Sharks aim to put on a show at the NRL’s Magic Round

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Fri 5 May 2023, 05:28 PM

While 16 of the 17 teams will be in Brisbane for the NRL’s Magic Round, the Sharks have narrowed their focus ahead of a first-time clash with newcomers the Dolphins.

The initial goal will be to try to repeat their performance of a week or so ago when they routed the Cowboys in a Thursday night match up at PointsBet, with the second to give their full attention to a match against an opponent which has surprised many in 2023.

“I’ve watched a lot of their footy and they’ve been a really good story. Not many people gave them much of a chance,” Sharks co-captain Wade Graham said.

“We know what to expect of them, how hard the game is going to be and we’ll be preparing for that.”

Another of the Sharks senior personnel in Dale Finucane echoed Graham’s sentiments.

“I don’t know about surprised, I haven’t met Wayne but knowing the sides that he coaches, they’re always gritty sides, always there abouts,” Finucane offered.

“Not too many sides could be 26 points down at half time and the come back and win that game, to have the mental capacity to stay in the game.”

The match in which Finucane refers to featured a remarkable come from behind effort where the Dolphins trailed badly at the break, only to overrun the Gold Coast Titans to register a memorable victory.

Since that triumph the Dolphins have gone down to the Canberra Raiders in golden point, while the Sharks arrive at Suncorp Stadium for the game on Saturday following a confidence boosting win over North Queensland in what was arguably their best 80-minutes of the season so far.

“We’ve been working hard and searching for that type of performance, and it was really pleasing that we played well. We haven’t really had an issue with our attack, but with our defence we’ve come in and out of games,” Graham said.

While obviously the first time the Sharks and Dolphins have met, the game will be the 900th premiership game to be coached by Wayne Bennett, with Tim Sheens of the Tigers the closest to that number with 677 matches.

\Bennet, who has coached the Raiders, Broncos (on two occasions), Dragons, Knights, Rabbitohs and Dolphins, has a 63 per cent winning percentage, made up from 562 victories, 323 losses and 14 draws. He has coached in 10 Grand Finals, winning seven.

Alternatively, Craig Fitzgibbon, in just his second season in charge at the Sharks and as a head coach in the NRL, has a record of five wins and three losses in 2023 after coaching the Cronulla side to 18 wins and six losses last year.

In terms of Magic Round matches, the Sharks have won one of three, defeating the Titans 26-18 in 2019, while losing 32-22 to Souths (2021) and 30-10 to the Raiders last year.

The Sharks come into the match on a three-game winning streak, the 44 points scored against the Cowboys their most since 2021, while the six conceded was the Sharks fewest points given up since Round 24 in 2022.

Cronulla has scored 237 points through eight games this year, the most of any Club despite having a bye in round six.

At Suncorp Stadium the Sharks have won just eight of 27 matches (30%), however they have 11 wins away from home in their past 14 encounters.

After winning their opening three matches, the Dolphins have now won two of the past six and this will be their fifth match at Suncorp, with two wins and two losses from the previous four games played at the venue.

For the Sharks, Braydon Trindall and Connor Tracey travelled to Queensland on the extended reserves list, with no changes to report to the 17-man team as named on Tuesday.

The Sharks v Dolphins match is scheduled for a 5.30pm kick off as the second of three games to be played on the Saturday of Magic Round.

See below the two 19-man squads.

Round 10 - Round 10 - Saturday 6 May

Full Time

Sharks

Dolphins

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy

Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa

Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien

Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Euan Aitken
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai

Centre for Dolphins is number 21 Valynce Te Whare
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo

Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Tesi Niu
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan

Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Oregon Kaufusi

Prop for Dolphins is number 10 Kenneath Bromwich
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey

Hooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Royce Hunt

Prop for Dolphins is number 19 Poasa Faamausili
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora

2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton

2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Connelly Lemuelu
Lock for Sharks is number 14 Cameron McInnes

Lock for Dolphins is number 13 Tom Gilbert

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 13 Dale Finucane

Interchange for Dolphins is number 14 Jarrod Wallace
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Jack Williams

Interchange for Dolphins is number 15 Anthony Milford
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Wade Graham

Interchange for Dolphins is number 16 Mason Teague
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton

Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Herman Ese'ese