Sharks v Broncos: Talakai to return; Oates in for Cobbo
It's second versus third as Craig Fitzgibbons' Sharks host Kevin Walters' Broncos with both sides hoping to knock the Panthers off the top of the Telstra Premiership ladder.
Brisbane went about their business in clinical fashion against the Warriors and got the job done even without five of their big-name stars on Origin duty.
How many of those players back up after Wednesday's series opener remains to be seen but the Broncos' depth was on display last Saturday with young guns Deine Mariner, Jordan Riki and Ezra Mam standing tall in the Origin-hit Brisbane side.
Meanwhile, coming off a bye, the Sharks will be hoping to have fixed some defence lapses which have crept into their game this season but should be confident heading into Saturday's match after recording three straight wins following their Round 6 bye earlier this season.
Cronulla will be hoping star halfback Nicho Hynes can back up 72 hours after making his Origin debut but they have a readymade replacement in Braydon Trindall.
In last year's meeting the Broncos prevailed with a 16-7 win at Suncorp, but having won their last two games at home, the Sharks are the favourites to get the job done in front of the Cronulla faithful.
Match: Sharks v Broncos
Round 14 -
home Team
Sharks
5th Position
away Team
Broncos
1st Position
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Team News
Sharks: No changes when the Sharks team was finalised 60 minutes before halftime, with star halfback Nicho Hynes set to take his place after getting just 12 minutes of game time in Origin One. The return of Siosifa Talakai (neck) in the centres means there is no room for Connor Tracey, who drops back to the reserves. The interchange remains unchanged from that which took the field in Round 12, with Cameron McInnes (hand) still another week or two away.
Broncos: Corey Oates returns from a knee injury to replace Selwyn Cobbo, who copped a knock to his hip in Wednesday's State of Origin opener. Fellow Maroons Pat Carrigan, Thomas Flegler and Reece Walsh will all take their spots against the Sharks, along with NSW prop Payne Haas.
Match: Sharks v Broncos
Round 14 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Broncos
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William KennedyFullback for Broncos is number 1 Reece Walsh
-
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione KatoaWinger for Broncos is number 2 Jesse Arthars
-
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse RamienCentre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
-
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa TalakaiCentre for Broncos is number 4 Herbie Farnworth
-
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo MulitaloWinger for Broncos is number 22 Corey Oates
-
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt MoylanFive-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ezra Mam
-
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas HynesHalfback for Broncos is number 7 Adam Reynolds
Forwards
-
Prop for Sharks is number 8 Oregon KaufusiProp for Broncos is number 8 Thomas Flegler
-
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke BraileyHooker for Broncos is number 9 Billy Walters
-
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Royce HuntProp for Broncos is number 10 Payne Haas
-
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Kurt Capewell
-
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki
-
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Dale FinucaneLock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick Carrigan
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Wade GrahamInterchange for Broncos is number 14 Cory Paix
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Jack WilliamsInterchange for Broncos is number 16 Kobe Hetherington
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Thomas HazeltonInterchange for Broncos is number 17 Martin Taupau
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Braden Hamlin-UeleInterchange for Broncos is number 19 Brendan Piakura
Reserves
-
Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Braydon TrindallReplacement for Broncos is number 23 Tristan Sailor
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Sharks are equal leaders with the Rabbitohs for line breaks made this season with 70.
- The Sharks have not defeated the Broncos at PointsBet Stadium since 2016.
- The Broncos have won eight of their past 10 games against the Sharks.
- Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored 19 tries in 18 games at PointsBet Stadium.
- The Broncos have not won back-to-back games since Round 8.
- Sharks fullback William Kennedy has scored 11 tries in his past 10 games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
