NRL Match Preview: Round 24 v Knights

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Sat 17 Aug 2024, 04:04 PM

Major team changes have been confirmed as the Sharks aim to shore up their top-four spot against a Knights side fighting to stay alive at PointsBet Stadium on Sunday.

Having sat out the past two matches with a knee injury, Kiwi international Ronaldo Mulitalo reclaims his place on the left wing from rookie Sam Stonestreet.

In further changes the Sharks have lost two players due to illness, with Kayal Iro and Tom Hazelton out of the team to play the Knights.

Siosifa Talakai will start in place of Iro at centre, Royce Hunt shifts from the bench to the second row and Braden Hamlin-Uele joins the interchange after a week off with knee soreness.

With Hazelton's withdrawal, towering front rower Tuku Hau Tapuha has also been added to the interchange bench.

Playmaker Braydon Trindall (hamstring), who was named on the extended reserves list, has been omitted.

A heaving crowd is expected for a Members Round triple-header, with Cronulla's Jersey Flegg and NRLW sides playing before the NRL clash kicks off at 4.05pm.

Game Day Guide: NRL-NRLW-Flegg Triple-Header

After a clinical 44-0 dismantling of the Titans last round despite facing adversity, the Sharks are primed to hit top form with four regular-season games to go.

However, standing in their way this weekend are a Newcastle group coming off a confidence-boosting 34-18 win over Wests Tigers in which rookie winger Fletcher Sharpe bagged four tries and star fullback Kalyn Ponga was at his lethal best.

Two points outside the top eight, the 11th-placed Knights will head to the Sutherland Shire desperate to fan the flames of their finals aspirations.

But the stakes are just as high for Cronulla, who sit in fourth spot but have the resurgent Bulldogs and Sea Eagles nipping at their heels.

Victory over Newcastle will move coach Craig Fitzgibbon's men a step closer to securing a top-four berth and a coveted double shot in the playoffs.

"We've put ourselves in a decent position, but we haven't done anything yet," Hazelton said earlier this week.

"We're just looking to get better every week and looking forward to this Sunday.

"Nothing's given. We're going to have to go out and earn it again this weekend."

While Newcastle won the most recent meeting between the teams – 32-6 in Round 26 of 2023 – the Sharks have triumphed in 11 of the past 16 encounters.

Cronulla have also denied the Knights from storming their fortress at PointsBet Stadium since 2014, claiming the upper hand in the past five clashes at the venue.

Stats aside, the Sharks are wary of the Ponga-sparked Knights, who have shown glimpses of the team that won 10 straight in reaching week two of last year's finals.

"They're a good side. They've got quality all over the park," Hazelton added.

"We're going to have to be at our best to beat them. They've got a good forward pack and obviously a lot of international, Origin or ex-Origin guys in there.

"They're going to be looking to make a statement this weekend, so it's exciting."

Among several intriguing matchups is the battle of the Brailey brothers – Blayke and Jayden – as they prepare to face off for the first time since 2021.

Cronulla's Blayke, who began his career as Jayden's dummy-half understudy at the Sharks before the older sibling moved to Newcastle, was named at halfback for the second week running as Trindall rehabs his injury.

Regardless of the number on his back, the Sharks star will likely spend much of his time at hooker – as he did last week in the emphatic win over the Titans – pitting him directly against Jayden as they compete to control the ruck.

"It's been a while since they've played each other. I think it'll be a weird week for him. He's excited," Hazelton said of Blayke. "It must be a pretty big week for their family having both of them against each other, so I'm sure he's excited."

Cronulla forward Hunt quipped: "I don't know who (the Brailey family) will be cheering for, but hopefully they've got the Sharks jerseys on!"

Fitzgibbon's troops are aiming to secure three wins on the trot for the first time since Round 11. However, they're happy flying under the radar for the time being.

"It's good when we don't have too much attention on you ... We're just focused on ourselves," hard-working lock Jack Williams told the media.

"It's good when you don't have to worry about that outside noise."

Limited tickets are still available – CLICK HERE to secure yours.

The game will be shown live on Nine, Nine Now, Foxtel and Kayo.

See the updated teams below.

Round 24 - Round 24 - Sunday 18 Aug

Full Time

Sharks

Knights

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa

Winger for Knights is number 2 Fletcher Sharpe
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien

Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
Centre for Sharks is number 12 Siosifa Talakai

Centre for Knights is number 22 Kyle McCarthy
Winger for Sharks is number 21 Ronaldo Mulitalo

Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Daniel Atkinson

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Blayke Brailey

Halfback for Knights is number 7 Phoenix Crossland

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf

Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel Saifiti
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Cameron McInnes

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Oregon Kaufusi

Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora

2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
2nd Row for Sharks is number 16 Royce Hunt

2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Jack Williams

Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Jayden Berrell

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Jack Cogger
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Billy Burns

Interchange for Knights is number 15 Mat Croker
Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Braden Hamlin-Uele

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington
Interchange for Sharks is number 22 Tuku Hau Tapuha

Interchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie Jones