Match Preview: Round 13 v Sea Eagles

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Thu 28 May 2026, 07:55 PM

Cam McInnes will play his 100th game for the Cronulla club, Niwhai Puru his first in the NRL, on a night where the Sharks play the Sea Eagles in Mental Health Round at Ocean Protect Stadium.

Throw in a performance from Don Rogers, singing his new single, a song written in tribute to his late mother and father, former club legend Steve Rogers, while adding to the rivalry and intensity of the game, the teams will play for the Steve Rogers Memorial Trophy in tribute to the late Sharks immortal.

For McInnes, having come up short of the 100-game milestone at his previous two clubs, the game shapes as a special one for the Sharks co-captain, especially following on from the news he will depart the club at the end of the season to take up an opportunity in the UK Superleague.

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon is unashamedly a big fan of McInnes, who will become the 80th 100-game player at the Sharks.

“He’s such an important leader and is held in high regard, not just at the Sharks but across the game. There isn’t many players you can say that about” Fitzgibbon said.

Forty-eight of McInnes’s 100 games at the Sharks have been as captain.

While McInnes will know what to expect against a Sea Eagles side flying high since installing former player Kieran Foran as head coach, the NRL will be something new for Puru, twin brother of Sharks lock/hooker/backrower Hohepa.

The 24-year-old Puru joined the Sharks ahead of the 2023 season after having come through the Penrith junior system playing alongside the likes of Dolphins half back Isaiya Katoa.

The left footed Puru has been a mainstay for the Newtown Jets in recent years, with his strong kicking game in general play and ability to also kick goals instrumental to their success, especially during the premiership winning season of 2024.

As for the head-to-head matchup between the two Sydney beachside rivals, the win record for the Sharks, with 31 wins and 68 losses (two draws) from 101 matches played, their worst against any team when have played five times or more.

Despite these struggles over the year, under the coaching of Craig Fitzgibbon the Sharks have won six of seven games against Manly, their only loss coming in 2023 when beaten 30-26 at Ocean Protect Stadium)

Currently enjoying a three-game win streak Manly, the records show the Sharks have never won four straight against the Sea Eagles.

In matches played at Ocean Protect Stadium, the record is slightly better for the Sharks, with 17 wins from 41 games played.

Coming into the contest on the back of a week off, the Sharks boast a record of seven wins from 12 games under Craig Fitzgibbon after the bye, including two of the past three, the loss courtesy of the high scoring round eight clash with the Cowboys in Townsville.

And it’s so far so good for the Sharks at Ocean Protect Stadium, with three wins from four matches, while scoring 50plus points in two of the victories.

As for the Manly side, they arrive in the Shire in fourth place on the NRL ladder following seven wins from their last eight matches.

After losing their first three games, the seven victories have been under the head coaching of Kieran Foran, the only loss a two-point defeat to Penrith.

The Sharks v Manly match, which is a part of Mental Fitness Round, an initiative conducted in partnership with Tommy Herschell and Find Ya Feet. For more on Mental Fitness Round – CLICK HERE.

While the Steve Rogers Memorial Trophy has a history dating back to 2006, with the Sea Eagles holding the win-loss advantage. For more on the Rogers Trophy match, CLICK HERE.

In team news, Blayke Brailey and Addin Fonua-Blake have been retained in the Sharks squad and are expected to bac up following Wednesday night's Origin match, while Briton Nikora will be rested.

In the backline, KL Iro is out of the Sharks team with a knee laceration, his place to be taken by Mawene Hiroti, while Billy Burns comes into the starting line up in place of Nikora.

The Sharks and Sea Eagles clash is scheduled to kick off at 8.00pm.

See following the two 24-hour team lists.

Round 13 - Round 13 - Friday 29 May

10:00 am

Sharks

Sea Eagles

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Clayton Faulalo
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Samuel Stonestreet

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Josh Feledy
Centre for Sharks is number 23 Mawene Hiroti

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall

Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Niwhai Puru

Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey

Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jake Simpkin
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Toby Rudolf

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Kobe Hetherington
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Jackson Shereb
2nd Row for Sharks is number 16 Billy Burns

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Jesse Colquhoun

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Brandon Wakeham
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Siosifa Talakai

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nathan Brown
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Hohepa Puru

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Simione Laiafi
Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Oregon Kaufusi

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Blake Wilson
Interchange for Sharks is number 21 Jayden Berrell

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Joey Walsh