Amazingly, only a week after fears were held that he might miss the remainder of the 2018 season, Sharks prop Andrew Fifita will take his place in the Sharks side to play the Panthers today.
Fifita hobbled from the field just prior to half time of the game against the Dragons last Friday night, with the early diagnosis being a possible ACL tear, however scans later revealed no ligament damage, with the international front rower having recovered to play against Penrith at 4.00pm today.
Similar to Fifita, Luke Lewis has also beaten the odds after suffering a bad cork in the Dragons match and is fit to face his former club.
The news on Wade Graham was not so positive, with his hamstring injury forcing his withdrawal from today's match. He is hopeful of being fit to play against the Gold Coast next week.
In Graham's place comes local junior Scott Sorensen, with the versatile Kurt Capewell moved from the starting side onto the interchange bench. The match will represent Sorensen's first game in the top grade for 2018 and his first appearance in the NRL for Cronulla since 2014.
From the 19 -man squad as named last night, Jack Williams and Braden Uele drop out, with Williams playing for the Newtown Jets yesterday and Uele to warm up as the Sharks 18th man.
The Sharks v Panthers game is scheduled for a 4.10pm start.
NRL Team List – round 7
Sharks v Panthers
Sunday, April 22
Southern Cross Group Stadium
Kick off – 4.00pm
1- Josh Dugan
2- Edrick Lee
3- Jesse Ramien
4- Ricky Leutele
5- Valentine Holmes
6- Matt Moylan
7- Chad Townsend
8- Andrew Fifita
9- Jayden Brailey
10- Matt Prior
11- Luke Lewis ©
14- Scott Sorensen
13- Joseph Paulo
Interchange
12- Kurt Capewell
15- James Segeyaro
16- Ava Seumanufagai
17- Kurt Dillon
