Hynes back for big Derby clash

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Sat 25 Mar 2023, 06:00 PM

A game between one team looking to recapture the form which saw them finish second on the ladder in 2022, against a club under siege and dealing with intense media scrutiny, promises to deliver an exciting NRL clash on Sunday.

Local rivals the Sharks and Dragons come together this weekend in a game both will be desperate to win to regain momentum at this early point in the season and to get their 2023 campaigns headed in a positive direction.

While the Dragons coach has been the subject of media talk and newspaper headlines this week, at the Sharks much of the chatter has centred around the return of reigning Dally M Medallist Nicho Hynes.

Despite Braydon Trindall being arguably being amongst the Sharks best over the opening three rounds, the young playmaker was set to make a move to the interchange bench, however a minor ankle issue will see him sit out the game this weekend as he makes way for Hynes who runs out for his first game of the season at Netstrata Jubilee this weekend.

“He fits into the team with 16 others this week. He’s a great player, he’ll take to the field alongside 16 other great players, but he’ll complement us and we’ll complement him,” Sharks prop Braden Hamlin-Uele said.

Dale Finucane, the Sharks captain for Sunday’s game, expressed similar sentiments.

“Braydon has been doing a really good job for us but Nicho coming in certainly helps,” Finucane said

But what both forwards also agree on is that the two losses suffered in the Sharks three games so far this season haven’t been due to any shortcomings from their half back, but rather as a result of one too many defensive lapses.

“We pride ourselves on our defence and the first three rounds hasn’t really matched what we know we’re capable of. You’ve got to lock down your front door and be physical.

“It’s the perfect time to focus on us and how we play and how we know we can play and we look forward to turning the corner in the local derby,” Hamlin Uele said.

“We’ve been really competitive, and the games have been close but we just need to tighten up in some areas in defence,” Finucane added.

The addition of Hynes into the Sharks line up following his recovery from a calf strain is the only change to the side which went down by 24-20 to the Raiders in Canberra last week.

With the late withdrawal of Trindall Jack Williams comes into the 17-man team, with Connor Tracey and Mawene Hiroti retained in the Sharks extended squad. drops back to be 18th man.

Since 1999 when St George and Illawarra became one, the two teams have met on 50 occasions, the Sharks successful in 26 matches, the Dragons 23, with one match drawn.

The Sharks have won the past five local derby matches, and four straight at Kogarah, with another victory on Sunday to potentially be the first time they will have won six games in a row against a St George, Illawarra or a combined Dragons side. The Dragons have won four of their past five matches played at Netstrata Jubilee.

While the Sharks come into the contest on the back of their loss in Canberra, after a week one bye and round two win, last week the Dragons went down for the first time this season, suffering a 40-18 defeat to the Broncos in a game that was 18-all with 10 minutes of the match remaining.

The match is will also be played for the Monty Porter Memorial Cup, named in honour of the Sharks inaugural captain and a man to have represented the Dragons during their 11-consecutive premiership run of the late 1950’s and ‘60’s.

The Sharks obviously hold the Cup after their recent winning run and currently hold a narrow 11-10 win advantage since the matches began back in 2012.

See below following the team lists, results from previous Monty Porter Cup matches.

Round 4 - Round 4 - Sunday 26 Mar

Full Time

Dragons

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax

Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Jayden Sullivan

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Moses Mbye

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Blake Lawrie

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Braden Hamlin-Uele
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Ben Murdoch-Masila

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'a

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
Lock for Dragons is number 15 Zane Musgrove

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Dale Finucane

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 13 Jack Bird

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Cameron McInnes
Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Royce Hunt
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Toby Couchman

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Josh Kerr

Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Jack Williams

Reserves

Replacement for Dragons is number 22 Aaron Woods

Replacement for Sharks is number 19 Mawene Hiroti

Match Officials

Referee: Todd Smith
Touch Judge: Nick Beashel
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:26:10 PM

MONTY PORTER CUP RESULTS

2022 – Round 21 – Sharks 24 – Dragons 18
2022 – Round 3 – Sharks 36 – Dragons 12
2021 – Round 11 – Sharks 13 – Dragons 12
2021 – Round 1 – Sharks 32 – Dragons 18
2020 – Round 5 – Dragons 30 – Sharks 16
2019 – Round 22 – Sharks 18 – Dragons 12
2019 – Round 11 – Sharks 22 – Dragons 9
2018 – Round 6 – Dragons 40 – Sharks 20
2018 – Round 2 – Dragons 20 – Sharks 16
2017 – Round 10 – Sharks 18 – Dragons 14
2017 – Round 3 – Dragons 16 – Sharks 10
2016 – Round 23 - Dragons 32 – Sharks 18
2016 – Round 2 – Sharks 30 – Dragons 2
2015 – Round 18 – Sharks 28 – Dragons 8
2015 – Round 12 – Dragons 42 – Sharks 6
2014 – Round 13 – Dragons 30 – Sharks 0
2014 – Round 3 – Dragons 14 – Sharks 12
2013 – Round 23 – Sharks 22 – Dragons 18
2013 – Round 4 – Dragons 25 – Sharks 12
2012 – Round 19 – Dragons 18 – Sharks 10
2012 – Round 6 – Sharks 12 – Dragons 0

MONTY PORTER FIRST GRADE FACT FILE

1955 Western Suburbs Magpies: 4 games
1958-65 St George Dragons: 119 games (13 tries)
1967 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks: * 22 games (3 tries)
* Inaugural Sharks captain
Representative: 1960 New South Wales: 1 game