Sharks v Sea Eagles: Talakai a late out; Lodge gets his shot
Both Cronulla and the Sea Eagles will be looking to bounce back this week after suffering disappointing losses in their last round matches.
Manly started their game well to score the opening try but were soon overrun by an in-form Cowboys side who claimed an 19-8 win.
The Sharks suffered a similar fate against the Warriors, with their defence proving not up to scratch as they went down 44-12 as the home side ran in eight tries at Go Media Stadium in Auckland.
Cronulla however remain in the top eight, while the Sea Eagles currently sit just outside in 11th position.
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Team news
Sharks: Siosifa Talakai dropped off the bench an hour before kick-off, with Royce Hunt making his return from an ankle injury on the interchange. There are no other late changes for the Sharks, after coach Craig Fitzgibbon switched his side up on Tuesday following a heavy loss to the Warriors in Round 20. Skipper Dale Finucane returns from suspension, Connor Tracey is back in the starting side at centre and Braydon Trindall is the new five-eighth.
Sea Eagles: Former Rooster Matt Lodge will come off the bench in his first game for Manly since joining the club on a train and trial contract. Sean Keppie also joins the bench, with Toafofoa Sipley and Ethan Bullemor making way. The side takes the field as named on Tuesday.
Match: Sharks v Sea Eagles
Round 21 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William KennedyFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Reuben Garrick
-
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione KatoaWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
-
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse RamienCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
-
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Connor TraceyCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tolutau Koula
-
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo MulitaloWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu
-
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon TrindallFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Josh Schuster
-
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas HynesHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
-
Prop for Sharks is number 8 Oregon KaufusiProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
-
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke BraileyHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
-
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Toby RudolfProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Josh Aloiai
-
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
-
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Jesse Colquhoun2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi
-
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Dale FinucaneLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Cameron McInnesInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dean Matterson
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Jack WilliamsInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Aaron Woods
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas HazeltonInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Sean Keppie
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Interchange for Sharks is number 20 Royce HuntInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Matthew Lodge
Reserves
-
Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Kayal IroReplacement for Sea Eagles is number 22 Gordon Chan Kum Tong
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Sharks have won four of their past five games against the Sea Eagles.
- The Sea Eagles have won only two from seven away from home in 2023.
- The Sharks have won nine from 10 against teams currently sitting outside the top eight.
- Only six Sea Eagles players have achieved an NRL victory at PointsBet Stadium.
Match: Sharks v Sea Eagles
Round 21 -
home Team
Sharks
6th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
11th Position
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
