NRL Match Preview: Round 2 v Bulldogs

Author: Troy Whittaker Media Coordinator
Timestamp: Thu 14 Mar 2024, 06:00 PM

The first home game of the season is always a significant occasion, but Friday night's clash against the Bulldogs will be even more momentous for the Sharks with a series of player milestones.

Dale Finucane is set to play his 250th NRL match while his co-captain Cameron McInnes marks 50 Sharks games and prop Tuku Hau Tapuha makes his club debut.

Coming off a heartening 16-12 victory over the Warriors in Auckland, underpinned by a stirring defensive effort in rebounding from two tries down, Cronulla have the opportunity to win their opening two NRL fixtures for the first time since 2008.

Coach Craig Fitzgibbon is keen to see his troops continue to minimise the gap between their best and worst performances at PointsBet Stadium.

"First home game for the season - we've been away for both trials and over in New Zealand. We want to get back and represent our club and community and families here with a strong performance," Fitzgibbon said on Thursday.

"I feel it'll be a hard contest. I watched the Bulldogs (lose 26-8 to the Eels) last week and they had a similar sort of game to us. Nothing went their way and they hung in there. They looked super committed, super spirited last week.

"Obviously it didn't work out in the end, but we're preparing for a tough contest. We're looking forward to that challenge on our home turf ... We love coming here and we want to play in a way that represents the work we've done."

In team news, the Sharks are poised to field a similar line-up to Round 1, the only differences being prop Toby Rudolf's elevation to the run-on side with Hau Tapuha on the bench in place of Royce Hunt, who is out with a virus.

Listed on his player profile as 196cm and 114kg, 22-year-old Hau Tapuha played three NRL games for the Roosters in 2021 and has represented the Māori All Stars.

Fitzgibbon confirmed damaging centre Siosifa Talakai is "good to go" after needing to have his ankle strapped during the Warriors game.

For the Bulldogs, who showed promising signs in defence first up, former Sharks utility Connor Tracey has been named on the wing for his club debut in the absence of star speedster Josh Addo-Carr (AC joint injury).

Bronson Xerri, another ex-Cronulla player, has been selected as Canterbury's 18th man as a potential concussion substitute.

Having first faced off in 1967, this match will mark the 100th time the Sharks and Bulldogs have officially met. Cronulla have taken out the past five clashes by at least 12 points, including a 48-10 win at PointsBet Stadium last season.

Fitzgibbon owns a perfect record over Canterbury as a head coach with four victories from as many attempts in his time at the Sharks.

Milestone man Finucane is totally focused on what's best for the team - as always - but Cronulla fans will take the chance to celebrate his incredible achievements.

The 32-year-old began as a Bulldog in 2012, moved to the Storm in 2015 - winning two premierships in seven years - before landing at the Sharks in 2022.

While Finucane has only notched up 31 of his 249 NRL games for Cronulla so far, he's already created a profound impact as a leader.

"He just doesn't have any concern or any thought about (the fact) it's his 250th," Fitzgibbon said of his skipper.

"He just wants to play more footy. He's coming off the back of a slight (calf) injury. It was good to get him back out there last week for a small stint, so we'll increase that a little bit this week and get him back to his best.

"Dale's recruitment to the club has changed the way a lot of players think about their preparation; the way a lot of players think about how you approach a game and meticulous detail and getting yourself to the best state you can be.

"He just does not have a day off on that ... No shortcuts."

Kick-off on Friday is scheduled for 6pm AEDT, broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo.

See below for the two team lists.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Friday 15 Mar

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 Jacob Kiraz
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 Connor Tracey
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall

Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Drew Hutchison

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf

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 Oregon Kaufusi

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 Dale Finucane

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kurt Mann
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Jack Williams

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Samuel Hughes
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Josh Curran
Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Tuku Hau Tapuha

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Kurtis Morrin