Sharks v Sea Eagles: Puru to debut; Hopoate back from ban
With seven wins out of eight games under interim coach Kieran Foran the Sea Eagles juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down.
Even in more of a grinding contest against the Titans last Saturday night the Sea Eagles were still able to get the job done without Haumole Olakau'atu, Lehi Hopoate and Tolutau Koula.
Hopoate returns from suspension for the trip to Shark Park but Blues Origin reps Koula and Olakau'atu will sit this one out.
The Sharks have Addin Fonua-Blake and Blayke Brailey on NSW duty and will be sweating on their availability as they look to continue their recent dominance over Manly.
Regardless of who backs up 48 hours after Origin One, this promises to be a sensational showdown between two sides with a rich history dating back to the epic 1973 grand final, won 10-7 by the boys from the northern beaches.
Match: Sharks v Sea Eagles
Round 13 -
home Team
Sharks
8th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
5th Position
Venue: Ocean Protect Stadium, Sydney
Team News
Sharks: Star halfback Nicho Hynes will miss Friday’s match due to a calf injury, while Maroons forward Briton Nikora and Cook Islands centre KL Iro are late scratchings. Nikora, a Kiwis international, is being rested, while Iro is out with a knee laceration. Debutant Niwhai Puru has been named in the No.7 jumper to partner Braydon Trindall in the halves, while Billy Burns will start in the second row and Mawene Hiroti comes into the centres. Blues pair Blayke Brailey and Addin Fonua-Blake are set to back up after making their Origin debuts. Cameron McInnes will start at lock in his 100th game for the club, while Ronaldo Mulitalo and Jesse Ramien retain their place in the backline after making successful returns from injury before last week’s bye. Oregon Kaufusi was omitted 90 minutes before kick-off, with Riley Jones coming into the game day 19.
Sea Eagles: Manly will line up 1-19, making no further changes 90 minutes from kick-off from the team named on Tuesday. Centre Tolutau Koula will miss the game after failing a HIA in Wednesday's Origin opener while Haumole Olakau'atu is also being rested. Both were originally named in the reserves. "We are going to take the long-game approach. It's pretty risky to throw them back out there 48 hours after a big game like that so it will be good for them to freshen up," coach Kieran Foran said on Thursday. Back-rower Ben Trbojevic has been cleared to play after a head injury assessment was reclassified by the NRL from a category 1 to a category 2, following no diagnosis of concussion being made.
Match: Sharks v Sea Eagles
Round 13 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William KennedyFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Clayton Faulalo
-
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Samuel StonestreetWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
-
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse RamienCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Josh Feledy
-
Centre for Sharks is number 23 Mawene HirotiCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
-
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo MulitaloWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
-
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon TrindallFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
-
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Niwhai PuruHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
-
Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
-
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke BraileyHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jake Simpkin
-
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Toby RudolfProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Kobe Hetherington
-
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Jackson Shereb
-
2nd Row for Sharks is number 16 Billy Burns2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
-
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnesLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Jesse ColquhounInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Brandon Wakeham
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Siosifa TalakaiInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nathan Brown
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Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas HazeltonInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
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Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Hohepa PuruInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Simione Laiafi
Reserves
-
Reserve for Sharks is number 21 Jayden BerrellReserve for Sea Eagles is number 18 Blake Wilson
-
Reserve for Sharks is number 22 Riley JonesReserve for Sea Eagles is number 19 Joey Walsh
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Sharks have won six of their last seven games against the Sea Eagles.
- The Sea Eagles have won 11 of their last 14 games at Ocean Protect Stadium.
- Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored seven tries in his last seven games against the Sea Eagles.
- Sharks co-captain Cameron McInnes will play his 100th game for the club.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
