The equation is simple when the Sharks host the Roosters in a blockbuster finals clash on Saturday night: win or go home.
In a repeat of the 2023 elimination playoff, Cronulla will welcome their Eastern Suburbs rivals to a sold-out Sharks Stadium. Revenge is front of mind for the home team, who were sunk 13-12 by a Sam Walker field goal two years ago.
Craig Fitzgibbon's fifth-seeded Sharks side will enter the contest filled with belief after winning seven of their past eight matches, while Trent Robinson's eighth-placed Roosters outfit have saluted in five of their past six. Both teams recorded convincing victories to close out the regular season last weekend.
The ledger sits at 1-1 this year, with the Roosters causing a 42-16 boilover in Round 12 before the Sharks rebounded in a 31-18 result eight weeks later.
The Tricolours are renowned for their free-wheeling attack, producing a tick over 27 points per outing this season, but Cronulla have kept them to a miserly 18 points or less in their past three encounters on home turf.
Conceding 15 points per game on average since Round 15 – the best defensive record in the NRL over that period – the Sharks are primed for the finals grind.
While the spotlight usually follows the star playmakers – and make no mistake, the duel between Cronulla halfback Nicho Hynes and his Roosters counterpart Walker will be compelling viewing – a wing battle has dominated the headlines.
Cronulla flyer Ronaldo Mulitalo will renew his budding rivalry with Tricolours sensation Mark Nawaqanitawase, who has taken the NRL by storm with a league-high 23 tries from 22 games in 2025 including several jaw-dropping feats.
Mulitalo, also one of the league's finest finishers with 14 four-pointers this year, is a Sharks Stadium specialist who boasts 45 tries in 42 games at the venue. The Kiwi international has also crossed in six of eight matches against the Roosters.
Nawaqanitawase took the points in their first meeting this year, with Mulitalo sin-binned for a high tackle on the Chooks dangerman, but the Sharks flanker gained the upper hand when he inspired his team to victory two months later.
"I can control what I can control and that's how I carry the ball out of the backfield and the energy I give to my teammates," Mulitalo said of marking the ex-Wallaby.
"Regardless of what he (Nawaqanitawase) wants to bring to the game, I know what type of game I want to play and I know what I'm going after.
"I try not to think too much about what he's going to do ... He's an awesome athlete and knows what to do to put himself in the right position. But for me, it's no different this week to anyone else I've had (against me) in my career so far."
The Sharks will welcome back five-eighth Braydon Trindall from an ankle injury, however prop Tom Hazelton (cellulitis of the knee) has been ruled out. Utility Daniel Atkinson will replace him on the interchange.
The Roosters have rolled out the same 17 that defeated the Rabbitohs, headlined by a raft of representative players including James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou, Victor Radley, Spencer Leniu, Lindsay Collins, Robert Toia and Angus Crichton.
Sharks coach Fitzgibbon is aiming to outpoint his great mate Robinson.
"We don't speak this week, that's for sure!" Fitzgibbon said.
"It's high stakes and you work so hard all year. You want to do your absolute best for your club. I'm sure he's doing that for the Roosters, as am I here at the Sharks. We'll pick that bond up after the game, but not before. It's a good challenge."
The winner will face the loser of the Raiders-Broncos match on Sunday.
Kick-off is set for 7.50pm. See the updated squads below.
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 17 Braden Hamlin-UeleInterchange for Roosters is number 16 Blake Steep
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Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Daniel AtkinsonInterchange for Roosters is number 17 Siua Wong
Reserves
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Replacement for Sharks is number 22 Hohepa PuruReplacement for Roosters is number 20 Sandon Smith
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Reserve for Sharks is number 21 Briton NikoraReserve for Roosters is number 19 Salesi Foketi
Sharks Ins
- Braydon Trindall
- Briton Nikora
- Hohepa Puru
Roosters Ins
- Salesi Foketi
- Sandon Smith
Sharks Outs
- Mawene Hiroti
- Thomas Hazelton
Roosters Ins
- Ethan King
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.
