NRL Late Mail: Round 23 v Dragons

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Sun 9 Aug 2026, 02:35 PM

The Sharks are unchanged from Tuesday's team list, with Niwhai Puru the 20th man today.

Cronulla had a special captain's run in the lead-up to the Dragons derby and Indigenous Round.

Phil Dotti, the first recognised Indigenous player for the club, attended training and spoke with the team.

So, plenty to play for this week; last week the team got up Siosifa Talakai's 150th game, but the Tongan wrecking-ball is out of today's game with a bicep injury.

Taking Talakai's place on the bench is versatile forward Hohepa Puru, who has returned from a concussion.

As Puru left the concussion stand-down period, KL Iro entered it, but the Sharks centre will be back next week.

The Sharks' Mr. Fix-it, Mawene Hiroti, takes Iro's place in the side, and Michael Gabrael comes onto the bench.

If called upon, Gabrael would run on for his NRL debut.

See the 90-minute team lists below.

Round 23 - Round 23 - Sunday 9 Aug

Live

40:00

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 14 Hohepa Puru
Interchange for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Billy Burns
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Josh Kerr

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Jacob Halangahu

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Jacob Webster

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

Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Braden Uele