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Match Preview

Sharks v Warriors: Moylan, Chambers out; Walsh, Lodge get starts

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Timestamp

A Warriors team that keeps on finding ways to lose travels to Sydney to meet a Sharks team that also had a day to forget last weekend.

The Warriors led by 12 with 10 minutes remaining but couldn't hang on against the Dragons while the Sharks' recent run of form ended with a shock loss against Brisbane.

Despite their troubles in turning late leads into wins, the Warriors are still just two points adrift of the eighth-placed Sharks.

They won't want to be four behind heading into round 18.

The rundown

Team news

Sharks: Siosifa Talakai will start in the second row after a late swap which sees Briton Nikora drop back to the interchange. Luke Metcalf has been named 18th man and Andrew Fifita is the final omission an hour before kick-off.

Will Chambers is out of Cronulla's side to face the Warriors on Sunday as he needs to quarantine after a trip to Victoria for the birth of his third child.

Connor Tracey switches to centre with Braydon Trindall coming into the starting side at five-eighth and winger Mawene Hiroti promoted to the interchange. Billy Magoulias joined Chambers in dropping out of the squad on Saturday.

Five-eighth Matt Moylan remains sidelined by a calf injury after missing the Brisbane loss on Sunday.

The Sharks have won seven of their past eight games against the Warriors.

Warriors: Prop Kane Evans has been omitted from the final 17 with Jack Murchie taking the prop's place on the interchange. Adam Pompey is the 18th man.

Taniela Otukolo and Edward Kosi were the first cuts from the 21-man squad on Saturday.

Reece Walsh (hamstring) and Matt Lodge headline a raft of changes with the rookie No.1 again pushing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to the wing. 

Walsh and Kodi Nikorima both got through a full training session on Wednesday and are good to go for Sunday.

Jazz Tevaga has been promoted from the bench to replace lock Tohu Harris (shoulder) while fellow benchie Bayley Sironen swaps places with back-rower Ben Murdoch-Masila. Eliesa Katoa (shoulder/ankle) has been named in the second row despite failing to finish the loss to the Dragons.

Chad Townsend (shoulder) is out but Nikorima returns from an ankle injury and Sean O'Sullivan shifts into the No.7.

Rocco Berry has replaced Adam Pompey in the centres.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
    Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh
  • Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
    Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin   Watene-Zelezniak
  • Centre for Sharks is number 4 Jesse Ramien
    Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
  • Centre for Sharks is number 6 Connor Tracey
    Centre for Warriors is number 4 Marcelo Montoya
  • Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
    Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 
  • Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 14 Braydon Trindall
    Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
  • Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Shaun Johnson
    Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Sean O'Sullivan

Forwards

  • Prop for Sharks is number 8 Aiden Tolman
    Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake  
  • Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
    Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
  • Prop for Sharks is number 10 Aaron Woods
    Prop for Warriors is number 10 Matthew Lodge
  • 2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
    2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Eliesa Katoa
  • 2nd Row for Sharks is number 15 Siosifa Talakai
    2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Bayley Sironen
  • Lock for Sharks is number 13 Toby Rudolf
    Lock for Warriors is number 13 Jazz Tevaga

Interchange

  • Interchange for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
    Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Leeson Ah Mau
  • Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Jack Williams
    Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bunty Afoa
  • Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Braden Hamlin-Uele
    Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Ben Murdoch-Masila
  • Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Mawene Hiroti
    Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Jack Murchie

Reserves

  • Reserve for Sharks is number 21 Luke Metcalf
    Reserve for Warriors is number 18 Adam Pompey

Match Officials

  • Referee: Chris Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Darian Furner
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Senior Review Official: Alan Shortall

Last updated:

Key match-up

Ronaldo Mulitalo v Dallin Watene-Zelezniak: If Mulitalo had things go his way, he'd be spending this week preparing for the final match of the Origin series.

Instead, he is readying himself for a date with the Warriors. DWZ looked pretty good in his Warriors debut last week. 

Stat attack

Of the Warriors' 10 losses this year, six have been by six points or less. If they'd gone 3-3 in those fixtures they'd be comfortably in the top eight.

 

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