Sharks to battle the Titans in Friday clash at PointsBet

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Thu 10 Aug 2023, 02:55 PM

A win in Perth over the Rabbitohs put a bounce back into the step of the Sharks coaching staff and playing group, with the challenge now to back up that performance against the Gold Coast Titans in a crucial round 24 clash tomorrow night.

After three consecutive losses, the Sharks returned to form, opening up a 26-0 lead with a dominant first 60-minutes, before eventually beating Souths by 26-16 last weekend.

Sharks Coach Craig Fitzgibbon believes that despite being beaten 28-0 by the Panthers the previous week, in a match where his team was forced to overcome a great deal of adversity, there were signs after the Penrith match that there were better times ahead.

“I thought the effort, heart and spirit of the team was there on show, we didn’t execute anything of how we wanted to, and Penrith were clinical, but there were markers out of that game where I thought we’re starting to dig in and we showed that again (against Souths),” Fitzgibbon said.

“But we feel like there’s more gears and we’ll need to find those. It’s about staying consistent. Showing what you’re capable of is one thing, but the consistency of that is the challenge now.

“We’re playing the Titans this week and they’ve shown the ability to dig in as well, so we’ll have to be strong,” he added.

In a match to be played at the early Friday night kick off time of 6pm at PointsBet Stadium, the Sharks will certainly be wary of a Titans outfit which has delivered a string of gutsy performances since the sacking of former coach Justin Holbrook.

The Titans will be without their regular number nine is Sam Verrills and suspended front rower Moeaki Fotuaika, while in a boost to their chances Queensland Origin forward Tino Fa'asuamaleaui returns.

For the Sharks, Ronaldo Mulitalo returns after two weeks on the side lines, with Mawene Hiroti making way despite a starring performance against the Rabbitohs, with Tom Hazelton ruled out after being concussed by a high tackle which subsequently saw Tom Burgess suspended for three matches.

Jesse Colquhoun has been added to the interchange bench to replace Hazelton.

As for the Sharks halves, Fitzgibbon has again backed Braydon Trindall as Nicho Hynes’s halves partner after a two-try effort in Perth.

“Tricky had to earn the right to come back into the team and he did that. It’s good to see him and Nicho combine a little bit better and he’s gotten stronger each game,” the coach expressed.

The two teams have met on 25 previous occasions, with the Sharks winning 16 matches, the Titans eight, with one draw.

In recent times, since 2018 it has been all the Sharks, with the Cronulla team winning eight straight, representing their longest current win streak against any side.

The Titans have failed to score over 18 points in those eight straight losses.

Friday night will be the first game at PointsBet Stadium since 2019, and while they were last start losers in 2019 (20-6), the Gold Coast have a good record at this venue winning three of the past five matches.

The last two Sharks ‘home’ games against the Titans have been in Coffs Harbour, with the Cronulla team successful on both occasions.

And while the Sharks ended a three-game losing streak last weekend with their victory over the Rabbitohs, the Titans have won just one of their past six and were beaten 28-18 by the Warriors a week ago.

In player stats, Mulitalo is one try away from equalling his career high of 17 from last season. He has scored a try in each of his past three PointsBet Stadium games and has 23 tries in 22 games at the venue in his NRL career.

Matt Moylan, after not being required as an interchange player last week has been named on the bench in jersey 17, again putting him in line to play his 100th NRL game for the Cronulla club.

In relation to the run home, after this week the Sharks are scheduled to make their final interstate trip of the season when they travel to Townsville to play the Cowboys, before finishing the regular season with two matches against current top eight sides in the Knights and Raiders.

The Sharks are just two points from the top four, but also two points away from being outside the eight. A win this week could move the Sharks to fifth, while a defeat could drop them as low as ninth.

Their opponents in the Titans are two wins outside the eight on 22 competition points but the three teams on 26 have a bye to come over the closing rounds, with a loss to the Sharks to almost certainly end their season due to a minus 53-point differential.

The Sharks v Titans match is scheduled for a 6.00pm kick-off at PointsBet Stadium, with the two 19-man squads listed below.

Round 24 - Round 24 - Friday 11 Aug

Full Time

Sharks

Titans

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 Connor Tracey

Fullback for Titans is number 1 Jayden Campbell
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa

Winger for Titans is number 2 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien

Centre for Titans is number 3 Brian Kelly
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai

Centre for Titans is number 4 Aaron Schoupp
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo

Winger for Titans is number 5 Phillip Sami
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall

Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Kieran Foran
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Halfback for Titans is number 7 Tanah Boyd

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Braden Hamlin-Uele

Prop for Titans is number 8 Jaimin Jolliffe
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey

Hooker for Titans is number 9 Chris Randall
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Toby Rudolf

Prop for Titans is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora

2nd Row for Titans is number 11 David Fifita
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Wade Graham

2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Joe Stimson
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Lock for Titans is number 13 Erin Clark

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Jack Williams

Interchange for Titans is number 14 Kruise Leeming
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Royce Hunt

Interchange for Titans is number 15 Isaac Liu
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Jesse Colquhoun

Interchange for Titans is number 16 Klese Haas
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Matt Moylan

Interchange for Titans is number 17 Keano Kini