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Dragons v Sharks: Rookie forward returns; All go for Nicho

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pan66.com
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St George Illawarra and Cronulla lock horns for the 51st time in NRL history on Sunday night to finish Round 4 with a fierce local derby expected to be played out at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. 

Both sides are coming off losses in Round 3, setting up an all-important clash between two clubs who have given fans plenty of tense battles in the past three decades. 

The Dragons were in a tussle with the Broncos in Brisbane last start but their final 10 minutes where they conceded four tries blew the scoreboard away in an otherwise close contest that could've gone either way for majority of the match.

The Sharks went close to snatching their second win of the season against the Raiders but were denied but some last ditch efforts and lacked some discipline particularly after half-time. 

Cronulla have had the wood over the Dragons in recent years to pull the overall history back in their favour but the Red V are also enjoying their clashes in Kogarah recently, winning four of their last five on home turf.

The battle between big boppers Blake Lawrie and Toby Rudolf will be among the match-ups to watch while Will Kennedy and Tyrell Sloan at fullback have started the 2023 season in fine fashion.

Plenty of attention will also be on the halves with Ben Hunt and Nicho Hynes going head-to-head while Cronulla's back five are potent with the Dragons needing to step up in that area if they're to cause an upset.

Team news

Dragons: The Dragons have made a change to their starting side an hour before kick off with Zane Musgrove to start at lock with Jack Bird moving to the bench. No other changes have been made to the 17, with rookie forward Toby Couchman back in the side after suffering a head knock in his debut game against the Titans in Round 2. Aaron Woods is 18th man. 

Sharks: Star playmaker Nicho Hynes returns from a niggling calf injury in a boost for the Sharks. There were no late changes to the Sharks team an hour out from kick off after a update on Saturday saw Braydon Trindall drop out after battling an ankle complaint this week. His place on the bench is taken by Jack Williams. Mawene Hiroti is 18th man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan
    Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
  • Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai
    Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
  • Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli
    Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
  • Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax
    Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai
  • Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa
    Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
  • Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Jayden Sullivan
    Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan
  • Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt
    Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Forwards

  • Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo
    Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf
  • Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Moses Mbye
    Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
  • Prop for Dragons is number 10 Blake Lawrie
    Prop for Sharks is number 10 Braden Hamlin-Uele
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Ben Murdoch-Masila
    2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'a
    2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
  • Lock for Dragons is number 15 Zane Musgrove
    Lock for Sharks is number 13 Dale Finucane

Interchange

  • Interchange for Dragons is number 13 Jack Bird
    Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Cameron McInnes
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle
    Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Royce Hunt
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Toby Couchman
    Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Josh Kerr
    Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Jack Williams

Reserves

  • Replacement for Dragons is number 22 Aaron Woods
    Replacement for Sharks is number 19 Mawene Hiroti

Match Officials

  • Referee: Todd Smith
  • Touch Judge: Nick Beashel
  • Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
  • Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • Cronulla have won seven of the last eight matches between the two sides, including the last five since 2020.
  • The Dragons have won four of their past five games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
  • The Sharks have won their past five games against the Dragons.
  • Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa has scored four tries in his past four games against the Sharks.
  • Sharks fullback William Kennedy has scored four tries in his past four games against the Dragons.
  • Dragons prop Francis Molo will make his 100th NRL appearance.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .

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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.