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.
Match: Sharks v Panthers
Round 9 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Sharks is number 1 Josh DuganFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
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Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione KatoaWinger for Panthers is number 2 Josh Mansour
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Centre for Sharks is number 3 Bryson GoodwinCentre for Panthers is number 4 Stephen Crichton
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Centre for Sharks is number 4 Jesse RamienCentre for Panthers is number 21 Charlie Staines
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Winger for Sharks is number 21 Nene MacdonaldWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brent Naden
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Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Shaun JohnsonFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
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Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Chad TownsendHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary
Forwards
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Prop for Sharks is number 10 Aaron WoodsProp for Panthers is number 8 James Tamou
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Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke BraileyHooker for Panthers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
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Prop for Sharks is number 15 Braden Hamlin-UeleProp for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Viliame Kikau
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Wade Graham2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
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Lock for Sharks is number 13 Jack WilliamsLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
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Interchange for Sharks is number 8 Andrew FifitaInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Tyrone May
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Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Toby RudolfInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Moses Leota
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Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Siosifa TalakaiInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Billy Burns
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Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Royce HuntInterchange for Panthers is number 20 Spencer Leniu
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Gavin Badger
- Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell
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