The Vodafone Warriors were blown off 4 Pines Park by Manly and won't find life any easier against Craig Fitzgibbon's Sharks tomorrow.
Returning to Moreton Daily Stadium (3-1 this season) is a positive but it'll take a lot more than home ground advantage for the Vodafone Warriors to turn the tables on a side that beat them by 19 points in round nine.
They have conceded more points (355) than any other team this season and have given up 124 points in their past four games; a repeat of that sort of defence would see them punished by the potent Sharks.
The Sharks' momentum has stalled to a degree with losses in three of their past five matches but they are fresh off the bye and ready to set sail towards September with games against the Titans and Bulldogs to follow this one.
The Rundown
Team news
Vodafone Warriors: Stacey Jones takes over as coach following Nathan Brown's immediate departure on Tuesday. Josh Curran has been named on the bench for his first game back after six games out with a knee injury, while Dunamis Lui also joins the bench. Taniela Otukolo and Aaron Pene make way.
Sharks: The return of powerhouse centre Jesse Ramien from suspension pushes Connor Tracey to 18th man in the only change to the side that lost to the Roosters in round 12. Skipper Wade Graham is listed among the reserves as he works his way back from a foot injury. Dale Finucane (knee) is still a couple of weeks away.
Match: Warriors v Sharks
Round 14 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Sharks
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece WalshFullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco BerryCentre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun JohnsonHalfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Ben Murdoch-MasilaProp for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jazz TevagaProp for Sharks is number 10 Royce Hunt
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Euan Aitken2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 13 Jack Murchie2nd Row for Sharks is number 19 Wade Graham
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Lock for Warriors is number 12 Tohu HarrisLock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Josh CurranInterchange for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Bunty AfoaInterchange for Sharks is number 14 Aiden Tolman
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Dunamis LuiInterchange for Sharks is number 15 Braydon Trindall
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Bayley SironenInterchange for Sharks is number 17 Andrew Fifita
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 22 Jesse ArtharsReplacement for Sharks is number 18 Connor Tracey
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Nick Morel
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
Key match-up
Shaun Johnson v Nicho Hynes: Johnson returned to the Vodafone Warriors amid much fanfare this season but the veteran has found the going tough in a battling side. Johnson has just seven try assists and one try to his name after 11 matches and his confidence levels seem to drop with each loss the Vodafone Warriors suffer. In contrast Hynes has been one of the buys of the season, calling the shots in style with 12 forced dropouts, seven try assists and 13 line break assists to earn himself a call-up to the Blues Origin squad.
Stat Attack
Nicho Hynes has the second most offloads in the NRL this season with 27, behind Tevita Pangai jnr with 28. Sharks centre Jesse Ramien also sits inside the top 10 with 22 offloads, The Vodafone Warriors' leading offloader is Jazz Tevaga with 13 in 11 games.
