Sharks v Bulldogs: Hunt gone for six; Flanagan to start
After both being on the wrong side of lopsided scorelines last week, the Bulldogs and Sharks meet in the final game of Round 16 seeking a bounce back.
The Sharks had no answer for what the Storm threw at them in a 54-10 loss last week, in what was their biggest defeat since Round 9 of 2021, and Craig Fitzgibbon's men are now looking to avoid suffering three-straight losses for the first time since that season as well.
The Bulldogs meanwhile were blown away by the Eels in the first half of a 34-12 loss last Monday, which leaves them winless since Round 12.
The Sharks have won four-straight against the Dogs – including a 33-20 victory back in Round 8 of this year – and all up have lost against Canterbury-Bankstown just twice since 2015.
Unlike last year when they won nine of 11 games at PointsBet Stadium, the venue hasn't been much of an advantage in 2023 for Cronulla, with losses in three of five there so far.
Sportsbet Betting Preview - Sharks v Bulldogs
Team News
Sharks: The Sharks are 1-17 with no game day changes. Despite the thumping at the hands of the Storm, coach Craig Fitzgibbon has resisted swinging the selection axe. The only change to his 17 is a forced one, with Royce Hunt out after suffering an ankle injury in Round 15 which required surgery. Rookie Thomas Hazelton comes back into the squad on the bench and Oregon Kaufusi moves into the starting side to partner Braden Hamlin-Uele in the front row.
Bulldogs: Kyle Flanagan will start at halfback and Khaled Rajab goes to the bench in a late switch on game day. Rajab was named to replace halfback Matt Burton on Saturday, who has been called into Blues camp as 18th Man, however will now start the game on the interchange bench with Flanagan starting in his first NRL game since Round 8. Harrison Edwards also dropped out on Saturday after suffering concussion during training, so Kurtis Morrin now starts at lock and Franklin Pele joins the interchange. After scoring a hat trick in his return from injury in reserve grade in Round 15, Braidon Burns comes in on the wing for Blues flyer Josh Addo-Carr.
Match: Sharks v Bulldogs
Round 16 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Bulldogs
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William KennedyFullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Hayze Perham
-
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione KatoaWinger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob Kiraz
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Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse RamienCentre for Bulldogs is number 3 Jake Averillo
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Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa TalakaiCentre for Bulldogs is number 4 Paul Alamoti
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Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo MulitaloWinger for Bulldogs is number 5 Braidon Burns
-
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt MoylanFive-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Karl Oloapu
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Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas HynesHalfback for Bulldogs is number 20 Kyle Flanagan
Forwards
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Prop for Sharks is number 8 Oregon KaufusiProp for Bulldogs is number 8 Chris Patolo
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Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke BraileyHooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed Mahoney
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Prop for Sharks is number 10 Braden Hamlin-UeleProp for Bulldogs is number 10 Tevita Pangai Junior
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Jayden Okunbor
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston
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Lock for Sharks is number 13 Dale FinucaneLock for Bulldogs is number 15 Kurtis Morrin
Interchange
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Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Cameron McInnesInterchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Khaled Rajab
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Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Wade GrahamInterchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Max King
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Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Jack WilliamsInterchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Corey Waddell
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Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas HazeltonInterchange for Bulldogs is number 23 Franklin Pele
Reserves
-
Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Connor TraceyReplacement for Bulldogs is number 19 Jeral Skelton
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Sharks head into this game having suffered back-to-back regular season defeats for the first time since Round 21-22 in 2021 (they lost consecutive finals games last year).
- Canterbury-Bankstown have conceded more penalties than any other team this year, giving away 6.3 on average per game.
- The Bulldogs have not won at PointsBet Stadium since 2011.
- Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored 19 tries in 19 games at PointsBet Stadium.
- The Bulldogs have won only two from six away from home in 2023.
- Sharks second-rower Briton Nikora will play his 100th game.
Match: Sharks v Bulldogs
Round 16 -
home Team
Sharks
6th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
15th Position
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
