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Match Preview

Sharks v Knights: Mulitalo set to start; Lucas ruled out

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pan66.com
Timestamp

The Sharks are out to defend home turf as they prepare to face a desperate Newcastle side on Sunday afternoon. 

The Knights climbed to within two points of the top eight with a victory over the Wests Tigers and they have their sights set on continuing their climb up the ladder. 

The quest doesn't get any easier this week with Cronulla riding high after a commanding victory over the Titans and eager to return to PointsBet Stadium with another win.

The Sharks solidified their place in the top four, but the Bulldogs are breathing down their necks and just two points behind. 

Halfback Braydon Trindall has again been ruled out due to a hamstring injury while Braden Hamlin-Uele is a chance of lining up after missing last week's game with knee soreness. 

Brothers Blayke Brailey and Jayden Brailey are preparing to face off, with Newcastle's Jayden eager to get one over his younger sibling. 

The Knights have struggled for consistency this year but hope to have turned a corner after Sunday's 34-18 win over the Tigers. 

The victory lifted them to 10th on the ladder and another two points will be crucial to their finals chances.

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Team News

Sharks: Winger Ronaldo Mulitalo (knee) and prop Braden Hamlin-Uele (knee) are set to return from injury but first choice No.7 Braydon Trindall (hamstring) was ruled out when the teams were trimmed on Saturday. Mulitalo will start on the wing, with Siosifa Talakai shifting from the second-row to centre. Royce Hunt moves from the bench to the second-row and his place on the interchange is taken by Hamlin-Uele. Blayke Brailey will again play halfback, with Cameron McInnes to start at hooker. The Sharks have made no further changes for today's home clash an hour from kick off, with Niwhai Puru the replacement player.

Knights: Dylan Lucas has again been ruled out after missing last week's game with a hamstring injury, with Kyle McCarthy replacing him in the centres when the squads were trimmed to 19 players on Saturday. Krystian Mapapalangi, who played in place of Lucas last weekend is out. The team is unchanged from the latest update an hour from kick-off, with Tom Cant remaining as 18th man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
    Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
  • Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
    Winger for Knights is number 2 Fletcher Sharpe
  • Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
    Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
  • Centre for Sharks is number 12 Siosifa Talakai
    Centre for Knights is number 22 Kyle McCarthy
  • Winger for Sharks is number 21 Ronaldo Mulitalo
    Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
  • Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Daniel Atkinson
    Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
  • Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Blayke Brailey
    Halfback for Knights is number 7 Phoenix Crossland

Forwards

  • Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf
    Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel Saifiti
  • Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Cameron McInnes
    Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey
  • Prop for Sharks is number 10 Oregon Kaufusi
    Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
  • 2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
    2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
  • 2nd Row for Sharks is number 16 Royce Hunt
    2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul
  • Lock for Sharks is number 13 Jack Williams
    Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott

Interchange

  • Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Jayden Berrell
    Interchange for Knights is number 14 Jack Cogger
  • Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Billy Burns
    Interchange for Knights is number 15 Mat Croker
  • Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Braden Hamlin-Uele
    Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington  
  • Interchange for Sharks is number 22 Tuku Hau Tapuha
    Interchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie Jones

Reserves

  • Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Niwhai Puru
    Replacement for Knights is number 18 Thomas Cant

Match Officials

  • Referee: Gerard Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
  • Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Sharks have won three of their past four games against the Knights.
  • The Knights have not won at PointsBet Stadium since 2014.
  • Sharks winger Sione Katoa has scored seven tries in his past eight games at PointsBet Stadium.
  • Knights second-rower Tyson Frizell has scored three tries in his past four games.
  • Sharks winger Sam Stonestreet has scored four tries in three NRL appearances.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, 

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