Tinirau Arona has been added to the long Sharks injury list however coach James Shepherd has named a team more than capable of beating the visiting Raiders and of climbing off the bottom of the NRL ladder.
On a positive note, while the loss of Arona is far from ideal when added to the host NRL squad regulars already sidelined, the Sharks welcome Anthony Tupou back into the team for Sunday’s all-important clash.
Tupou has recovered sufficiently from a hamstring strain to take his place in the side, while Arona has picked up the same injury and is likely to miss two matches.
Other than the return of Tupou the Sharks will field a team not dissimilar to the one which went down to the Storm last Saturday night, with back rower Sione Masima, added to the Sharks interchange bench, the only other new name on the team list.
Should Masima play on Sunday he would become the eighth player to debut for the Sharks in the NRL in 2014.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 2.00pm on Sunday, with the NYC match at 11.40am, while a range of family fun day activities are sure to keep fans of all ages more than occupied. Entry for children 14 years and under is free.
NRL Team List – round 24
Sharks v Raiders
Sunday, August 24
Remondis Stadium
Kick off – 2.00pm
1. Michael Gordon
2. Sosaia Feki
3. Jonathan Wright
4. Ricky Leutele
5. Valentine Holmes
6. Fa’amanu Brown
7. Jeff Robson
8. Tim Robinson
9. Michael Lichaa
10. Matt Prior
11. Chris Heighington
12. Anthony Tupou
13. Paul Gallen ©
Interchange
14. Pat Politoni
15. Junior Roqica
16. Tupou Sopoaga
17. Blake Ayshford
18. Sione Masima
