NRL Match Preview: Round 23 v Dragons

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Sat 8 Aug 2026, 04:05 PM

The Sharks come into the Dragons derby having won 9 from their last 10 games, but are ultra-wary that they can’t let complacency creep in.

St George are on the back of 3 straight losses and languishing in last on the NRL ladder, although the Red V were in a similar position last season and stunned the Sharks with a 22-14 victory.

The local rivals have had many fierce encounters over the years playing for the Monty Porter Memorial Cup, and when you add Indigenous Round into the equation it could make for an emotional matchup.

“Sometimes it can be in a good way, and then sometimes it can be the other way,” Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said.

“We didn’t perform last year. It’s the same round, Indigenous Round, round 23 last year at Kogarah. So, we didn’t perform there last year, and that stung.

“The Indigenous boys are incredibly proud of this round and to wear the jersey, and the make-up of this jersey has some significance in it, but to be fair on the boys, they all said to me individually that they just want to focus on getting the performance done and playing the way the Sharks do.”

The ever-reliable Mawene Hiroti starts in the centres for KL Iro, who is out with concussion.

Michael Gabrael is a chance to make his NRL debut, named in jumper 18 on the 6-man bench.

The 21-year-old was the equal 3rd top try scorer in NSW Cup last year; Gabrael has 26 tries and 10 try assists from his 31 games for the Newtown Jets.

“(Mawene’s) just so NRL ready and he’s going to be a huge asset for the Titans next year, and we’re going to miss him dearly,” Fitzgibbon said.

“It was a bit of a difficult call would have loved to look at Micky Gabrael there.

“He’s getting close to a debut as well, but for Mawene’s performance it is hard to ignore, and he’s an out-and-out first grader so Micky G’s time will come soon too.”

Nicho Hynes could break the record for most consecutive goal kicks in the NRL tomorrow afternoon.

Cronulla’s number 7 is on a streak of 32 straight goals, equal second all-time; needing 4 more in a row to beat Hazem El Masri’s record from 2003.

“Of course it’s on his mind,” the Sharks coach shared.

“It’s an incredible milestone for our game and for Nicho, but he’s also very process-driven at the moment and the amount of work he’s doing.

“He’s just going to trust his process and the way he kicks the ball the same way.

“It’s been building for a couple of weeks, so it’s not like this week is any different to the others because there have been little milestones along the way for him.

“I think he’s excited for the challenge and not doing anything other than trying to work hard and get better.”

His halves partner Braydon Trindall just broke the club’s most try assists in a season record, surpassing Nicho’s 2023 efforts.

There’s a record up for grabs for Ronaldo Mulitalo tomorrow too; he needs one more try to pass club legend David Peachey for the outright second most tries for the club (which will be 111).

Mulitalo has seven tries against the Dragons, while Will Kennedy has the club record of 8 tries against them.

Under Craig Fitzgibbon, the Sharks have won 8/9 Local Derbies against St George, winning their last encounter in Round 14 at Ocean Protect Stadium, with their only loss coming in Round 23 last year in Kogarah.

Kick-off is at 4:05pm tomorrow at Jubilee Stadium.

See the 24-hour squad lists below.

Round 6 - Round 6 - Saturday 8 Aug

Full Time

Sharks

Titans

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 Jada Taylor

Fullback for Titans is number 1 Lily Patston
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Georgia Ravics

Winger for Titans is number 2 Sienna Ibrahim
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Tiana Penitani Gray

Centre for Titans is number 3 Jaime Chapman
Centre for Sharks is number 12 China Polata

Centre for Titans is number 4 Phoenix-Raine Hippi
Winger for Sharks is number 19 Milla Elaro

Winger for Titans is number 5 Indie Bostock
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Georgia Hannaway

Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Teagan Levi
Halfback for Sharks is number 3 Madison Higgins-Ashby

Halfback for Titans is number 7 Lauren Brown

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Ellie Johnston

Prop for Titans is number 8 Laikha Clarke
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Quincy Dodd

Hooker for Titans is number 9 Georgia Hale
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Caitlan Johnston-Green

Prop for Titans is number 10 Fanua Rimoni
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Manilita Takapautolo

2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Evania Isa'ako
2nd Row for Sharks is number 15 Jaydika Tafua

2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Ivana Lolesio
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Anne-Marie Kiria-Ratu

Lock for Titans is number 13 Sienna Lofipo

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Tegan Dymock

Interchange for Titans is number 14 Lily Kolc
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Filomina Hanisi

Interchange for Titans is number 15 Eta Sikahele
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Jacinta Carter

Interchange for Titans is number 16 Jasmine Solia
Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Koffi Brookfield

Interchange for Titans is number 17 Takoda Thompson