After taking stock during a bye round, Cronulla are rejuvenated and ready to recapture their spark when they host the Dolphins in a crucial mid-table battle at Sharks Stadium on Friday night.
Both teams come into the Round 19 clash on 20 competition points, though the seventh-placed Dolphins sit three spots above the Sharks on for-and-against.
With just two wins separating the fifth- and 11th-ranked teams on a congested ladder, every victory is crucial as September's finals series looms large.
Cronulla and the Dolphins have endured contrasting mid-year fortunes. While the Sharks have won one of their past five games amid a slew of injuries – most recently falling to the Storm 30-6 – the Dolphins have become an attacking juggernaut with a staggering 228 points and four wins across five matches.
However, Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon took heart from his team's last-start performance, believing there was more merit than the margin suggested.
Last week's rest came at an ideal time for Cronulla – who were ranked fifth only four rounds ago – giving them a chance to regroup and prepare for the run home.
"We've still got some work to tidy up some areas of our defence to keep the scoreboard lower than that (loss to Melbourne). That's clear," Fitzgibbon said.
"However, I couldn't fault the effort from the players. At this stage of the year, you can't negotiate on that ... We've had a good reset with the bye and we're ready to go."
Prop Toby Rudolf is confident adversity will ultimately strengthen the Sharks.
"It's the first time in my career that we're sitting where we are on the ladder, which is interesting for us," said the 29-year-old, who debuted in 2019.
"But in saying that, whenever our backs are against the wall, it tends to be when our performances are the greatest ... We're still fighting for our season here.
"We're three wins away from being in the top four or three losses from being out. Just looking to finish the year strong and give our fans what they deserve."
Fitzgibbon has named the same team that lost to Melbourne, albeit with utility Daniel Atkinson returning to the interchange in place of forward Billy Burns.
The coach has full faith that Cronulla's core squad – one that many good judges had tipped to contend for the premiership – are set to rediscover their best form.
For the Dolphins, five-eighth Kodi Nikorima is out with a hamstring injury, opening the door for Sean O'Sullivan to partner wunderkind Isaiyah Katoa in the halves.
The Sharks are wary of Katoa's skill, with the 20-year-old playmaker leading the competition for try assists (17). It sets up an intriguing battle with his opposite number Nicho Hynes, who has produced the most line-break assists (20).
Fresh off helping Queensland to an against-the-odds State of Origin series victory over NSW, fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has dropped out for the Dolphins.
Trai Fuller will replace the 'Hammer', who leads the league with 15 tries including a hat-trick in his team's Round 17 win against the Rabbitohs.
Fuller will face off with smooth-moving Sharks custodian Will Kennedy, who started the campaign on fire to lead the Dally M Medal count after 10 rounds.
Centre Jesse Ramien declared his side must limit the Dolphins' opportunities.
"Everyone knows what they can do in attack," Ramien said.
"If you give them too much ball, they can punish you.
"Every game from here on in is a must-win for us. It'd be unreal to get a roll-on here and get a head of steam going into the finals."
Kick-off on Friday is at 8pm. Gates open at 5.30pm ahead of a Jersey Flegg match between the Sharks and Sea Eagles at 5.35pm. CLICK HERE to secure tickets.
See the 24-hour team lists below.
Match: Sharks v Dolphins
Round 19 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Dolphins
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William KennedyFullback for Dolphins is number 5 Jake Averillo
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Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione KatoaWinger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako
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Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse RamienCentre for Dolphins is number 3 Max Feagai
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Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa TalakaiCentre for Dolphins is number 4 Herbie Farnworth
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Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo MulitaloWinger for Dolphins is number 20 Tevita Naufahu
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Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon TrindallFive-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Sean O'Sullivan
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Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas HynesHalfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa
Forwards
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Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Dolphins is number 8 Francis Molo
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Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke BraileyHooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
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Prop for Sharks is number 10 Oregon KaufusiProp for Dolphins is number 14 Aublix Tawha
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Oryn Keeley
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Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnesLock for Dolphins is number 13 Kurt Donoghoe
Interchange
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Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Jesse ColquhounInterchange for Dolphins is number 10 Mark Nicholls
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Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Toby RudolfInterchange for Dolphins is number 15 Connelly Lemuelu
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Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Braden Hamlin-UeleInterchange for Dolphins is number 16 Ray Stone
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Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Billy BurnsInterchange for Dolphins is number 17 Josh Kerr
Reserves
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Replacement for Sharks is number 14 Daniel AtkinsonReplacement for Dolphins is number 18 Harrison Graham
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Sharks are the only team who have yet to defeat the Dolphins.
- The Dolphins have scored 184 points in their past four games.
- The Sharks have won only one of their past five games.
- Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth has scored nine tries in his past 10 games.
- Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored 38 tries from 37 games at Sharks Stadium.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.