Sunday arvo footy: Wests Tigers v Eels; Sharks down Bunnies

Match preview

Late Mail

Wests Tigers: One swap on game day, with Alex Seywarth to start at prop, with Fonua Pole to the bench. After admitting on Wednesday that he "lost my head a little bit" and "definitely should have played last week", Adam Doueihi will be out to make good when he starts at halfback this week. Youngster Javon Andrews drops to the reserves after debuting last week in Doueihi's absence. Young gun Heamasi Makasini is back in the centres so Sunia Turuva moves out to the wing. Turuva has scored seven tries in his last five games against the Eels. No changes in Saturday's team update, with Andrews remaining in the reserves.

Eels: No late game-day changes for the visiting side. A big in for the Eels with prop Junior Paulo ready to go for career game No.275 as he returns from a knee injury that has sidelined him since Round 11. The loss of Luca Moretti to concussion brings Kelma Tuilagi into the starting side for Jason Ryles. No changes in the 24-hour update, with Araz Nanva remaining in the squad as 20th man.

Sharks v Rabbitohs at Ocean Protect Stadium

Full-time: A big win for the Sharks in front of their home crowd, cheering them on their way to a 32-16 victory. Their halves of Brayden Trindall and Nicho Hynes were again on song, building off a good opening stint from the forwards. 

75th min: Instead, it's the Rabbitohs who are able to get on the board next with some passing down their right side getting the Sharks to that side of the field, with a kick across-field from Lachlan Hubner taken by Alex Johnston to scurry his way across. Siegwalt is unable to convert and the score stays at 32-16. 

74th min: Sione Katoa is denied a spectacular leaping try, after Latrell Siegwalt gets his foot in just the right place, with the winger putting the ball down on his boot instead of the ground. Score remains 32-12. 

62nd min: The Sharks aren't denied this time however, with Ronaldo Mulitalo waiting out on his wing for a long pass from Hynes out to his left. With no defenders in front of him, he lets the ball bounce in front of him, taking it up and strolling over the line for try 110. He lefts off an 'August Arrow' celebration, with Jai July now over. Hynes converts for 32 straight conversions. The score is 32-12. 

65th min: Some good defence from the Rabbitohs, denying Ramien a try again, holding him up over the line. Score remains 26-12. 

55th min: More points for the Sharks with Nicho Hynes successful in slotting a penalty goal from in front, gifted for a strip. Sharks are up 26-12. 

50th min: The Sharks get back their advantage with Addin Fonua-Blake running hard for his first try of the year. With Trindall involved in the set-up, the prop, who has come from the bench today, just needs to go forward to go through under the posts. Hynes converts again and it's 24-12. 

46th min: The Bunnies are back in business with Campbell Graham running his way in for a try off the back of some nice lead-up play from Cody Walker. Siegwalt converts and it's 18-12 to the home side. 

45th min - injury alert: The halftime update confirms two injury blows for Cronulla. KL Iro has been ruled out following a HIA, while Talakai is off the field as well with a biceps injury.

44th min: The Sharks are denied a try to Jesse Ramien on the field after Sione Katoa touches the ball and knocks it on when making a big tackle on Latrell Siegwalt. The Bunker takes a look and confirms the on-field call. Scores remain 18-6. 

Half-time: The home side are in control at the break, taking an 18-6 lead to the sheds. While the Bunnies started well and with energy, the Sharks have been able to grind them down and score some nice looking tries of their own, off the back of some strong efforts from their forwards. 

38th min: And a quick-smart try for the Sharks with some smart dummyhalf play from Blayke Brailey, running away from the markers and going over the try line untouched. Hynes gets his 29th conversion and puts the score out to 18-6. 

37th min: A captain's challenge querying a penalty against Campbell Graham for putting Ronaldo Mulitalo in a dangerous position when going up for a kick is unsuccessful.

28th min - Injury alert - KL Iro is off with a HIA. 

27th min: Back-to-back for the Sharks with Sifa Talakai running on to a tip back from Ronaldo Mulitalo going high for a Trindall kick. A good way for Talakai to celebrate game 150. Hynes converts again - his 28th in a row - and it's 12-6. Hynes is now one away from equalling the club record for successful conversions in a row. 

24th min: The Sharks are finally on the board after putting continued pressure on the Souths Sydney line. Brayden Trindall gets a nice short pass on to Briton Nikora who runs a good line and gets over for the opening try for the home side. Nicho Hynes slots the conversion from the right of the uprights and it's 6-6.

Update: Wighton went off for a HIA and Wilton will also have to complete a HIA before he is deemed okay to return, so will sit out an extra five minutes after his sin bin stint is complete. 

11th min: Sharks forward Teig Wilton is penalised, put on report and sent to the sin bin for a tackle on Jack Wighton, with the officials saying there was not enough 'duty of care' with his contact. Wighton required having his head banaged after the contact. 

8th min: First blood to the Bunnies with France eligible Latrell Siegwalt over for the opener. He converts his own try for an early 6-0 lead. The Rabbitohs had attacked down the right side with a break from Campbell Graham, with Nicho Hynes doing well to bring him down. However, they turned their attention next to the left and found success through an overlap, with the centre crossing over.

Kick off: Action is underway at Ocean Protect Stadium under sunny skies.

Match preview

Late Mail

Sharks: More changes on game day, with Oregon Kaufusi and Jesse Colquhoun promoted to starting prop, with Addin Fonua-Blake and Tom Hazelton moving to the bench. One change to the bench before on Saturday, with Samuel Stonestreet elevated and Mawene Hiroti dropping out. Prop Tom Hazelton (back) is good to go after missing the 4 Pines Park win and he joins Addin Fonua-Blake starts in the front row. Jesse Colquhoun and Oregon Kaufusi revert to the bench. Bench utility Hohepa Puru will miss the game due to concussion. After two games in NSW Cup following a knee injury, Braden Uele was listed among the reserves as he chases his first NRL appearance since Round 4 but dropped out on Saturday. Sharks sharpshooter Nicho Hynes has landed 26 consecutive attempts at goal, nine behind Hazem El Masri's all-time record of 35 set in 2003.

Rabbitohs: Another change on game day with Adam Elliott to start in the second row, with Euan Aiken dropping out. One change to the interchange in the 24-hour update, with Thomas Fletcher elevated and Edward Kosi dropping from the squad. Tallis Duncan was listed among the reserves as he looks to make a return from a hamstring injury but dropped out of the squad on Saturday, however Adam Elliott remains in the reserves despite initially being expected to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. In just his fourth career game, John Radel moves to prop and Keaon Koloamatangi goes to second row.