Match Preview: NRL Pre-Season Challenge v Eels

Author: Troy Whittaker Sharks Media
Timestamp: Fri 13 Feb 2026, 10:59 AM

A Sharks side featuring 10 players with NRL experience will host a strong Eels outfit at the historic Henson Park to launch their Pre-Season Challenge campaign on Sunday evening.

Parramatta have named a squad including 17 NRL players for what shapes as a valuable first hit-out for both teams with Round 1 only three weekends away.

The match will be the finale to the inaugural Summer Beer Footy Food Fest, with Harold Matthews, SG Ball, Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup fixtures also on the program. A range of local craft brews and delicious street eats will be available to punters on the famous Henson Park hill, making for an unmissable event.

Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon will put miles into the legs of several experienced campaigners including forwards Braden Uele, Tom Hazelton, Siosifa Talakai, Billy Burns and Toby Rudolf, who will form a formidable starting pack.

But it's the backline that holds the most intrigue, with promising youngsters like fullback Liam Ison, centre Michael Gabrael, winger Sam Stonestreet and halfback Niwhai Puru receiving an opportunity to press for first-grade selection.

Ison, who played his lone NRL match for the Sharks in 2024, will return after 10-and-a-half months on the sideline recovering from an ACL injury.

The speedster is eager to perform in front of a large crowd in Marrickville, which holds a special place in his heart due to his time with Sharks feeder club Newtown.

Pre-Season Challenge Media: Liam Ison

"It'll be a surreal feeling," Ison told Sharks Media. "It means a lot to me to put on the Cronulla jersey and even more here at Henson Park. It's a good feeling.

"I want to put a good, solid performance together; obviously getting through the game with no injuries is something I'm going for.

"I'm just trying to blow the cobwebs out – you can train all pre-season and you can do all the fitness you want, but no fitness will put you up against game fitness."

Stonestreet, meanwhile, is ready to stake his claim for the wing position vacated by Ronaldo Mulitalo's long-term knee injury. The renowned try-scorer won Cronulla's 2025 Rookie of the Year award after playing the first 11 games last year.

"I'm very excited. It's been a long pre-season," Stonestreet said. "It's good to get some footy in and have a good day out at the Beer Footy Food Festival.

Pre-Season Challenge Media: Sam Stonestreet

"It's a little hit-out to get the lungs going a bit, build some combinations and build on what we've been doing this whole pre-season.

"It's going to be a big crowd, especially for the younger boys that haven't really played in a game like this. It'll be good for them to get a little taste of NRL.

"I'm going to go out and play my own style of footy. Ronnie (Mulitalo) brings a lot to the team and I'm going to try and emulate that. I'll do what's best for the team."

Cronulla and Parramatta will lock horns for the first time since Magic Round last year, when the Sharks came away with a hard-fought 26-18 victory.

Eels coach Jason Ryles will trot out a high-quality line-up headlined by fullback Isaiah Iongi, centre Will Penisini and boom playmaking recruit Jonah Pezet.

The clash will mark first-grade football's return to Henson Park – the home of the Newtown Jets – after a 36-year absence. The Sharks last played at the ground on August 26, 1990, going down 16-11 to the Eastern Suburbs Roosters.

While Sharks guns Nicho Hynes, Braydon Trindall, Jesse Ramien, Hohepa Puru, Briton Nikora and Mawene Hiroti won't take part in the trial, they'll find their flow when they represent their cultures in the All Stars clash on the same day.

There's still time to snare a ticket to the Summer Beer Footy Food Fest – CLICK HERE to secure your spot and enjoy an outstanding day out!

See the NRL team lists and match-day program below.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Sunday 15 Feb

7:00 am

Sharks

Eels

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 Liam Ison

Fullback for Eels is number 1 Isaiah Iongi
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Kristian Dixon

Winger for Eels is number 2 Jake Tago
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Chris Vea'ila

Centre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Michael Gabrael

Centre for Eels is number 4 Sean Russell
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Samuel Stonestreet

Winger for Eels is number 5 Bailey Simonsson
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Riley Pollard

Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Joash Papalii
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Niwhai Puru

Halfback for Eels is number 7 Jonah Pezet

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Braden Uele

Prop for Eels is number 8 J'maine Hopgood
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Jayden Berrell

Hooker for Eels is number 9 Ryley Smith
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Thomas Hazelton

Prop for Eels is number 10 Sam Tuivaiti
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Billy Burns

2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Kelma Tuilagi
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Siosifa Talakai

2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Kitione Kautoga
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Toby Rudolf

Lock for Eels is number 13 Matt Doorey

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Riley Jones

Interchange for Eels is number 14 Tallyn Da Silva
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Bradley Fearnley

Interchange for Eels is number 15 Charlie Guymer
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Felix Faatili

Interchange for Eels is number 16 Jordan Samrani
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Harrison Hassett

Interchange for Eels is number 17 Teancum Brown

Reserves

Reserve for Sharks is number 18 Samuel McCulloch

Reserve for Eels is number 18 Apa Twidle
Reserve for Sharks is number 19 Jaxon Lavender

Reserve for Eels is number 19 Mohamed Alameddine
Reserve for Sharks is number 20 Taj Ford

Reserve for Eels is number 20 Richard Penisini
Reserve for Sharks is number 21 Xavier Cacciotti

Reserve for Eels is number 21 Araz Nanva
Reserve for Sharks is number 22 Alex Challenor

Reserve for Eels is number 22 Lorenzo Talataina
Reserve for Sharks is number 23 Nikora Williams

Reserve for Eels is number 23 Ronald Volkman
Reserve for Sharks is number 24 Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa

Reserve for Eels is number 24 Ryda Talagi
Reserve for Eels is number 25 Jezaiah Funa-Iuta
Reserve for Eels is number 26 Will Latu
Reserve for Eels is number 27 Meni Luke
Reserve for Eels is number 28 Lincoln Fletcher

Match Officials

Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 2/12/2026 1:36:24 PM

Summer Beer Footy Food Fest Schedule

10:30am – Harold Matthews Cup: Sharks v Eels
12pm – SG Ball Cup: Sharks v Eels
1:30pm – Jersey Flegg Trial: Sharks v Eels
3:30pm – NSW Cup Trial: Newtown Jets v Eels
6pm – NRL Trial: Sharks v Eels