After welcoming halfback Nicho Hynes back and promptly blowing the Dragons away last week, the Sharks play host to the in-form One New Zealand Warriors who are 3-1 after outlasting the Bulldogs in round four.
Hynes made the world of difference in his first game back from a calf injury, helping his side run in five second-half tries to record a 40-8 win, with the No.7 having a hand in three tries and laying on five of their 11 line breaks.
All up Cronulla ran for almost 500 metres more than the Dragons last week, led by a back five who all clocked up over 120 metres of running.
A good start will be crucial for the Warriors, who last week leaked first points for the fourth time in as many games, although they'll take confidence from being resilient enough to battle back and win the game in the final quarter, with stoic goal-line defence a feature of the win.
Off the back of an 88 percent completion rate, the Warriors were able to wear the Bulldogs down, with Shaun Johnson starring and bench duo Jazz Tevaga and Dylan Walker changing the game when they came on.
The Sharks won both clashes against the Warriors last year and PointsBet Stadium has been a miserable hunting ground for the New Zealand-based side historically too, with just five victories there in 19 visits.
Match: Sharks v Warriors
Round 5 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William KennedyFullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
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Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione KatoaWinger for Warriors is number 2 Edward Kosi
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Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse RamienCentre for Warriors is number 3 Viliami Vailea
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Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa TalakaiCentre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
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Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo MulitaloWinger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
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Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt MoylanFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Ronald Volkman
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Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas HynesHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson
Forwards
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Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby RudolfProp for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
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Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke BraileyHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Sharks is number 10 Braden Hamlin-UeleProp for Warriors is number 10 Bunty Afoa
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
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Lock for Sharks is number 13 Dale FinucaneLock for Warriors is number 16 Jazz Tevaga
Interchange
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Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Cameron McInnesInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker
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Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Royce HuntInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Bayley Sironen
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Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Jack WilliamsInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Tom Ale
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Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Braydon TrindallInterchange for Warriors is number 18 Josh Curran
Reserves
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Replacement for Sharks is number 21 Samuel StonestreetReplacement for Warriors is number 21 Freddy Lussick
Match Officials
- Referee: Ben Cummins
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
Team news
Sharks: Braydon Trindall returns from an ankle injury and joins the interchange bench. Oregon Kaufusi (failed HIA) was ruled out inside the opening 15 minutes on Sunday and will miss the match. Coach Craig Fitzgibbon sticks with the same starting 13 that racked up 40 points against the Dragons and there we no changes in Saturday's 24-hour update.
One New Zealand Warriors: Tohu Harris was removed from the squad 24 hours out from kick-off, with the skipper unable to overcome the knee injury he suffered in Round 4. He is replaced in the run-on side by Dylan Walker, with Josh Curran the new man on the bench. Ronald Volkman replaces Te Maire Martin (head knock), while Wayde Egan returns at hooker after missing last week with a head knock.
Stat attack
- The Sharks have won 10 of their past 12 games against the Warriors.
- The Warriors have not won at PointsBet Stadium since 2015.
- Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored 14 tries in 15 games at PointsBet Stadium.
- Only five Warriors players have tasted an NRL victory at PointsBet Stadium.
- Sharks captain Dale Finucane has won his past 11 games against the Warrior.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
