Madimack Matchups - Sharks v Sea Eagles
The spotlight will be fixed on a top-tier halfback duel when the Sharks wrap up the regular season against the Sea Eagles on Sunday.
While both teams are assured playoffs berths, Cronulla could finish as high as second if results fall their way while Manly are fighting for a home final.
A sold-out crowd at 4 Pines Park in Brookvale will provide a finals-like atmosphere, with the battle between rival playmakers Nicho Hynes and Daly Cherry-Evans headlining a selection of scintillating head-to-head clashes.
Read on for this week's Madimack Matchups to monitor.
Madimack Matchups - Round 27
Nicho Hynes v Daly Cherry-Evans
In an alternate universe, Hynes could be lining up for Manly on Sunday. He started his career on the northern beaches and represented the Sea Eagles in the 2015 NYC grand final. But with no path to the NRL, partially due to Cherry-Evans' mortgage on the halfback spot, Hynes was forced to leave and take the long road to the top.
Hynes and Cherry-Evans are now close mates, having formed a strong bond as Australian teammates during last year's Pacific Championships tournament. They squared off in the State of Origin opener in May – Cherry-Evans being Queensland's captain, Hynes NSW's No.7 – and will again put their friendship aside this week.
After returning from a seven-week layoff with an ankle injury last round, Hynes will be eager to recapture top form as he prepares to guide the Sharks in the finals.
Will Kennedy v Tolutau Koula
Kennedy's quiet confidence is a major asset for the Sharks, with the reliable No.1 missing just one match this season due to suspension. With Hynes fit and on deck, Kennedy and his fellow spine members will be intent on fine-tuning their crucial combinations as they steel themselves for a deep playoffs run.
On the other hand, Manly will be no less explosive at fullback despite Tom Trbojevic's absence (shoulder injury) as the electric Koula steps into his boots.
Having posted a sizzling official 100m track time of 10.58 seconds as a teenager, it's safe to say the Sharks will be determined to restrict Koula's room to move.
Oregon Kaufusi v Matt Lodge
One of the unsung heroes of Cronulla's team, Kaufusi has featured in all 23 games this season. It's an impressive feat for any NRL player, let alone a 25-year-old front-rower slogging it out in the engine room from the opening whistle.
Kaufusi's tidy defence, combined with hard running and a handy offload, has been a feature of his consistency in 2024 under the tutelage of coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
Lodge, once considered among the league's best props, has struggled with injury in recent times, returning from a biceps tear in Manly's last-start win over the Bulldogs. Still only 29 and without a deal for 2025, he will be desperate to impress.
