NRL trial preview: Sharks v Bulldogs

Author: Troy Whittaker Media Coordinator
Timestamp: Thu 22 Feb 2024, 07:53 PM

With most of their big guns back, the Sharks are out to finish the NRL Pre-Season Challenge on a high when they face the Bulldogs on Friday night.

After a young Cronulla side went down 44-18 to the Knights last weekend – a trial in which the Sharks had only 43 percent of possession and lost a player to the sin-bin in sweltering heat – coach Craig Fitzgibbon has named a strong lineup for the clash at Belmore Sports Ground.

A much-improved display can be expected with Will Kennedy, Blayke Brailey, Braydon Trindall, Briton Nikora, Jesse Ramien, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Royce Hunt and Toby Rudolf returning to the team.

Halfback Nicho Hynes was set to play but has been withdrawn as a precautionary measure after reporting a minor quadriceps issue at the team's final training session on Thursday.

He is expected to be fully fit for round one against the Warriors. Daniel Atkinson, who started at halfback last week, will move into the starting side in his place.

Forward leader Dale Finucane will be rested due to calf tightness, with the club confident in him being ready for the start of the Telstra Premiership. Prop Braden Hamlin-Uele is the other notable absentee as he continues to recover from knee surgery.

Canterbury, meanwhile, defeated the Storm 24-12 in their opening trial and will now unleash star recruit Stephen Crichton in a formidable team.

The three-time premiership-winning centre will join the likes of Josh-Addo-Carr and Viliame Kikau in stepping out for the Bulldogs for the first time in 2024.

Sharks five-eighth Trindall comes into the game full of confidence after guiding the Indigenous All Stars to victory over their Māori counterparts last Friday, earning the Preston Campbell Medal as Man of the Match.

Trindall is in the box seat to become Hynes' long-term halves partner, with coach Craig Fitzgibbon singing his praises.

"We were never in any doubt that he was going to be in our future," Fitzgibbon recently told reporters.

"One of my first conversations with him was that we wanted to keep him. I always believed he had the tools to be an NRL half.

"Throughout limited opportunities, he'd come in sometimes and come back out … The guy understands how professional he needs to be with his preparation and how important that is.

"He's training our team and running our team at training to help Nicho and I thought he displayed that (for the All Stars).

"He's done the work and when you've done the work (things go well). We were never in any doubt that he was in our future plans. We believe in him."

Silky Cronulla fullback Kennedy will play his first match since a hamstring injury curtailed his season in round 22 last year.

After managing a turf-toe issue throughout 2023 and the pre-season, front-rower Rudolf is poised to return to action off the interchange.

Rudolf recently spoke about how he plans to forge on despite the injury.

"I've got a good routine now; it's not rocket science – ice the hell out of it all day the following day (after training or playing).

"They've given me this strange European deep-heat cream that seems to work as well and reduce inflammation. Those two things have really helped a lot and the medical team here have done a wonderful job.

"It'll be (about) management this year; I'd like to think I'd play every game."

Kick-off tomorrow is at 8pm AEDT. The game will be broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Friday 23 Feb

Full Time

Sharks

Bulldogs

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Blake Taaffe
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa

Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Blake Wilson
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien

Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Bronson Xerri
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai

Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Stephen Crichton
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo

Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall

Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton
Halfback for Sharks is number 22 Daniel Atkinson

Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Drew Hutchison

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Oregon Kaufusi

Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey

Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed Mahoney
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Royce Hunt

Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Poasa Faamausili
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Viliame Kikau
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Jaeman Salmon

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Jack Williams

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kurt Mann
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Jesse Colquhoun

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Samuel Hughes
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Toby Rudolf

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Josh Curran
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Kurtis Morrin

Reserves

Reserve for Sharks is number 18 Tuku Hau Tapuha

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 19 Kitione Kautoga
Reserve for Sharks is number 19 Mawene Hiroti

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 20 Eli Clark
Reserve for Sharks is number 20 Kayal Iro

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 21 Toby Sexton
Reserve for Sharks is number 21 Billy Burns

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 22 Jeral Skelton
Reserve for Sharks is number 23 Jayden Berrell

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 23 Joash Papalii
Reserve for Sharks is number 24 Niwhai Puru

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 24 Bailey Hayward
Reserve for Sharks is number 25 Kade Dykes

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 25 Bailey Biondi-Odo
Reserve for Sharks is number 26 Chris Vea'ila