Sharks young gun Kade Dykes will make his much-anticipated return from a knee injury at fullback in Saturday afternoon's opening trial against the Knights at Gosford's Industree Group Stadium.
While Nicho Hynes, Braydon Trindall, Briton Nikora and Royce Hunt are unavailable due to Friday night's All Stars game, and other high-profile players are being rested, Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon has named a blend of youth and experience.
Lock Cameron McInnes will captain a side that includes winger Sione Katoa, props Thomas Hazelton, Oregon Kaufusi and Jack Williams and back-rower Teig Wilton, who will play for the first time since a knee injury in round 20 last year.
Off-season recruit Billy Burns will represent the club for the first time having been included on an extended bench also featuring Siosifa Talakai.
In the absence of Hynes and Trindall, the talented Daniel Atkinson and Niwhai Puru will join forces in the halves. Highly rated centre Kayal Iro and up-and-coming winger Samuel Stonestreet will get their chance to impress too.
Sharks fans will be delighted to see Dykes back in action given the son of club legend Adam missed the entirety of 2023 after debuting the year prior.
The Knights clash is the first of two NRL Pre-Season Challenge matches for Cronulla, with a final trial against the Bulldogs on Friday, February 23.
Kick off on Saturday is at 1.45pm, to be broadcast live on Fox League and Kayo.
Please find team lists and match details below.
Match: Knights v Sharks
Round 1 -
home Team
Knights
away Team
Sharks
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Knights is number 1 Fletcher SharpeFullback for Sharks is number 1 Kade Dykes
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Winger for Knights is number 2 Thomas JenkinsWinger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
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Centre for Knights is number 3 Enari TualaCentre for Sharks is number 3 Kayal Iro
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Centre for Knights is number 4 Krystian MapapalangiCentre for Sharks is number 4 Mawene Hiroti
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Winger for Knights is number 22 Laitia MoceidrekeWinger for Sharks is number 5 Samuel Stonestreet
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Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson GambleFive-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Daniel Atkinson
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Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson HastingsHalfback for Sharks is number 7 Niwhai Puru
Forwards
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Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel SaifitiProp for Sharks is number 8 Thomas Hazelton
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Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix CrosslandHooker for Sharks is number 9 Jayden Berrell
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Prop for Knights is number 10 Jacob SaifitiProp for Sharks is number 10 Oregon Kaufusi
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2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Jed Cartwright2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Jesse Colquhoun
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2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Dylan Lucas2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
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Lock for Knights is number 13 Mat CrokerLock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes
Interchange
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Interchange for Knights is number 14 Jack CoggerInterchange for Sharks is number 14 Billy Burns
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Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jack HetheringtonInterchange for Sharks is number 15 Jack Williams
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Interchange for Knights is number 16 Brodie JonesInterchange for Sharks is number 16 Tuku Hau Tapuha
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Interchange for Knights is number 17 Thomas CantInterchange for Sharks is number 17 Lachlan Jake Crouch
Reserves
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Reserve for Knights is number 18 David ArmstrongReserve for Sharks is number 18 Chris Vea'ila
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Reserve for Knights is number 19 Fletcher MyersReserve for Sharks is number 19 Samuel Healey
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Reserve for Knights is number 20 Kyle McCarthyReserve for Sharks is number 20 Salesi Ataata
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Reserve for Knights is number 21 Will PryceReserve for Sharks is number 21 Blake Hosking
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Reserve for Knights is number 23 Riley JonesReserve for Sharks is number 22 Siosifa Talakai
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Reserve for Knights is number 24 Paul BryanReserve for Sharks is number 23 Liam Ison
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Reserve for Knights is number 25 Zach HerringReserve for Sharks is number 24 Max Bradbury
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Reserve for Knights is number 26 Clay WebbReserve for Sharks is number 25 Tom Rodwell
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Reserve for Knights is number 28 Sebastian Su'aReserve for Sharks is number 27 Siteni Taukamo
Match Officials
- Referee: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
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