NRL Match Preview: Round 6 v Roosters

Author: Troy Whittaker Sharks Media
Timestamp: Fri 10 Apr 2026, 03:19 PM

The Sharks are hoping to continue their love affair with Perth when they tackle the Roosters at Optus Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Cronulla are right at home in Western Australia, where they've won four games on the trot including their past two at the state's premier sporting venue.

The much-anticipated Sharks-Roosters meeting is the second leg of an epic NRL double-header, with the Rabbitohs and Raiders taking to the turf beforehand.

Having surged back into form with wins over the Raiders and Warriors, Cronulla are eager to shore up their spot in the top eight ahead of a bye next week.

They'll hope for a repeat of their last clash with the Roosters in September, when the Sharks powered to a 20-10 victory to knock the Tricolours out of the finals.

Both teams sit on six competition points through five rounds, however the Roosters' record is inflated by their bye last weekend. Having yet to win consecutive matches, the Bondi boys are searching for consistency.

A knee injury to Jesse Ramien has prompted a backline change for the Sharks, opening the door for Mawene Hiroti to play his first game of the season at centre.

Hiroti is something of a Perth specialist, boasting two tries in two trips to WA. He crossed the line last year as Cronulla defeated Manly 24-18.

Conditions are expected to be similar to that match, with temperatures pushing 30 degrees and a fast playing surface conducive to attacking football.

Sharks playmaker Nicho Hynes and his halves partner Braydon Trindall are pitted against Roosters pair Daly Cherry-Evans and Sam Walker in an elite match-up.

Between them, Hynes and Trindall have already notched up 12 try assists and five tries in a hot start to the season for the Indigenous All Stars representatives.

"We're coming off a high, but we've got a big task ahead of us in the Roosters, who are coming off a good win themselves and the bye," Hynes said.

"They've got a pretty stacked team – they've got rep players everywhere. Obviously, (James) Tedesco at the back who's in form again, they've got 'Chez' there, Sammy Walker in the halves, so they've got strike all over the park.

"To be fair, we're just worried about us and what we bring to the game."

Despite being more than 3000km from the Sutherland Shire, Cronulla are feeling the support from the Perth locals and will relish their status as the home team.

"We've enjoyed coming over here the last couple of years and we've had some good wins. The fans have turned up for us each year," Hynes continued.

"It's a great stadium to play at. We really enjoy our time over here, so we're looking forward to hopefully another big crowd at Optus Stadium and day footy again."

After bagging a double at the venue last year, winger Sam Stonestreet is keen to add to his try tally while keeping his opposite number Mark Nawaqanitawase quiet.

"Hopefully I can score a couple again, but I'll just do what the team wants me to do and hopefully get the win," said Stonestreet, who has 18 tries in 22 NRL games.

"The Roosters are a strong team. They've got big, strong wingers like myself, so it'll be a good contest and challenge for me. I'm just ready to get after it."

Kick-off is at 3.30pm local time (5.30pm on the east coast).

The match will be broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo.

See the squads below.

Round 6 - Round 6 - Saturday 11 Apr

7:30 am

Sharks

Roosters

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy

Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa

Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Mawene Hiroti

Centre for Roosters is number 3 Hugo Savala
Centre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro

Centre for Roosters is number 4 Robert Toia
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Samuel Stonestreet

Winger for Roosters is number 5 Mark Nawaqanitawase
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall

Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Daly Cherry-Evans
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam Walker

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Roosters is number 8 Naufahu Whyte
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey

Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Reece Robson
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Toby Rudolf

Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Billy Burns

2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton

2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Siua Wong
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Jesse Colquhoun

Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Briton Nikora

Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Connor Watson
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Siosifa Talakai

Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Spencer Leniu
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi

Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Nat Butcher
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton

Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Salesi Foketi
Interchange for Sharks is number 20 Jayden Berrell

Interchange for Roosters is number 18 Cody Ramsey
Interchange for Sharks is number 21 Riley Jones

Interchange for Roosters is number 19 Tommy Talau