NRL Match Preview: Round 24 v Raiders

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Fri 14 Aug 2026, 02:55 PM

The Sharks take on the Raiders at Ocean Protect Stadium tomorrow, aiming to bounce back from a shock loss to the Dragons.

They had more than 100 First Nations fans turn out to cheer the team on at captain’s run this morning.

The club ran the event for a third straight year, in partnership with Deadly Choices and the Central and Eastern Sydney Public Health Network to inspire the next generation for Indigenous Round.

“Very special considering the number of Indigenous representations we have in our club,” coach Craig Fitzgibbon said.

“It’s important to our Indigenous players, and they do a really great job in that space, to be honest.

“They represent it well, and it’s definitely important that we wear the jersey with a bit more Shark-like intensity tomorrow.”

Cronulla will be playing for Jesse Ramien tomorrow too, after the star centre was ruled out for the season with a pectoral injury.

The 29-year-old is moving to the Cowboys next year and was dreaming of a fairytale finish in the Shire; he’s spent the best part of a decade at the club.

“Everyone is hurting for Jesse. Obviously, he’s been a long-time Shark and a really valuable member and moving on, so losing a player like that knocks the players around,” the Sharks coach shared.

“It’s probably similar to the narrative that he’s leaving, so it probably strengthens that opportunity to show what he does mean to his teammates.”

They’ll have to do so without Addin Fonua-Blake as well, who has been suspended for a week for a high shot.

And up against a Raiders side still fuming from having their finals hopes dashed last weekend.

“They were last year’s minor premiers, so they’ve got something about them. They’ve got a lot of speed and talent in their side,” Fitzgibbon added.

“And now they’ve got nothing to lose, so they’ll be a handful, and I have a lot of respect for Ricky (Stuart).

“I had a lot of time with him as a player, and he was my coach so I know how he can motivate and inspire a side.”

Fitzgibbon was the Clive Churchill Medal winner in 2002 under Ricky Stuart at the Roosters.

Stuart would then beat Fitzgibbon in the now Sharks coach's first NRL game in charge in 2022.

After that, Fitzgibbon would lose his next two matchups against Ricky’s Raiders, before turning it around, winning 5 of their now 9 encounters.

Cronulla got the chocolates earlier this season in round 4, winning 34-22 in Canberra, and are now hoping to win a third straight game at home against them for the first time since 2002.

It’s also been over two decades since anyone has challenged Andrew Ettingshausen or David Peachey’s try-scoring records at the Sharks.

The legendary fullback now sits equal second all-time alongside Ronaldo Mulitalo, who could jump into outright second tomorrow if he crosses for a four-pointer.

Mulitalo has 110 tries in the black, white and blue, and the 26-year-old is 56 away from ET's club record.

Braydon Trindall’s already got Cronulla’s most try assists in a season record snapped up but could challenge for the NRL record with 4 more games in the regular season.

His halves partner, Nicho Hynes, has 25 assists this season as well; the pair is well out in front of any other combination in the competition in that statistic.

Hynes, fresh from equalling Nathan Cleary’s second-placed record of 32 straight conversions; he needs eight points to reach 1,100 points in the NRL and is 21 points away from passing Luke Covell (948) for the third most points for Cronulla.

The Sharks have won 6 home games in a row, making Shark Park a fortress this season, with no losses there since round 3.

Kick-off against the Raiders is at 3:00pm tomorrow at Ocean Protect Stadium.

See the 24-hour squad lists below.

Round 24 - Round 24 - Saturday 15 Aug

5:00 am

Sharks

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo Weekes
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Jed Stuart
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Mawene Hiroti

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Savelio Tamale
Centre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew Timoko
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicho Hynes

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Ethan Sanders

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Oregon Kaufusi

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Ata Mariota
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Owen Pattie
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Jesse Colquhoun

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Zac Hosking
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Matty Nicholson
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Morgan Smithies

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Hohepa Puru

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Billy Burns

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Joe Roddy
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Siosifa Talakai

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Josh Papalii
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton

Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Daine Laurie
Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Michael Gabrael

Interchange for Raiders is number 18 Vena Patuki-Case
Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Braden Uele

Interchange for Raiders is number 19 Sebastian Kris