Dragons v Sharks: RFM out for Dragons; Sharks lose Mulitalo
The Dragons are out to retain their place inside the top eight when they host local rivals Cronulla at WIN Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The match will be the first of a double-header, with St George Illawarra to take on the Sharks in an NRLW clash immediately after the men.
It's the last game of the season in Wollongong for the Dragons and they're eager to finish on a high.
Shane Flanagan's side climbed back inside the top eight with a 32-16 win over the Titans last Sunday and a win this weekend will go a long way to securing their first finals berth since 2018.
The stakes are just as high for Cronulla as they look to retain their place in the top four and hold off a fast-finishing Bulldogs.
SportsBet Betting Preview - Dragons v Sharks
The Sharks survived a scare last weekend to defeat the Knights in golden point and maintain their two-point lead over Canterbury. Such is the tight nature of the competition, Craig Fitzgibbon's side is level on points with the third-placed Roosters and two points behind the Panthers.
Cronulla are likely to welcome back halfback Braydon Trindall for Sunday's clash after he missed the last two weeks with a hamstring injury.
Jack Bird stepped up for the Dragons last weekend in place of the suspended Kyle Flanagan and the utility will need to have another big game at five-eighth if they are to topple the Sharks.
Match: Dragons v Sharks
Round 25 -
home Team
Dragons
8th Position
away Team
Sharks
3rd Position
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Team News
Dragons: Raymond Faitala-Mariner has again been ruled out with Michael Molo joining the bench when the squad was trimmed to 19 players on Saturday. Molo has reverted to 18th man on game day, with last week's debutant Lyhkan King-Togia set for his second NRL match. Coach Shane Flanagan has also reshuffled the pack with Ryan Couchman to start in the back row and Blake Lawrie at prop, and Luciano Leilua and Jack de Belin to start the match on the interchange.
Sharks: Ronaldo Mulitalo is a late withdrawal after a flare up of his knee injury, with Mawene Hiroti elevated from the reserves to start on the wing. Braydon Trindall is back on deck from a shoulder injury at halfback so Blayke Brailey returns to hooker and Cameron McInnes to lock. Kayal Iro returns in the centres after missing last week's game due to illness while forwards Teig Wilton (hamstring) and Tom Hazelton (illness) are also back on deck. Winger Sione Katoa (concussion protocols) is replaced by Sam Stonestreet. Centre Siosifa Talakai has been ruled out due to calf tightness. A new-look bench includes Jack Williams and Royce Hunt, who started the game last week. There were no further changes in Sunday's team update with Chris Vea'ila the 18th man.
Match: Dragons v Sharks
Round 25 -
home Team
Dragons
away Team
Sharks
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell SloanFullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
-
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Zac LomaxWinger for Sharks is number 2 Samuel Stonestreet
-
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mathew FeagaiCentre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
-
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Max FeagaiCentre for Sharks is number 4 Kayal Iro
-
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Christian TuipulotuWinger for Sharks is number 18 Mawene Hiroti
-
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Jack BirdFive-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Daniel Atkinson
-
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben HuntHalfback for Sharks is number 7 Braydon Trindall
Forwards
-
Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis MoloProp for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf
-
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob LiddleHooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
-
Prop for Dragons is number 16 Blake LawrieProp for Sharks is number 10 Oregon Kaufusi
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 15 Ryan Couchman2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
-
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Tom EisenhuthLock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes
Interchange
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 10 Jack De BelinInterchange for Sharks is number 14 Jack Williams
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 11 Luciano LeiluaInterchange for Sharks is number 15 Royce Hunt
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Toby CouchmanInterchange for Sharks is number 16 Braden Hamlin-Uele
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Lyhkan King-TogiaInterchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton
Reserves
-
Replacement for Dragons is number 20 Michael MoloReplacement for Sharks is number 21 Chris Vea'ila
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Dragons have won four of their past five games at WIN Stadium.
- The Sharks have won their past eight games against the Dragons.
- Dragons winger Zac Lomax has scored eight tries in his past eight games at WIN Stadium.
- Sharks fullback William Kennedy has scored six tries in his past seven games against the Dragons.
- Dragons winger Christian Tuipulotu has scored seven tries in his past seven games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
