NRL Match Preview: Round 19 v Dolphins

Author: Ted Roker Sharks Media
Timestamp: Fri 10 Jul 2026, 03:00 PM

The Sharks get State of Origin guns Blayke Brailey and Addin Fonua-Blake back for their top 8 match-up against the Dolphins tomorrow.

Both played important roles in stopping Queensland’s comeback and pulled up unscathed after the Blues' 30-12 victory.

Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon knows what it’s like to win your first Origin series and believes Brailey and Fonua-Blake will be back with a spring in their steps.

“They learnt plenty in their time. You know, there were some ups and downs in that 6-to-8-week period, and they learned plenty of lessons in that, and we’d like to think they’re better players because of that,” Fitzgibbon said proudly.

Briton Nikora will be rested for the Redcliffe clash after playing 70 minutes for the Maroons in their game 3 defeat on Wednesday night.

“We won’t play Brit. He got knocked around a bit. He had something like 49 tackles and a cat 2 HIA,” Fitzgibbon shared.

“I thought Brit’s Origin performance was what Origin’s all about, but we won’t be able to get him back up that quickly.”

The Dolphins only have Max Plath backing up from Origin, with Thomas Flegler named as the 20th man, while their three other Origin reps are rested.

The Phins are in 5th on the ladder and the original Fins are in 6th position, with all signs pointing towards a cracking first contest between the teams at Kayo Stadium.

The home side is coming off their first loss since round 8, going down to the Knights 13-12 last Sunday.

Cronulla is coming off a 28-16 victory over the Broncos and has won 5 of its last 6 games.

The Sharks have won both games they’ve played in Brisbane this season, but the Dolphins got up 38-10 in the last meeting between the two teams in round 3 at Ocean Protect Stadium.

“I think their form line is undeniable, and the depth of their squad, the players that come into their team when players are out, it’s one of the strongest squads in the game, and they’re playing really connected and hard-working footy, so we’ll have to be connected and hard-working as well,” Fitzgibbon added.

Cronulla spurred on by the early season touch up, and with two special milestones to try and celebrate.

Oregon Kaufusi and Will Kennedy will both bring up their 150th NRL games. Kennedy has played all of his in the black, white and blue, and Kaufusi has split his between the Eels and the Sharks.

The Dolphins have won 3 of the 4 games between the sides, but it’s their first face-off at Kayo Stadium. Although it will be the Sharks' third time playing there, after beating the Warriors in Redcliffe in 2022 and losing to the Knights there in 2021.

Both sides have won eight from nine games when leading at half-time this season. The Sharks are also eight from nine when they score the first try, the Dolphins five from five when they do.

The final 40 minutes are when the Dolphins shine; they’ve scored the most second-half points in the NRL (18 per game) and are also conceding the second fewest second-half points (8 per game).

Cronulla has the second-best completion rate (82%) in the NRL and is conceding the second-fewest post-contact metres, and the second-fewest missed tackles, but is being awarded the fewest penalties and conceding the equal most penalties.

See the following game details and the two 24-hour squad lists below.

Round 19 - Round 19 - Saturday 11 Jul

5:00 am

Dolphins

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Trai Fuller

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Jake Averillo

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Dolphins is number 4 Herbie Farnworth

Centre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro
Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Tevita Naufahu

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi Nikorima

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Bradley Schneider

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicho Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Dolphins is number 8 Felise Kaufusi

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Thomas Hazelton
Hooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King

Hooker for Sharks is number 22 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Dolphins is number 10 Francis Molo

Prop for Sharks is number 23 Addin Fonua-Blake
2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Connelly Lemuelu

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Billy Burns
2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
Lock for Dolphins is number 13 Morgan Knowles

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Interchange

Interchange for Dolphins is number 14 Kurt Donoghoe

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Hohepa Puru
Interchange for Dolphins is number 16 Tom Gilbert

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Siosifa Talakai
Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Sebastian Su'a

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
Interchange for Dolphins is number 18 Brian Pouniu

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Tuku Hau Tapuha
Interchange for Dolphins is number 19 John Fineanganofo

Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Mawene Hiroti
Interchange for Dolphins is number 23 Max Plath

Interchange for Sharks is number 20 Niwhai Puru