Match Preview: Round 15 v Warriors

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Fri 12 Jun 2026, 05:28 PM

There are a handful of players sidelined with injury, others watching from afar while on State of Origin duty, however who isn’t there will mean little when the Sharks tackle the second-placed Warriors in a round 15 game in Auckland tomorrow night.

After three straight wins the Sharks will be keen to continue the positive momentum regardless of the on field personnel this weekend, however coach Craig Fitzgibbon is acutely aware of the challenge facing his side.

“They’re coming second for a reason,” Fitzgibbon began. “They’re very competitive in all areas, they don’t beat themselves and do the simple things really well, play the percentages and they’ve got some strike that can hurt you.

“The challenge for us is to put the best version of us out on the field, but we’re excited by it, we want to measure ourselves against the best teams. We’re under no illusions as to the challenge but we’re excited by it.”

While the Warriors will be missing their two starting front rowers in James Fisher-Harris and Mitch Barnett, the Sharks head into the contest without the injured Blayke Brailey and Nicho Hynes, with Addin Fonua Blake and Briton Nikora unavailable and in Origin camps preparing for next Wednesday night’s interstate clash.

However rather than dwell on what or who he doesn’t have, Fitzgibbon was happy to focus on those coming in, while confident in the job they can do for the team.

“We love giving guys an opportunity. It’s not man down, its man up,” Fitzgibbon said.

“Our defence needed to improve a little bit, we had a wobble a few weeks ago and conceded too many points for our liking, but we simplified things a little bit and sometimes changes to your team can help that simplification of how you want to play, and we’ve had some players in and out.

“So, we’ve been focusing on the basics, which has served us well and getting us back to perform like the team we want to be,” the Sharks coach added.

For the Sharks Niwhai Puru again takes up the half back role, with Jayden Berrell at hooker and Hohepa Puru, twin brother of Niwhai and another dummy half option named on an extended bench.

In the backs, Jesse Ramien has been named to return after missing last weeks game with knee soreness, while KL Iro will reach a special personal milestone when he runs out for his 50th NRL game.

Iro debuted for the Sharks on the wing in Round 24 of the 2022 season in a match against the Bulldogs and becomes the 149th player to reach 50 first grade games for the Cronulla club.

In the 52 games played between the two clubs, the Sharks have won 30, the Warriors 22, while at Mt Smart Stadium, the teams have won 10 apiece. That said, the Sharks have enjoyed a level of success at the Warriors home of late, winning six of the past eight games played at the venue

A stat which should come as no surprise given their position on the ladder, the Warriors have made the fewest errors and boast the best completion rate in the NRL, with the Sharks ranked third.

The Warriors are also conceding the least number of penalties, the Sharks are on the opposite end of the ledger in conceding the most.

While the Warriors sit second, trailing only the Panthers on the NRL ladder, the Sharks are sixth with seven wins and five losses from their 12 matches played.

In player stats, Ronaldo Mulitalo (416) needs three points to pass Mitch Healey (418) as the Sharks 10th highest points scorer. He has nine tries in 10 games against the Warriors, with David Peachey the only Shark to have scored more against the New Zealand outfit.

For the Sharks opponents, Dallin Watene-Zeleniak has scored more tries against Cronulla (16 in 19 games) than against any other club, this number including two hat-tricks in his past three games.

The game at Mt Smart kicks off at 5,30pm (Sydney time – 7.30pm NZ time), with the two 24-hour teams listed below. Michael Gabrael and Blake Hosking drop off the Sharks team list as named Tuesday, with the pair likely to play for the Jets in a curtain raiser to the NRL match.

Round 15 - Round 15 - Saturday 13 Jun

7:30 am

Warriors

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Samuel Stonestreet
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey

Centre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-Pereira

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire Martin

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Niwhai Puru

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Tanner Stowers-Smith

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Jesse Colquhoun
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Jayden Berrell
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Toby Rudolf
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Marata Niukore

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Billy Burns
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Makaia Tafua

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Mawene Hiroti
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Oregon Kaufusi
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Siosifa Talakai
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Kayliss Fatialofa

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton
Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Jason Salalilo

Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Hohepa Puru
Interchange for Warriors is number 22 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Tuku Hau Tapuha