Sharks keen to defend the Rogers Trophy

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Fri 19 Aug 2022, 04:00 PM

It will be the last throw of the proverbial dice for the Sea Eagles in 2022, while for the Sharks the match at 4 Pines Park on Saturday presents an opportunity to consolidate their position inside the top four.

Playing for the Steve Rogers Trophy, in honour of the late Sharks Immortal, the Cronulla side can take another step towards a double-shot in the upcoming Finals series, however for the 10th placed Manly, only a win in their final three matches, coupled with results falling in their favour, will see them qualify for the big end of season matches.

Despite the Sharks travelling along nicely in third position and the Sea Eagles battling to stay in touch in 10th spot, Cronulla stars Dale Finucane and Ronaldo Mulitalo are two who certainly won’t be underestimating the Manly side in the crucial round 23 clash.

“It’s always tough going to Brookie, they are a notoriously hostile crowd, and off the back of last weekend against the Titans, it was a disappointing result and they’ll be looking to rectify that, particularly playing at home,” Finucane said. “It’s going to be a tough game for us.”

Winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, the scorer of 13 tries for the Sharks so far in 2022, was similarly wary of the Sea Eagles and the challenge they were likely to present.

“They’ve got world class players, who know how to play big games,” he said. ‘’We’ve spoken about it, two proud clubs, battle of the beaches, and I can’t wait to get over there and to give it a crack.

“We want to put our best foot forward every week and our first job is this week against Manly,” Mulitalo added.

Also keeping the Sharks focused on the task at hand, is the sobering fact that their 27 percent win record against Manly is their worst against any opponent, while it is the Sea Eagles’ best in relation to any current NRL opposition.

In the 95 matches played since 1967, the Sharks have won 26, the Sea Eagles 67, with two draws.

At Brookvale, Manly has won 34 of 40 matches against Cronulla, including the past seven, however it was the Sharks to claim the Steve Rogers Trophy back in round seven when they scored a 34-22 win at PointsBet Stadium after leading 32-0 at halftime.

In striving for back-to-back victories, the Sharks will need to overcome another troubling statistic, in that only twice before in the 55-year history of matches between the clubs have they won two games in a row against the Sea Eagles.

In team news, the Sharks welcome back a couple of familiar faces, with Connor Tracey and Matt Moylan returning for Saturday’s game, however rookie Kade Dykes and young backrower Teig Wilton are late withdrawals.

Dykes has failed to overcome a minor calf injury suffered in the game in Tamworth and Wilton comes out of the team due to illness.

Toby Rudolf will also be missing from now until at least the first week of Finals, Braden Hamlin-Uele has been promoted into the starting line up in his place, while on the interchange bench, both Aiden Tolman and Andrew Fifita have been added after the pair missed the Sharks win over the Tigers, with Braydon Trindall also included in the 17-man team.

Lochie Miller moves from the wing to fullback in taking over from Dykes, with Matt Ikuvalu on the wing following a strong performance at centre last weekend.

Jesse Colquhoun and Luke Metcalf have been retained in the 19-player squad on the extended reserves list.

The 36-12 victory over the Tigers was the Sharks eighth in their past nine matches and in a defensive statistic that would please Craig Fitzgibbon and his coaching staff, they have not conceded more than 20 points an any of those nine games.

The Sharks sit third on the NRL ladder on 32 points, level with the Cowboys but trailing the North Queensland team by a 71-point differential. They are one win ahead of the fourth-placed Storm.

Following the Sea Eagles on Saturday the Sharks play the Bulldogs at home and the Newcastle Knights away in their final two matches.

As for Manly, they need three wins and to hope the Roosters lose all three matches and the Raiders lose two of three, while overturning a 149-point for-and-against difference on the Roosters to make the top eight.

The Sea Eagles, who will be without Jake Trbojevic after he suffered a broken hand last week, slumped to a fourth straight loss in losing 44-24 to the Titans in their round 22 match.

The two teams will play for the Steve Rogers Trophy, with the Sharks having claimed the silverware just six times from the 26 occasions in which it has been contested. See below results from past Rogers Trophy matches.

The Sharks v Sea Eagles game, scheduled to kick off at 5.30pm, will be preceded by a NSW Cup clash between the Jets and Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles (3.15pm) and a Jersey Flegg match up featuring the Cronulla and Manly teams at 1.30pm.

Round 23 - Round 23 - Saturday 20 Aug

Full Time

Sea Eagles

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 2 Tolutau Koula

Fullback for Sharks is number 2 Lachlan Miller
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan Harper

Centre for Sharks is number 4 Connor Tracey
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 23 Alfred Smalley

Winger for Sharks is number 20 Matt Ikuvalu
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran Foran

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Josh Aloiai

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Braden Hamlin-Uele
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Royce Hunt
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Wade Graham
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Dylan Walker

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Dale Finucane

Interchange

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Ben Trbojevic

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Cameron McInnes
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Joshua Schuster

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Aiden Tolman
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Toafofoa Sipley

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Andrew Fifita
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Kurt De Luis

Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Braydon Trindall