Late Mail - Sharks v Panthers

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Sat 11 Jul 2020, 01:57 PM

The Sharks have confirmed Josh Dugan will play fullback in today’s game against the Panthers, with Nene Macdonald to make his club debut in a late change to the Cronulla side.

With Dugan’s shift to fullback in place of the injured Matt Moylan, a backline spot opened up and coach John Morris has thrown the PNG-born outside back an opportunity in what represents his return match in the NRL.

Macdonald has been included on the wing, with Bryson Goodwin moving into the centres, Ronaldo Mulitalo coming out of the originally selected 21-man squad as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.

It will be Macdonald’s first game in the NRL for over a year, the 26-year-old suffering a badly broken leg early in the 2019 season before cutting ties with the Cowboys soon after due to an off-field issue.

The inclusion of Macdonald for Mulitalo is the major Sharks team change ahead of their game against the high-flying Panthers, however Morris has again opted to start Andrew Fifita from the bench, while bringing Braden Hamlin-Uele into his starting 13.

The rest of the Sharks bench remains the same as in the previous two weeks, with Morris again looking for Toby Rudolf, Sosaia Talakai, Royce Hunt and Fifita to add impact once injected into the contest.

The round nine match between the Sharks and Panthers is scheduled to get underway at 3.00pm at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, with the two 17-man teams listed below.

Round 9 - Round 9 - Saturday 11 Jul

Full Time

Sharks

Panthers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 Josh Dugan

Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa

Winger for Panthers is number 2 Josh Mansour
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Bryson Goodwin

Centre for Panthers is number 4 Stephen Crichton
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Jesse Ramien

Centre for Panthers is number 21 Charlie Staines
Winger for Sharks is number 21 Nene Macdonald

Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brent Naden
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Shaun Johnson

Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Chad Townsend

Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Aaron Woods

Prop for Panthers is number 8 James Tamou
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey

Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
Prop for Sharks is number 15 Braden Hamlin-Uele

Prop for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora

2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Viliame Kikau
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Wade Graham

2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Jack Williams

Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 8 Andrew Fifita

Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Tyrone May
Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Toby Rudolf

Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Moses Leota
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Siosifa Talakai

Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Billy Burns
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Royce Hunt

Interchange for Panthers is number 20 Spencer Leniu