Tarsha Gale Prelim Preview: Sharks v Knights

Author: Troy Whittaker Sharks Media
Timestamp: Thu 23 Apr 2026, 04:14 PM

A place in the Tarsha Gale Cup grand final is up for grabs as the Sharks lock horns with the Knights at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.

Coached by 2016 NRL premiership hero Andrew Fifita, Cronulla's talented Under 19 women will be well prepared for the intensity of a preliminary final.

They've already shown a penchant for performing on the big stage, shocking the first-placed Indigenous Academy Roosters 20-18 to open their playoffs campaign a fortnight ago and earn a valuable week off to reset and recover.

Newcastle, on the other hand, have done it the hard way, qualifying in sixth position before sudden-death victories over the seventh-placed Steelers (30-12) and third-ranked Bulldogs (24-22) to book a Round 1 rematch with the Sharks.

Cronulla prevailed 16-10 in a gritty season opener at Maitland Sports Ground in February, springing out of the blocks to lead 10-0 at half-time. But in a sign that Sunday's clash will be hard fought to the final whistle, the dogged Knights scored a try on full-time to cut the margin to a converted try.

Led by goal-kicking five-eighth Ella Ropata – the competition's top point-scorer (76) – prolific halfback Julliana Kolio (five tries), powerful prop Genevieve Mafi and dynamic centre Milla Caine, the Sharks possess firepower aplenty.

But their defence has been the cornerstone of their impressive performances, conceding just 11.7 points per game throughout nine matches. Newcastle, by contrast, have averaged 15 conceded points across 10 games.

Aside from Fifita's influence, the Sharks can lean on the big-game experience of hooker Koffi Brookfield, who has won back-to-back NSW Women's Premiership titles – first with the Steelers in 2024, then Cronulla last year. The playmaker also won Cronulla's Junior Representative Player of the Year award in 2025.

Brookfield is pitted against an equally influential No.9 in Newcastle's crafty Charley Lahmert, who also knows her way to the try-line. Fullback Tameika Dorahy and halves Sienna Thomas and Addie Hagan are other danger players for the Knights.

The Sharks are seeking to advance to the Tarsha Gale grand final for the first time since 2018, when a team including future NRLW stars Quincy Dodd and Talei Holmes lifted the trophy – coincidentally beating Newcastle.

The match will kick off at 2.30pm, with a live stream available on BarTV Sports.

See the squads below.

Finals Week 3 - Finals Week 3 - Sunday 26 Apr

4:30 am

Sharks

Knights

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 Tegan Boyce

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Tameika Dorahy
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Ayva Papalii

Winger for Knights is number 2 Stevie Botham
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Milla Caine

Centre for Knights is number 3 Shikynah Pearson
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Makayla Vakauta

Centre for Knights is number 4 Summer Dowell
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Chloe Shephard

Winger for Knights is number 5 Macey Cox
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Ella Ropata

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Sienna Thomas
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Julliana Kolio

Halfback for Knights is number 7 Addie Hagan

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Genevieve Mafi

Prop for Knights is number 8 Rubie Drake-Brockman
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Koffi Brookfield

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Charley Lahmert
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Manawanui James

Prop for Knights is number 10 Charlise Thompson
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Sam Stewart

2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Stella Lewis
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lacey Cross
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Sophia Brightwell

Lock for Knights is number 13 Emily McArthur

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Isabella McDonald

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Millah Hutchins
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Charlotte Hall

Interchange for Knights is number 15 Lily Porter
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Kayliah Alvey

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Brooklyn Davico
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Kahlea Fisher

Interchange for Knights is number 17 Brandy Simpson

Reserves

Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Summer Anderon

Replacement for Knights is number 18 Pandora Green
Reserve for Sharks is number 19 Paige Diaz
Reserve for Sharks is number 20 Ella Hollis
Reserve for Sharks is number 21 Tyra Lee
Reserve for Sharks is number 22 Charlotte Teplicanec