Sharks back in happy Coffs Harbour hunting ground

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Fri 19 May 2023, 02:58 PM

The north coast town of Coffs Harbour has proved to be a happy hunting ground for the Sharks, with wins from their two previous visits, and while this week sees them face a different opponent, they will no doubt be hoping for a similar result.

The Sharks beat the Titans twice at the C ex Coffs International Stadium, but now it is the Newcastle Knights who ride into town for a match between two teams who found form with impressive victories at their most recent outings.

After a disappointing result in Brisbane at the NRL’s Magic Round, the Sharks bounced back with a win against Manly away from home last Sunday, with coach Craig Fitzgibbon looking for his team to bring a similar effort tomorrow against the Knights during another of the NRL’s themed rounds.

“We’ve got a high representation of Indigenous players in our team and it’s important for us to acknowledge that and we have done so this week,” Fitzgibbon said of the Indigenous round clash.

“It’s also an opportunity for those players to wear a special jersey that’s been made for Indigenous round, but I think it’s an important round for the game in general to acknowledge our past indigenous players and indigenous heritage and the boys are excited for that.

“We’re expecting a tough battle and we’re looking for the challenge of a strong opponents obviously they got some quality in their side we’ve got to be ready for,” Fitzgibbon added.

Helping in the Sharks attempts to deliver on the coach’s plans for a third consecutive win in Coffs Harbour will be the return of Braden Hamlin-Uele, the prop returning ahead of schedule after suffering a medial ligament strain a little over two weeks ago. Fellow middle forward Oregon Kaufusi has also recovered from the illness which kept him sidelined last weekend and takes his place in the Sharks team.

However, while the return of Hamlin-Uele and Kaufusi are positives, on a negative note, hard-working lock Cam McInnes will miss up to four weeks after breaking his hand in the win over Manly.

In place of McInnes, Dale Finucane moves back to lock after starting in the front row last week, with Kaufusi returning to the Sharks run on side.

In the head-to-head statistics from the 58 matches played between the two teams, the Sharks have 26 wins, the Knights 31, with one draw, however in more recent times the Cronulla team has been successful in 10 of the past 14 games, with seven of those 10 wins by double digit margins.

While the third straight season the Sharks have taken a game to Coffs Harbour, the Knights have never played at the NSW north coast venue.

This will be the fourth game between the two teams not played in either Newcastle or in the Sutherland Shire, with two finals games contested at the SFS and one match at Redcliffe when the NRL competition moved due to Covid in 2021. The Newcastle side have won all three of those games at neutral grounds.

The Sharks have won 12 of their past 16 games away from PointsBet Stadium, including four of six in 2023, both losses coming at games played away from Sydney.

And while the Sharks were last start winners, so too were the Knights who scored a 46-26 victory over Titans, their first victory since Round 6.

In further team news, the inclusion of Hamlin-Uele on the interchange bench sees Braydon Trindall drop out of the Sharks 17, with utility Daniel Atkinson and forward Jesse Colquhoun remaining in Coffs with the NRL squad as the extended bench options should they be required.

The Sharks v Knights match is scheduled for a 3.00pm kick-off at C Ex Coffs International Stadium, with the two 19-man squads listed below.

Round 12 - Round 12 - Saturday 20 May

Full Time

Sharks

Knights

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Lachlan Miller
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa

Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien

Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Connor Tracey

Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo

Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Kalyn Ponga
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Oregon Kaufusi

Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel Saifiti
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Royce Hunt

Prop for Knights is number 10 Jack Hetherington
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora

2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton

2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Dale Finucane

Lock for Knights is number 13 Leo Thompson

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Jack Williams

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Tyson Gamble
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Wade Graham

Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Adam Elliott
Interchange for Sharks is number 20 Braden Hamlin-Uele

Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker