Sharks v Dragons: Iro returns; Su'A replaces Leilua
Fresh off their drought-breaking win, the Dragons head into their local derby against the Sharks looking to snare another big win.
Currently a top-eight team, Cronulla have shown they can mix it with the best of them in the competition, but they have been too inconsistent for their coach Craig Fitzgibbon's liking and won't be taking their opposition lightly.
The Dragons head to Cronulla having completed a hard-fought 30-26 win against the Broncos, where they were quick out of the blocks and were able to hold on against a fast-finishing Brisbane side.
The Sharks put in a strong performance in their last game as well, starting strongly and maintaining their advantage against a highly-fancied Sea Eagles outfit in their 28-22 win.
Match: Sharks v Dragons
Round 14 -
home Team
Sharks
7th Position
away Team
Dragons
17th Position
Venue: Ocean Protect Stadium, Sydney
Team News
Sharks: One additional change for Cronulla in their 90-minute update, Hohepa Puru coming into the starting side at hooker and Jayden Berrell shifting to the bench. Sione Katoa drops out of the squad. Cook Islands centre KL Iro (knee laceration) is set to start in the only change to the updated squad on Saturday. Maroons star Briton Nikora is back after being rested last week but Nicho Hynes (calf) and Blayke Brailey (arm) are missing. Billy Burns moves to the bench Jayden Berrell gets the nod at hooker.
Dragons: One more change for St George Illawarra on game day, Nathan Lawson coming into the six-man bench at the expense of Emre Guler. Luciano Leluai dropped out of the squad in the 24-hour update with fellow Samoa secondrower Jaydn Su'A taking his place on the interchange after overcoming a calf injury. Leilua played for St George Illawarra’s NSW Cup side against Newtown at Henson Park on Saturday and it was reported that he had appealed to interim coach Dean Young to drop him if he was only going to be used in a limited capacity off the interchange bench. The Samoa international was an unused interchange in the Red V’s shock win over the Broncos last week. Tyrell Sloan also moves to the bench after initially being named among the reserves following his eight-minute cameo last week. Sloan replaces Lyhkan King-Togia but could start at fullback if Clint Gutherson is a late scratching after suffering a calf injury in last week's win over Brisbane. Hooker Jacob Liddle is back from a hamstring injury and has also been named on the interchange.
Match: Sharks v Dragons
Round 14 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Dragons
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William KennedyFullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
-
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Samuel StonestreetWinger for Dragons is number 2 Setu Tu
-
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Mawene HirotiCentre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli
-
Centre for Sharks is number 21 KL IroCentre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes
-
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo MulitaloWinger for Dragons is number 5 Mathew Feagai
-
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon TrindallFive-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Daniel Atkinson
-
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Niwhai PuruHalfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle Flanagan
Forwards
-
Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Dragons is number 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga
-
Hooker for Sharks is number 18 Hohepa PuruHooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook
-
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Toby RudolfProp for Dragons is number 10 Toby Couchman
-
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Dylan Egan
-
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Hamish Stewart
-
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnesLock for Dragons is number 13 Ryan Couchman
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 9 Jayden BerrellInterchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Billy BurnsInterchange for Dragons is number 15 Josh Kerr
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Jesse ColquhounInterchange for Dragons is number 17 Blake Lawrie
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas HazeltonInterchange for Dragons is number 21 Jaydn Su'A
Reserves
-
Reserve for Sharks is number 14 Siosifa TalakaiReserve for Dragons is number 20 Tyrell Sloan
-
Reserve for Sharks is number 19 Oregon KaufusiReserve for Dragons is number 22 Nathan Lawson
Match Officials
- Referee: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Sharks have won 10 of their last 11 games against the Dragons.
- The Dragons have not won at Ocean Protect Stadium since 2018.
- The Sharks have won four from five at Ocean Protect Stadium this season.
- Dragons winger Setu Tu has scored four tries in his last five games.
- Sharks second-rower Teig Wilton has scored five tries in his last three games at Ocean Protect Stadium.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
