Shane Flanagan has named his side to challenge for the title of 'World Champions' when taking on the Wigan Warriors in the 2017 World Club Challenge.
Jayden Brailey and Jesse Ramien will make their top grade debuts in the match, with the young pair given their first chance to pull on the black, white and blue alongside more seasoned campaigners.
Brailey, a local junior and former captain of the Sharks NYC side will line up at hooker, replacing the now-retired Michael Ennis.
Fa’amanu Brown, though wearing the 9 jersey left vacant by Ennis’ retirement, is set to start from the interchange bench.
Brailey has a chance to impress ahead of the NRL season proper getting underway, with the 2016 NYC player of the year now looking to cement his place as a First Grade regular.
Ramien – whose strong showing at the 2017 NRL Auckland Nines certainly strengthened his case – earns a start in Flanagan’s side in place of the injured Sosaia Feki.
The injury to Valentine Holmes sees Gerard Beale start at the back, with Kurt Capewell slotting in to the ‘5’ jersey for his first start in the Sharks’ run-on side.
World Club Challenge – Wigan Warriors v Cronulla Sharks
DW Stadium, Wigan
Kick-off:
3pm, Sunday February 19 (Local, GMT)
2am, Monday February 20 (AEDT, Sydney/Melbourne)
1am Monday, February 20 (AEST, Brisbane)
1. Gerard Beale
2. Jesse Ramien
3. Jack Bird
4. Ricky Leutele
5. Kurt Capewell
6. James Maloney
7. Chad Townsend
8. Andrew Fifita
14. Jayden Brailey
10.Matt Prior
11. Luke Lewis
12. Wade Graham
13. Paul Gallen
Interchange
9. Fa’amanu Brown
15. Chris Heighington
16. Jayson Bukuya
17. Sam Tagataese
See all the action of the World Club Challenge playing live & loud at the Sharks Leagues Club. Click HERE for more details!
