NRL Match Preview: Round 14 v Broncos

The Sharks will look to secure their second win at Suncorp Stadium within a month when they face the Broncos on Saturday night.

Having beaten the Roosters in a Magic Round thriller at the venue four rounds ago, second-placed Cronulla are now aiming to snap a two-game losing streak.

In a boost for the visitors, coach Craig Fitzgibbon confirmed on Friday that captain Cameron McInnes will back up after his State of Origin debut on Wednesday.

"Cam's pulled up OK, so he'll be taking the field for us," Fitzgibbon said of the NSW lock, who churned out 41 tackles and 11 runs in a 38-10 loss to Queensland.

Blues halfback Nicho Hynes wasn't included in the Sharks squad, with Fitzgibbon opting to manage his load and look after his much-discussed calf. His absence means Braydon Trindall and Daniel Atkinson will again combine in the halves.

Siosifa Talakai will move from the interchange to the run-on side in place of second-rower Teig Wilton, who is missing due to a minor shoulder injury.

"Sifa's output in games has been incredibly high in recent times, so we're confident there in the back-row role that he can get a job done," Fitzgibbon said.

"Jack Williams can go there also. We've got some other players that can step into that role, but he's a handful, Sifa. We want him to be a handful tomorrow night."

Cronulla winger Ronaldo Mulitalo will play his 100th NRL game, coincidentally against the same team and at the same ground as his debut in 2019.

Mulitalo could celebrate another milestone, the 24-year-old needing one four-pointer to equal Mat Rogers (75) on the Sharks' all-time try-scorer leaderboard.

For Brisbane, fullback Reece Walsh will watch from the sidelines after being concussed in the Origin opener. Tristan Sailor will replace the Maroons star.

The club's other Origin representatives – Patrick Carrigan, Payne Haas and Selwyn Cobbo – are expected to play after getting through training on Friday.

The Sharks will hope they turned the corner with their Magic Round victory at Suncorp given their 31% win rate at the 'Cauldron' (nine from 29 games).

A win tomorrow evening would mark the first time Cronulla have clinched back-to-back triumphs at the stadium since 2019-20. The stats suggest a tight contest, with 13 of the past 15 encounters between the teams decided by 10 points or fewer.

Having surged to the top of the ladder with seven consecutive wins, the Sharks are now determined to recapture their best form after losses to the Panthers and Eels.

"We want to respond with our energy, for sure," Fitzgibbon said. "When we're at our best we've definitely got a higher energy about us. We need to get after that."

See the updated 19-man team lists below.