Regardless of position on the ladder or recent form the local derby can be relied upon to produce a torrid encounter although it's the Sharks who have held all the aces in recent years.
The Sharks have strung together 10 wins on the trot against the Dragons dating back to 2020, including two drubbings in 2023 and a thumping 38-10 victory last season.
Craig Fitzgibbon's men have been as high as fifth on the ladder this season and with a bye still up their sleeve they look to be on track for a 10th finals appearance in the past 11 years.
Their run home includes three matches against sides below them on the table but they will be wary of the 11th-placed Dragons who are coming in hot after upsetting ladder leaders Canberra.
Finals footy may have slipped away for a seventh consecutive season but the Dragons are more than capable of cutting down a couple more tall poppies in the run home.
Match: Dragons v Sharks
Round 23 -
home Team
Dragons
11th Position
away Team
Sharks
5th Position
Venue: Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Team News
Dragons: Emerging centre Hayden Buchanan is set to make his NRL debut after being elevated into the starting line-up in place of Mathew Feagai when the squads were trimmed to 19 players on Friday. Veteran Ben Murdoch-Masilla and rookie Jacob Halangahu remain in the squad as reserves.
Sharks: Samoan international Braden Hamlin-Uele is set to start at prop in place of Oregon Kaufusi, with Billy Burns coming onto the interchange after a late change on Friday afternoon. Toby Rudolf is on track to return from a concussion and is set to replace suspended forward Jesse Colquhoun on the bench. The Sharks are otherwise a settled squad as they chase five in a row. Cronulla have won their past 10 games against the Dragons. Teig Wilton is set for his 100th NRL match on Saturday afternoon.
Match: Dragons v Sharks
Round 23 -
home Team
Dragons
away Team
Sharks
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton GuthersonFullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
-
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Tyrell SloanWinger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
-
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses SuliCentre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
-
Centre for Dragons is number 18 Hayden BuchananCentre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai
-
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Corey AllanWinger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
-
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Lyhkan King-TogiaFive-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
-
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle FlanaganHalfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes
Forwards
-
Prop for Dragons is number 8 Emre GulerProp for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
-
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien CookHooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
-
Prop for Dragons is number 10 David KlemmerProp for Sharks is number 17 Braden Hamlin-Uele
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Luciano Leilua2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 15 Hamish Stewart2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
-
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De BelinLock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes
Interchange
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob LiddleInterchange for Sharks is number 15 Toby Rudolf
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Hame SeleInterchange for Sharks is number 16 Thomas Hazelton
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Blake LawrieInterchange for Sharks is number 18 Billy Burns
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 21 Jacob HalangahuInterchange for Sharks is number 20 Hohepa Puru
Reserves
-
Replacement for Dragons is number 19 Ben Murdoch-MasilaReplacement for Sharks is number 14 Daniel Atkinson
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Dragons have not defeated the Sharks at Jubilee Stadium since 2016.
- The Sharks have won their last 10 games against the Dragons.
- Dragons winger Tyrell Sloan has scored six tries in his last five games.
- Sharks second-rower Teig Wilton will make his 100th NRL appearance.
- The Dragons have defeated three top-eight teams this season.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
