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Sharks v Dolphins: Finucane returns; Te Whare to make debut

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pan66.com
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Cronulla will head to Brisbane chasing their fourth win in a row when they face the Dolphins in a Saturday night Magic Round showdown.

The Sharks are 5-3 for the season and sitting a comfortable second on the ladder but face no easy task against a Dolphins side who will be doing everything in their power to hand coach Wayne Bennett a night to remember on his 900th match as a first-grade rugby league coach. 

Attack has been a strength for the Sharks from the get-go this season, leading the competition in points scored, linebreaks and try assists, but it was their improvement in defence which impress coach Craig Fitzgibbon most with in his side's 44-6 victory last Thursday.

Having not won a Magic Round clash since defeating the Titans 2019, the Sharks will be hoping to bring to Suncorp what they've been building in the Shire since their Round 6 bye.

The stars have aligned for Bennett and his Dolphins as the veteran coach marks a major milestone as a coach and the competition newcomers make their Magic Round debut on the familiar turf of Suncorp Stadium. 

Dropping out of the eight after a tough golden-point defeat to the Raiders in Wagga last week, the newcomers will be doing everything they can to get their Magic Round record off to a winning start and have their highly respected coach smiling come full-time.

Team News 

Sharks: A switch on game day with Cameron Mcinnes to start the game and skipper Dale Finucane going back to the bench in his return from suspension. Braden Hamlin-Uele is out for at least a month after scans confirmed he suffered a MCL injury against the Cowboys. Royce Hunt is promoted to the starting side. Braydon Trindall is 18th Man.

Dolphins: No further changes on game day after captain Jesse Bromwich and centre Brenko Lee were . Poasa Famausili moves into the run-on side to replace Bromwich while Valynce Te Whare will come in for his NRL debut in place of Lee. Anthony Milford's inclusion on the bench could see the former Broncos playmaker spend some time at hooker or shift Kodi Nikorima into dummy half and him join the halves. JJ Collins is 18th Man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
    Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
  • Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
    Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako
  • Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
    Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Euan Aitken
  • Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai
    Centre for Dolphins is number 21 Valynce Te Whare
  • Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
    Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Tesi Niu
  • Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan
    Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
  • Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes
    Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa

Forwards

  • Prop for Sharks is number 8 Oregon Kaufusi
    Prop for Dolphins is number 10 Kenneath Bromwich
  • Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
    Hooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King 
  • Prop for Sharks is number 10 Royce Hunt
    Prop for Dolphins is number 19 Poasa  Faamausili 
  • 2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
    2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
  • 2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
    2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Connelly Lemuelu
  • Lock for Sharks is number 14 Cameron McInnes
    Lock for Dolphins is number 13 Tom Gilbert

Interchange

  • Interchange for Sharks is number 13 Dale Finucane
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 14 Jarrod Wallace
  • Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Jack Williams
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 15 Anthony Milford
  • Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Wade Graham
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 16 Mason Teague
  • Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Herman Ese'ese

Reserves

  • Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Braydon Trindall
    Replacement for Dolphins is number 22 JJ Collins

Match Officials

  • Referee: Grant Atkins
  • Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Sharks have lost five of their past six games at Suncorp Stadium.
  • Dolphins mentor Wayne Bennett will coach his 900th premiership game.
  • Sharks William Kennedy and Ronaldo Mulitalo have both scored nine tries in their past seven games.
  • Dolphins centre Euan Aitken has scored a try in three consecutive games.
  • The Sharks are the No. 1 attacking team in the NRL after nine rounds.

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.