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 23 - Round 23 - Sunday 9 Aug

Full Time

Dragons

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Tyrell Sloan

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes

Centre for Sharks is number 4 Mawene Hiroti
Winger for Dragons is number 19 Mathew Feagai

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Lyhkan King-Togia

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle Flanagan

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicho Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Emre Guler

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Jesse Colquhoun
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Dylan Egan

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Hamish Stewart

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Ryan Couchman

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 2 Setu Tu

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Billy Burns
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Jacob Halangahu

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Jacob Webster

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton
Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Braden Uele
Reserve for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook

Reserve for Sharks is number 14 Hohepa Puru
Reserve for Dragons is number 15 Josh Kerr

Reserve for Sharks is number 18 Michael Gabrael
Reserve for Dragons is number 18 Daniel Atkinson