The Roosters arrive in the finals in red hot form having won five of their past six matches to climb from 10th to eighth while the Sharks are coming off a dominant victory over the Bulldogs.
With James Tedesco playing some of the best footy of his distinguished career and Mark Nawaqanitawase scoring tries for fun, the Roosters have piled on 202 points in their past six games and head to Sharks Stadium brimming with confidence and belief.
The Sharks have won seven of eight since a Round 18 bye and made a strong statement of intent in the 24-6 victory over the Bulldogs, with their middle men Addin Fonua-Blake, Toby Rudolf and Tom Hazelton laying the platform.
A massive boost for the Sharks with star playmaker Nicho Hynes cleared to take his place after the Match Review Committee downgraded his Dangerous Contact charge from a Grade 2 to a Grade 1, resulting in a fine rather than a possible suspension.
Hynes will match motors with Roosters No.7 Sam Walker, who has racked up 15 try assists, nine tackle breaks and 38 goals since returning from an ACL injury in Round 19.
The last time the two sides met was Round 20 at Sharks Stadium when Craig Fitzgibbon's men proved too strong as 10 of their players ran in excess of 100 metres in a 31-18 triumph.
Match: Sharks v Roosters
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Sharks
5th Position
away Team
Roosters
8th Position
Venue: Sharks Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Sharks: Five-eighth Braydon Trindall is back after missing Round 27 with an ankle injury so Daniel Atkinson goes to 18th man. Back-rower Briton Nikora is listed among the reserves having served a three-game ban suspension and will most likely come into the team closer to game day.
Roosters: Coach Trent Robinson goes with the same 17 that got the job done in style against the Rabbitohs in Round 27. Sandon Smith and Salesi Foketi are among the reserves and Ethan King is the 18th man as he has been on 15 occasions this season.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William KennedyFullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
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Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione KatoaWinger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
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Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse RamienCentre for Roosters is number 3 Billy Smith
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Centre for Sharks is number 4 KL IroCentre for Roosters is number 4 Robert Toia
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Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo MulitaloWinger for Roosters is number 5 Mark Nawaqanitawase
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Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon TrindallFive-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Hugo Savala
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Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas HynesHalfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam Walker
Forwards
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Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Roosters is number 8 Spencer Leniu
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Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke BraileyHooker for Roosters is number 9 Connor Watson
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Prop for Sharks is number 10 Toby RudolfProp for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Billy Burns2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Victor Radley
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Lock for Sharks is number 13 Jesse ColquhounLock for Roosters is number 13 Naufahu Whyte
Interchange
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Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Oregon KaufusiInterchange for Roosters is number 14 Benaiah Ioelu
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Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Siosifa TalakaiInterchange for Roosters is number 15 Egan Butcher
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Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Thomas HazeltonInterchange for Roosters is number 16 Blake Steep
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Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Braden Hamlin-UeleInterchange for Roosters is number 17 Siua Wong
Reserves
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Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Daniel AtkinsonReplacement for Roosters is number 18 Ethan King
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Reserve for Sharks is number 19 Mawene HirotiReserve for Roosters is number 19 Salesi Foketi
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Reserve for Sharks is number 20 Jayden BerrellReserve for Roosters is number 20 Sandon Smith
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Reserve for Sharks is number 21 Briton NikoraReserve for Roosters is number 21 Tom Rodwell
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Reserve for Sharks is number 22 Hohepa PuruReserve for Roosters is number 22 Makahesi Makatoa
Sharks Ins
- Braydon Trindall
- Briton Nikora
- Hohepa Puru
- Jayden Berrell
Roosters Ins
- Makahesi Makatoa
- Salesi Foketi
- Sandon Smith
- Tom Rodwell
Sharks Outs
Roosters Ins
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Sharks have lost all three finals games against the Roosters
- The Roosters have won nine of their past 12 games against the Sharks.
- The Sharks have won their last six games at Sharks Stadium.
- Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase has scored seven tries in his last two games.
- Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored 45 tries in 42 games at Sharks Stadium.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
