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Interchange for Sharks is number 10 Aiden TolmanInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Jack Murchie
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Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Jack WilliamsInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Ben Murdoch-Masila
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Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Wade GrahamInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Bunty Afoa
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Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Andrew FifitaInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Aaron Pene
Reserves
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Replacement for Sharks is number 21 Mawene Hiroti
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Reserve for Warriors is number 18 Bayley Sironen
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
Key match-up
Siosifa Talakai v Rocco Berry: The battle of the halfbacks aside, there will be another big emphasis on shutting down Sharks centre Siosifa Talakai after he was well-handled by Kotoni Staggs last week. The Warriors' edges were reshuffled last week but as Talakai showed in the first half the last time the Sharks played at PointsBet Stadium, he's a hard man to stop if given time with the ball. The man tasked with the job, Rocco Berry, has 12 games of first grade under his belt and will need help from the men around him to shut Talakai down.
Stat attack
Cronulla have produced a whopping 41 line break assists in their opening eight games, more than double the Warriors (18) to start the year. Those assists have resulted in 33 Sharks tries while the Warriors have converted most of theirs to 22. Nicho Hynes and Siosifa Talakai lead the competition with nine each while Will Kennedy (7) is also in the top three. The Warriors' best is Shaun Johnson with five.
Match: Sharks v Warriors
Round 9 -
home Team
Sharks
4th Position
away Team
Warriors
10th Position
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
