NRL Match Preview: Round 2 v Panthers

Author: Troy Whittaker Sharks Media
Timestamp: Fri 13 Mar 2026, 11:03 AM

After running rampant in Round 1, the Sharks will square off with perennial premiership contenders Penrith in a heavyweight encounter at Bathurst's Carrington Park on Saturday night.

Cronulla began with a bang last week, sounding an early warning shot to the competition in a comprehensive 50-10 demolition of the Titans.

But the intensity will go up a notch when Craig Fitzgibbon's men tackle the Panthers, who stunned premiers Brisbane in a 26-0 shutout – avenging last year's preliminary-final defeat which stopped them reaching a sixth-straight grand final.

Having combined expertly against the Gold Coast in a display that netted four tries, four try assists and three line breaks between them, Sharks halves Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes will lock horns with Panthers supremo Nathan Cleary and his rising-star offsider Blaize Talagi in a spellbinding playmaking shootout.

Trindall, coming off one of his finest NRL performances to date, is ready for the challenge of taking down the powerhouse Penrith outfit.

"We're only just getting the year started, so to go and put another good performance in would be a good confidence builder for this team," Trindall said.

"Penrith are always a very strong side ... You can't expect them to just fall over in front of you. We'll get to Bathurst and go into battle."

While it's a Penrith home game, a large portion of the Bathurst crowd will be cheering for the Sharks on account of local hero Will Kennedy.

The Cronulla fullback grew up in the NSW Central West, relocating to the Sutherland Shire aged 15 to pursue his rugby league dreams.

He expects more than 20 friends and family will be in attendance on Saturday.

"It feels good. When I saw the game in Bathurst, all the family were cheering and had that one circled. It's exciting and I'm keen to get back there," Kennedy said.

"That's where it all started, playing there at Bathurst St Pats. It's good to go back and see all my mates and where all my footy began as well."

As the son of former Balmain Tiger and bush-footy legend Bubba Kennedy, the Cronulla custodian is very well acquainted with Carrington Park.

"When I was younger, I was actually the ball-boy for Bathurst Panthers when he was playing there," Kennedy said. "I've been on that field a couple of times when I was younger and then coming up playing through the grades as well. It was good to watch Group 10 footy out there; it's a different kind of footy, bush footy."

Both teams have named unchanged squads, with Sharks back-rower Teig Wilton (shoulder) and his Panthers counterpart Liam Martin (calf) still sidelined. Representative prop Liam Henry (knee) is also missing for Penrith.

Saturday will mark the second time the teams have met in Bathurst; the Sharks claimed an 18-16 victory in 2014 in their only prior appearance at the ground. Save for Kennedy's junior days, no current Shark has played at Carrington Park.

Curiously, given Penrith's extraordinary dominance in recent times, the Panthers have only won six of 11 games at their home away from home.

Cronulla are seeking to equal their best start to a season since 2024 – the only time post 2008 they've won consecutive games to open a campaign.

Kick-off is at 7.35pm AEDT. The match will be broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo.

See the squads below.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Saturday 14 Mar

8:35 am

Panthers

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
Winger for Panthers is number 2 Thomas Jenkins

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
Centre for Panthers is number 3 Paul Alamoti

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Panthers is number 4 Casey McLean

Centre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro
Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Samuel Stonestreet
Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Blaize Talagi

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Panthers is number 10 Lindsay Smith

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Thomas Hazelton
2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Luke Garner

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Billy Burns
Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Jesse Colquhoun

Interchange

Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Jack Cogger

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Siosifa Talakai
Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Billy Phillips

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Toby Rudolf
Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Scott Sorensen

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Kalani Going

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Braden Uele
Interchange for Panthers is number 18 Izack Tago

Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Hohepa Puru
Interchange for Panthers is number 19 Freddy Lussick

Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Chris Vea'ila

Reserves

Reserve for Panthers is number 20 Tom Ale

Reserve for Sharks is number 20 Jayden Berrell
Reserve for Panthers is number 21 Jack Cole

Reserve for Sharks is number 21 Niwhai Puru
Reserve for Panthers is number 22 Sione Fonua

Reserve for Sharks is number 22 Michael Gabrael