NRL Match Preview: Round 20 v Knights

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Thu 16 Jul 2026, 05:57 PM

The Sharks have lost Siosifa Talakai, a day out from their top 8 clash with the Knights.

The versatile centre turned bench forward is facing 1 to 2 weeks out with an elbow injury.

Jesse Colquhoun remains sidelined with a knee issue that kept him out of last week’s record-breaking 66-0 victory over the Dolphins.

Jayden Berrell comes onto the 6-man bench, with Sam Stonestreet the 20th man.

“Jesse (Colquhoun) is not too far away. Still a little bit sore,” coach Craig Fitzgibbon told media this morning.

“It’s not a serious knee injury that’s going to keep him out for a long period of time, but we didn’t take him up to Redcliffe with us and it’s a 6-day turnaround for us.

“So we felt like he’s been playing really strong for us, and he’s so valuable, and we’re actually pleased that the other players have stepped in and played really well.

“We’ll keep him out and make sure he’s right, especially at the back end. We want to make sure we have a selection headache at the backend of the year, not now.”

The Sharks will also wear a special Women in League jersey to celebrate the round, with players swapping the last name on the back of their jersey with the name of a female loved one.

1. Will Kennedy – KGR – the initials of his mum, fiancé and daughter
2. Sione Katoa – Cholayna – the name of his wife
3. Jesse Ramien – Rochelle - the name of his wife
4. KL Iro – Mama Dale – the name of his grandma
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo – Vaega - the name of his mum
6. Braydon Trindall – Enid - the name of a family friend who helped raise Braydon
7. Nicho Hynes – Piper - the name of his partner
8. Addin Fonua-Blake – Anahere - the name of his wife
9. Blayke Brailey – Sandy - the name of his nan
10. Tom Hazelton – Deanna - the name of his partner
11. Briton Nikora – Shar - the name of his wife
12. Teig Wilton – Vanessa - the name of his mum
13. Cam McInnes – Rachel - the name of his partner
Interchange
14. Hohepa Puru – Abby - the name of his wife
16. Billy Burns – Bronte - the name of his wife
17. Oregon Kaufusi – Charleen - the name of his mum
18. Tuku Hau Tapuha – Mele Hau Tapuha - the name of his mum
19. Mawene Hiroti – Shania - the name of his partner
22. Jayden Berrell – Hollie - the name of his wife
20. Sam Stonestreet – Rachel - the name of his mum
Out of the squad at the 24-hour mark
21. Niwhai Puru - Tara - the name of his close family friend
15. Siosifa Talakai - Fatai - the name of his partner

“There are many great women in rugby league who have contributed so much to my career, but none more so than my mum,” Teig Wilton shared.

“So yeah, I’ll be honouring her this weekend. She’s done everything for me, and I wouldn’t be standing here today if it weren’t for her.”

The coach might not have a name on the back of his shirt, but is honouring his wife, Megan.

“She supported me over the course of my playing career and coaching career, so I’ll be letting her know,” Fitzgibbon expressed.

“It’s a really important round for the players, and they’re excited to wear a slightly different jersey this week and represent those women who have helped them along the way.

“Yeah, it’s not lost on the players, and we’d like to make sure we put a performance out there that they’re proud of.”

The 5th-placed Knights will be up for Women in League Round too.

They also have Justin Holbrook about to bring up his 100th NRL game as a coach, and lock Matt Croker is set to play his 100th NRL game.

Origin centre Bradman Best returns for Newcastle after being rested in their 26-24 loss to the Rabbitohs last Sunday.

“They’ve got plenty of weapons, and they ask plenty of questions, so we’re under no illusions as to the challenge that they’ll bring,” Fitzgibbon said.

“They’ve been entrenched at the top of the ladder for most of the season, and they’ve got class across the board there, and obviously Justin (Holbrook) has had a big impact on the club in his return, so yeah, we’ll have to be strong in all areas.”

The Sharks and Knights have played 63 times, with the Sharks winning 30, the Knights 32, and 1 draw in their first meeting back in 1988.

Cronulla have the advantage in games played at Ocean Protect Stadium, though, having won 18 of their 29 encounters.

Under Craig Fitzgibbon, the Sharks have won six of their last seven games against Newcastle, with six of those games being decided by 20 points or more.

Cronulla come into the contest in 4th on the ladder and in red-hot form after a 66-0 over the Dolphins last week. The 5th-placed Knights are also in great form, having won seven of their last nine games, losing both games in this period by just two points.

Blayke Brailey is chasing his 100th NRL win for the Sharks; he will become the 11th Cronulla player to reach this milestone.

Kalyn Ponga has scored seven tries in nine games against the Sharks, while Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored eight tries in nine games against Newcastle.

The Sharks v Knights match is scheduled for a 6.00pm kickoff, with the two 24-hour team lists below.

Round 20 - Round 20 - Friday 17 Jul

8:00 am

Sharks

Knights

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa

Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien

Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
Centre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro

Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo

Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher Sharpe
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicho Hynes

Halfback for Knights is number 7 Dylan Brown

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Knights is number 8 Tyson Frizell
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Thomas Hazelton

Prop for Knights is number 10 Trey Mooney
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora

2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Dylan Lucas
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton

2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Francis Manuleleua
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Lock for Knights is number 13 Mat Croker

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Hohepa Puru

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Sandon Smith
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Billy Burns

Interchange for Knights is number 15 Lachlan Crouch
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Oregon Kaufusi

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Thomas Cant
Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Tuku Hau Tapuha

Interchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie Jones
Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Mawene Hiroti

Interchange for Knights is number 18 Fletcher Hunt
Interchange for Sharks is number 22 Jayden Berrell

Interchange for Knights is number 19 Harrison Graham