Still on one win each, Cronulla and Canterbury can't afford to give away too much more ground if they're to get on level footing with a logjam of finals contenders.
The Sharks thought they had turned a corner after beating the Cowboys in round four, but a heavy loss to the previously winless Dragons last week has them under the microscope.
On paper Canterbury had a far stiffer opponent last round - premiers the Roosters - but they were utterly outclassed and need to improve quickly.
The Rundown
Team News
Sharks: Matt Moylan will play for the Sharks with William Kennedy joining Scott Sorensen as the two players to drop out an hour before kick-off. In another late change, Braden Hamlin-Uele will start with Andrew Fifita to come off the interchange bench. Bryson Goodwin starts on the wing with Mawene Hiroti and Connor Tracey dropping out of the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off.
Jack Williams returns to the starting side at lock with Toby Rudolf to come off the interchange, while Siosifa Talakai and Royce Hunt are also on the bench. The Sharks have won five of their past six games against the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs: Brandon Wakeham replaces Lachlan Lewis at halfback, with Sione Katoa the other player to drop out of the initial 21-man squad on Saturday. Aiden Tolman is again unavailable for selection as he is in the midst of a quarantine period after a negative COVID-19 test.
Morgan Harper and Jack Cogger were the two players dropped from the squad an hour out from kick-off.
Reimis Smith replaces Nick Meaney in the backline, with Jake Averillo moving to the wing, Renouf To'omaga starts at prop, Sauaso Sue goes to the bench and Kerrod Holland replaces Morgan Harper on the interchange. Bulldogs five-eighth Kieran Foran has won 12 from 15 against the Sharks.
Match: Sharks v Bulldogs
Round 6 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Bulldogs
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Sharks is number 21 Matt MoylanFullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Will Hopoate
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Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione KatoaWinger for Bulldogs is number 2 Christian Crichton
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Centre for Sharks is number 3 Josh DuganCentre for Bulldogs is number 3 Reimis Smith
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Centre for Sharks is number 4 Jesse RamienCentre for Bulldogs is number 4 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Winger for Sharks is number 20 Bryson GoodwinWinger for Bulldogs is number 5 Jake Averillo
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Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Shaun JohnsonFive-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Kieran Foran
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Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Chad TownsendHalfback for Bulldogs is number 20 Brandon Wakeham
Forwards
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Prop for Sharks is number 10 Aaron WoodsProp for Bulldogs is number 8 Renouf Atoni
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Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke BraileyHooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
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Prop for Sharks is number 15 Braden Hamlin-UeleProp for Bulldogs is number 10 Dylan Napa
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Josh Jackson
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Wade Graham2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
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Lock for Sharks is number 13 Jack WilliamsLock for Bulldogs is number 13 Adam Elliott
Interchange
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Interchange for Sharks is number 8 Andrew FifitaInterchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kerrod Holland
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Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Toby RudolfInterchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Dean Britt
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Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Siosifa TalakaiInterchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Sauaso Sue
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Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Royce HuntInterchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Ofahiki Ogden
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Last updated:
Key Match-Up
Chad Townsend is incredibly reliable and the utmost professional, but Cronulla's halfback is having somewhat of a creative dry-spell, having failed to register a try assist this season. Bulldogs halfback Lachlan Lewis has managed two try assists with one extra match but has caught some flack for his execution. Both men are important cogs for their teams and will be eager for a big performance.
