A debutant, two fond farewells and a battle against the Bulldogs

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Fri 26 Aug 2022, 05:28 PM

While the prize of a top four, possibly even a top two finish and a home final, is certainly within reach for the Sharks, the immediate focus remains on getting the two competition points against a difficult opponent when they face the Bulldogs at PointsBet Stadium on Saturday.

On a night where the Sharks will farewell club legend Andrew Fifita and highly respected 300-gamer Aiden Tolman, with the pair to play their last home games at PointsBet Stadium, the Sharks tackle a Bulldogs outfit which has shown significant improvement since a mid-year coaching switch.

For coach Craig Fitzgibbon, while appreciative of the opportunity which lies ahead for his team and the emotion to surround the final home appearances of two popular club figures, he is looking to narrow the focus of his team in concentrating efforts on tomorrow night’s opposition in the Bulldogs.

“The most important thing on our mind, while we’ve got an occasion with Andrew and Aiden, the most important thing for us is the actual contest, we’ve got to honour the occasion by how we perform” Fitzgibbon said. “I can’t see anything past the Bulldogs tomorrow night at this stage.

As for the farewells organised for Fitita and Tolman, Fitzgibbon hopes the energy of the crowd will lift his team to what would be an important victory.

“It’s an acknowledgment of two great men and two great careers, so the energy should be one to look forward to, one to draw on, they’ll be inspired and motivated to play strongly, but we need to focus on what we actually need to do,” the coach added.

And while it is nearing the end for two of the game’s elder statesmen, the Bulldogs clash will represent the start of an NRL journey for Cook Island’s born Kayal Iro, who makes his top grade debut.

A captain’s run injury has resulted in Matt Ikuvalu being a late withdrawal from the match, with Iro, super impressive in the NSW Cup for the Newtown Jets this season, coming into the side as Shark #555.

In other team changes, Dale Finucane will also miss the game tomorrow night with a rib issue, his place in the starting side to be taken by Cam McInnes, while Braydon Trindall is expected to move into the 17 on the interchange bench.

With wins both this weekend and next, the Sharks will equal their most regular season victories in club history, 18 in total, a number achieved by the 1999 Cronulla side.

The Sharks are currently third on 34 competition points, two ahead of the fourth-placed Melbourne Storm and equal with the Cowboys (but behind on percentages). A victory on Saturday night would confirm a top four spot.

In the head-to-head for games played between the two clubs, the Bulldogs hold the advantage, having won 56 matches, the Sharks 38, with two draws.

In more recent times, the Sharks have won the past two and eight of the last 10, while interestingly

Canterbury has the better record at PointsBet Stadium, winning 19 matches overall, although Cronulla have taken out the last two.

The Sharks, who have won nine of their last 10, recorded their biggest ever victory at Brookvale with a 40-6 triumph last Saturday night, which was also their highest score and biggest win so far this season. Their record at PointsBet in 2022 is also impressive, with eight wins from nine games played, their best strike rate since their premiership-winning season of 2016.

The Bulldogs arrive at PointsBet on the back of three straight losses, their mot recent a 42-6 loss to the Parramatta Eels. They sit 12th on 14 points following six wins from their 22 matches.

In player milestones, in addition to celebrating the last regular-season games at PointsBet Stadium for Fifita and Tolman, Wade Graham continues his move up the Sharks list into equal third for most games played for the Cronulla club. The skipper will run out for his 232nd game in Cronulla colours, joining club legend David Peachey on that number.

Graham debuted for the Sharks in 2011 after playing 42 games for Penrith.

The Sharks v Bulldogs match, which sold out last week, is scheduled for a 5.30pm kick-off at PointsBet Stadium, with the two 19-man squads listed below.

Round 24 - Round 24 - Saturday 27 Aug

Full Time

Sharks

Bulldogs

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 Lachlan Miller

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Jake Averillo
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo

Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob Kiraz
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien

Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Aaron Schoupp
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai

Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Braidon Burns
Winger for Sharks is number 21 Kayal Iro

Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan

Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Kyle Flanagan

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Braden Hamlin-Uele

Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey

Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Royce Hunt

Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Paul Vaughan
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Josh Jackson
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Wade Graham

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
Lock for Sharks is number 15 Cameron McInnes

Lock for Bulldogs is number 15 Joe Stimson

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Teig Wilton

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Zach Dockar-Clay
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Aiden Tolman

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Harrison Edwards
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Andrew Fifita

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Chris Patolo
Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Braydon Trindall

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 25 Joshua Stuckey