NRL Trial Preview: Sharks v Raiders

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Wed 12 Feb 2025, 07:49 PM

The Sharks will bring out the big guns against a first-rate Raiders side at Canberra's GIO Stadium on Thursday night in their final trial match before heading for the bright lights of Las Vegas.

With most senior players held back from last week's 12-all draw against a formidable Warriors team to kick off the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge, Cronulla have selected close to a full-strength squad in their main hit-out before Round 1.

Star recruit Addin Fonua-Blake will make his club debut at prop, joining Ronaldo Mulitalo, Jesse Ramien, Braydon Trindall, Nicho Hynes, Briton Nikora, Teig Wilton, Daniel Atkinson and captain Cameron McInnes for their first run of the season.

Winger Sione Katoa is the only NRL regular rested from the 26-man squad.

The Raiders, who defeated the Panthers 22-16 in their opening trial, have taken the same approach as Cronulla ahead of their Vegas sojourn, naming the majority of their NRL headliners with the notable exception of prop Joseph Tapine (rested). Playmaker Jamal Fogarty will skipper the home team in Tapine's place.

The GIO Stadium field has been modified from 100m to 94.5m in length and 68m to 63.1m in width to allow the players to adjust to the conditions they'll be faced with at Vegas' state-of-the-art Allegiant Stadium, which usually hosts NFL games.

For the Sharks, the trip to the nation's capital is a golden chance to build match fitness and rekindle combinations before flying to Los Angeles late next week to begin their preparations for tackling four-peat premiers Penrith in Vegas.

After exciting cameos from some of his uncapped young guns last week, Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon has retained the likes of Chris Vea'ila, Michael Gabrael, Taj Ford, Riley Pollard and Kristian Dixon on a versatile extended bench.

Twins Niwhai and Hohepa Puru are unavailable due to Indigenous All Stars camp along with Mawene Hiroti, who will line up for Māori side on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 7.50pm AEDT, with live TV coverage exclusively on Fox League and Kayo.

See below for the respective team lists.

Round 2 - Thursday 13th February

Full Time

Raiders

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo Weekes

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Xavier Savage

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Samuel Stonestreet
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris

Centre for Sharks is number 4 Kayal Iro
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Savelio Tamale

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Trey Mooney

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Oregon Kaufusi
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Matty Nicholson

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Morgan Smithies

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Interchange

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Danny Levi

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Daniel Atkinson
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Albert Hopoate

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Siosifa Talakai
Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Adam Cook

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Braden Hamlin-Uele
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Jed Stuart

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton

Reserves

Reserve for Raiders is number 18 Chevy Stewart

Reserve for Sharks is number 18 Billy Burns
Reserve for Raiders is number 19 Jensen Taumoepeau

Reserve for Sharks is number 19 Jayden Berrell
Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Manaia Waitere

Reserve for Sharks is number 20 Tuku Hau Tapuha
Reserve for Raiders is number 21 Myles Martin

Reserve for Sharks is number 21 Chris Vea'ila
Reserve for Raiders is number 22 Simi Sasagi

Reserve for Sharks is number 22 Riley Pollard
Reserve for Raiders is number 23 Ethan Sanders

Reserve for Sharks is number 23 Taj Ford
Reserve for Raiders is number 24 Jordan Martin

Reserve for Sharks is number 24 Michael Gabrael
Reserve for Raiders is number 25 Noah Martin

Reserve for Sharks is number 25 Kristian Dixon
Reserve for Raiders is number 26 Ata Mariota

Reserve for Sharks is number 26 Eli Clark
Reserve for Raiders is number 27 Pasami Saulo
Reserve for Raiders is number 28 Michael Asomua