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Match Preview

Sharks v Roosters: Kennedy back on deck; Tupouniua returns

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pan66.com
Timestamp

Having followed a win over the Eels with a loss to Panthers, Trent Robinson's Roosters are faced with another of the big guns in round 12 when they tackle the Sharks.

At their best the Roosters are a force to be reckoned with but consistency has been an issue in 2022 with some stirring wins over the Cowboys, Broncos and Eels countered by losses to the Bulldogs and Dragons.

The Sharks, meanwhile, have settled into a groove under new coach Craig Fitzgibbon and have one of the form players in the NRL in Nicho Hynes leading them around in style.

A bumper crowd is assured at PointsBet Stadium on a Saturday night and the home side will go in as clear favourites to rack up an eighth win of the season.

Sportsbet Betting preview: Sharks v Roosters

The Rundown

Team news

Sharks: With the late withdrawal of Wade Graham due to a foot injury, Teig Wilton moves to the starting side and 23-year-old prop Tom Hazelton has been elevated to the 17-man squad and will make his NRL debut off the bench. Will Kennedy returns from suspension at fullback with last week's impressive debutant Lachlan Miller the 18th man. Siosifa Talakai picked up an ankle injury on the Gold Coast but will play.

Roosters: The Roosters are 1-17 with no late changes. Sitili Tupouniua returns from a head knock on the bench in place of Egan Butcher in the only change to the side beaten by Penrith. Terrell May retains his spot after a strong debut off the bench last week. Lachlan Lam is 18th man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
    Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
  • Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
    Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
  • Centre for Sharks is number 3 Connor Tracey
    Centre for Roosters is number 3 Paul   Momirovski
  • Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai
    Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph Manu
  • Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
    Winger for Roosters is number 5 Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i
  • Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan
    Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Sam Walker
  • Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes
    Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Luke Keary

Forwards

  • Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf
    Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
  • Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
    Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Drew Hutchison
  • Prop for Sharks is number 10 Royce Hunt
    Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins
  • 2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
    2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton
  • 2nd Row for Sharks is number 16 Teig Wilton
    2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Nat Butcher
  • Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes
    Lock for Roosters is number 13 Siosiua Taukeiaho

Interchange

  • Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Aiden Tolman
    Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Connor Watson
  • Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Braydon Trindall
    Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Fletcher Baker
  • Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Andrew Fifita
    Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Sitili Tupouniua
  • Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Thomas Hazelton
    Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Terrell May

Reserves

  • Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Lachlan Miller
    Replacement for Roosters is number 18 Lachlan Lam

Match Officials

  • Referee: Grant Atkins
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Key match-up

Nicho Hynes v Luke Keary: The former Storm man has been a revelation in the No.7 for Cronulla, surging up the Dally M leaderboard and staking a claim for buy of the year honours. His kicking game both short and long has been precise and his long pass to put Ronaldo Mulitalo over on Sunday was a thing of beauty. Keary's return from a knee reconstruction has been a work in progress but the classy Rooster has still racked up 11 try assists and eight forced dropouts in 11 games and he'll keep getting better the more footy he plays.

Stat Attack

The Sharks and Roosters boast an array of class players in their back three and have chalked up a stack of kick return metres across the opening 11 rounds. With James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou and Joseph Suaalii leading the way the Roosters have 2266 kick return metres, the third most in the NRL. The Sharks are fourth with 2131 kick return metres thanks to Will Kennedy, Sione Katoa and Ronaldo Mulitalo.

 

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.