Sharks v Sea Eagles: Xerri unlikely; Manly's Turbo boost
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Cronulla will get a first glimpse of life at Kogarah when they host Manly in their final pre-season trial at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Sunday night.
The Sharks returned from Papua New Guinea this week reeling from the loss of rake Cameron King, who ruptured his ACL in a devastating blow to their preparations.
King's replacement as a combination with Blayke Brailey is one of a few decisions Sharks coach John Morris will need to lock in prior to round one.
For Manly, the match will be their first and only trial with the squad relatively settled despite long-term surgeries in the off-season to Jake Trbojevic and Addin Fonua-Blake.
Match: Sharks v Sea Eagles
Round 3 -
home Team
Sharks
12th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
16th Position
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
The Rundown
Team news
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Josh Morris 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Shaun Johnson 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Jack Williams Interchange: 14. Connor Tracey 15. Braden Hamlin-Uele 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Scott Sorensen 18. Billy Magoulias 19. Siosifa Talakai 20. Royce Hunt 21. Jackson Ferris
Jack Williams looks the favourite to start at lock in round one after being named in the No.13 jersey. Connor Tracey has been included on the interchange and could come on to relieve hooker Blayke Brailey following an ACL injury to previous back-up rake Cameron King. Bronson Xerri (shoulder) was hopeful of getting some game time in the club's final trial but is now pushing for round one or two. Wade Graham picked up an ankle injury in the All Stars clash but along with Andrew Fifita (knee) is available.
Sea Eagles: Tom Trbojevic (pec) has been fit since December according to skipper Daly Cherry-Evans but the Australian international has nevertheless been rested. Curtis Sironen has been named to start for a trial return following foot surgery.
Match: Sharks v Sea Eagles
Round 3 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William KennedyFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Luke Metcalf
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Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione KatoaWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Tevita Funa
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Centre for Sharks is number 3 Josh MorrisCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
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Centre for Sharks is number 22 Jesse RamienCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Moses Suli
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Winger for Sharks is number 21 Jackson FerrisWinger for Sea Eagles is number 14 Brendan Elliot
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Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 14 Connor TraceyFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Lachlan Croker
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Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Chad TownsendHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Cade Cust
Forwards
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Prop for Sharks is number 8 Andrew FifitaProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Toafofoa Sipley
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Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke BraileyHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Danny Levi
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Prop for Sharks is number 10 Aaron WoodsProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Joel Thompson
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Wade Graham2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Curtis Sironen
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Lock for Sharks is number 13 Jack WilliamsLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Sean Keppie
Interchange
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Interchange for Sharks is number 6 Braydon TrindallInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Abbas Miski
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Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Braden Hamlin-UeleInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Josh Schuster
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Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Toby RudolfInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Haumole Olakau'atu
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Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Scott SorensenInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Zac Saddler
Reserves
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Reserve for Sharks is number 12 Vito TevagaReserve for Sea Eagles is number 19 Zach Dockar-Clay
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Reserve for Sharks is number 18 Billy MagouliasReserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Dane Aukafolau
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Reserve for Sharks is number 19 Siosifa TalakaiReserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Keith Titmuss
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Reserve for Sharks is number 20 Royce HuntReserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Alec Tuitavake
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Reserve for Sharks is number 23 Kayleb MilneReserve for Sea Eagles is number 23 Edwin Ipape
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Reserve for Sharks is number 24 Jenson TaumoepeauReserve for Sea Eagles is number 24 Sam Manuleleua
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Referee: Peter Gough
Last updated:
The big question
Sharks: Can the side solve their back line drama? No other club has been in the headlines recently as much around the make-up of their back five. The club essentially have three specialist centres while Josh Dugan's ability to play centre, wing or fullback throws another spanner in the works. Add in Matt Moylan, Will Kennedy, Sione Katoa and Ronaldo Mulitalo to the frame and it leaves John Morris with a migraine more than a headache in a bid to keep everyone happy.
Sea Eagles: How many minutes can Des Hasler get out of Danny Levi? The arrival of Levi is a welcome one for Hasler, who lost Api Koroisau to Penrith and Manase Fainu, who is out injured after shoulder surgery and has been stood down by the NRL. Levi averaged a tidy 58 minutes on the field for the Knights in 2019 while his best average of 64 per game came two years earlier. Whether he can do that for the entire season is another question with back-up halves Lachlan Croker and Cade Cust coming into play.
