NRL Match Preview: Round 1 v Warriors

Author: Troy Whittaker Media Coordinator
Timestamp: Thu 7 Mar 2024, 06:00 PM

Craig Fitzgibbon's Sharks are embracing the challenge of facing the resurgent Warriors with a heaving Auckland crowd cheering against them in Friday night's season-opening blockbuster.

With 'Wahs' fever rampant across the ditch, the New Zealand team having finished fourth before reaching the preliminary final last year, a sold-out Go Media Stadium has been confirmed. Rather than being daunted, Cronulla are pumped.

"We want to play in big games, big stadiums, full houses, and we kick the season off with what we think will be a full house," coach Fitzgibbon said on Thursday.

"We're excited by that. We want to see a representation of the work we've done in the pre-season. We've spent a lot of time making sure we've made some adjustments from last year. We're still trying to strengthen our game in a lot of areas.

"You want to see all the work that you've done come out in play, all the while knowing it might not be as well-oiled as you'd like it to be. We want to hit the ground running and not wait for a couple of rounds until we hit our straps."

The Coach's Mail - Round 1

Fitzgibbon is under no illusions as to the difficulty of the task, with the Andrew Webster-coached Warriors having won eight of 10 matches at Go Media Stadium in 2023 including a resounding semi-final effort against the Knights.

Optimistic Sharks fans would argue the boys in the black, white and blue are overdue for Round 1 success given they've won one of their past 10 first-up games. The Warriors, meanwhile, have won five of their previous seven season openers.

But what's gone before won't faze the Sharks. Co-captain Cam McInnes reiterated the team's focus is solely on the present when asked if the pall of September's heartbreaking 13-12 elimination final defeat to the Roosters is still lingering.

"There are no mental barriers because we're learning and you go through experiences. You learn from it and it hardens you," McInnes said.

"As long as we use that, which I'm confident we will, there are no scars there."

Round 1 Media: Cam McInnes

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is back at the Warriors as a centre after a two-year rugby union stint, adding further intrigue to the clash, while Taine Tuaupiki will play fullback for the hosts with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (hamstring) sidelined.

Ex-Sharks players Luke Metcalf and Shaun Johnson, coming off a career-best season, will combine for the New Zealand outfit in the halves. Fitzgibbon tipped there may be some friendly banter on the field given their connections.

World-class prop Addin Fonua-Blake, signed to Cronulla from 2025, will line up against his future teammates and lock horns with Sharks behemoth Royce Hunt.

For Cronulla, hard-working interchange forward Jack Williams will record his 100th NRL game while halfback Nicho Hynes (quad) and co-skipper Dale Finucane (calf) are set to play after missing the final trial against the Bulldogs.

Hynes will link with five-eighth Braydon Trindall, the pair having found their groove at the end of last season and for the Indigenous All Stars in February.

"I'm really looking forward to how it transitions because we've worked so hard together and he's showing some really good signs at the moment," Hynes said.

"We want to be at the top of our game and do that together and chase the pairings that are the best in the NRL. I have no doubt we can do that if we continue to work hard and stay fit and healthy on the field together."

Round 1 Media: Nicho Hynes

The Warriors won both encounters last season but the Sharks own an imposing overall head-to-head record, saluting in 10 of 14 clashes since 2015.

Kick-off on Friday is scheduled for 6pm AEDT (8pm local time), with the game to be broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo. See the teams below.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Friday 8 Mar

Full Time

Warriors

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Metcalf

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Oregon Kaufusi
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Royce Hunt
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kurt Capewell

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Freddy Lussick

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Dale Finucane
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom Ale

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Jack Williams
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bunty Afoa

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Toby Rudolf
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Dylan Walker

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton