NRL Match Preview: Round 14 v Warriors

Author: Troy Whittaker Media Coordinator
Timestamp: Fri 6 Jun 2025, 05:29 PM

With community spirit and Pasifika pride driving them, the Sharks are determined to return from a bye with a strong performance against the third-placed Warriors at home tomorrow night.

Local junior Blayke Brailey will mark his 150th NRL appearance in Sharks Have Heart Round, a celebration of the club's commitment to the community.

The team will wear the inaugural 'Tangata Moana' jersey, honouring the deep cultural roots and rich heritage of the club's Pasifika players.

If that wasn't enough motivation, fifth-placed Cronulla are itching to respond after an upset 42-16 loss to the Roosters in their most recent outing.

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon believes the rest came at a vital time.

"We had to adjust a few things after our time off, but we got some good work on the training paddock this week with no disruptions," he said on Friday morning.

Cronulla will be bolstered by the timely returns of star winger Sione Katoa and second-rower Teig Wilton after extended layoffs due to shoulder injuries.

On the flipside, the Warriors will be without fearless forward Mitch Barnett, who has been sidelined for the remainder of the campaign by a ruptured ACL.

Katoa will replace the suspended Ronaldo Mulitalo in his first game of the season after going down in a February trial against the Warriors at the same venue.

"Sione's a real key player for us. The players love having Sione in the team and he's such a popular character in the club," Fitzgibbon said.

"When he got hurt in the pre-season it was a tough time for him. He missed out on going to Vegas and he's worked hard to come back as quickly as possible.

"He's looked terrific at training. I've never seen him train this hard and look this prepared. I'm looking forward to seeing what version we get."

Wilton, who hasn't played since Round 7, is equally impactful.

"He's got a real leadership presence ... Again, the players love playing alongside him," Fitzgibbon said of the edge forward, who comes in for Billy Burns.

Two wins separate the Warriors and Sharks, who played out a 20-all draw when they met during the Pre-Season Challenge, albeit with plenty of stars missing.

"They're up the top of the ladder and running third for a reason. We're just excited to improve on that (defeat in Round 13)," Fitzgibbon said.

"We feel like we've been pretty consistent the whole year. We've been in every contest except for the last one. Sometimes the disappointment of that (performance) forces you into some realignment, some adjustments.

"We want to get back to what we do well."

Two alpha males will go head-to-head as Sharks enforcer Addin Fonua-Blake takes on his old team and the man who's filled the sizeable hole left by his absence, four-time Panthers premiership winner James Fisher-Harris.

"He's been quite measured," Fitzgibbon said of Fonua-Blake.

"Most players that leave a club want to play well against their former club. But our expectation for Addin is just to keep playing as consistent as he has.

"He's been having a wonderful year for us. He's been a really good addition. He's got a real presence about him and he's a great leader as well.

"I think he's excited for that – and who be wouldn't playing against your old club?"

While Shaun Johnson has retired after sinking Cronulla with a last-gasp try assist in the most recent encounter between the teams last season, electric Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf is another former Shark with game-breaking qualities.

Metcalf had rocketed to the top of the Dally M Medal leaderboard when voting went behind closed doors after Round 12. He will line up against Nicho Hynes, a man who won the game's most prestigious individual honour in 2022 and is warming into his best form with a competition-high 16 line-break assists this year.

The Sharks trimmed their squad to 19 on Friday evening, with no changes to the playing 17 named earlier in the week. Back-rower Billy Burns and hooker Jayden Berrell remain on the extended interchange 24 hours out from the game.

Kick-off is at 5.30pm. CLICK HERE to secure a ticket or tune in via Foxtel or Kayo.

See the updated squad lists below.

Round 14 - Saturday 7th June

Full Time

Sharks

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Adam Pompey
Centre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Kurt Capewell
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Mawene Hiroti

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Metcalf

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey

Hooker for Warriors is number 20 Samuel Healey
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Oregon Kaufusi

Prop for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton

2nd Row for Warriors is number 15 Jacob Laban
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Daniel Atkinson

Interchange for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Jesse Colquhoun

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Te Maire Martin
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Siosifa Talakai

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Braden Hamlin-Uele

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tanner Stowers-Smith