NRL Match Preview: Round 25 v Titans

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Sat 22 Aug 2026, 02:00 PM

Following a loss last weekend against the Raiders, the Sharks final four aspirations go on the line this weekend when they tackle the Gold Coast Titans in a round 25 clash at CBUS Super Stadium.

The last start loss saw the Dolphins jump the Sharks and move into fourth position on the NRL ladder, however rather than dwell on the negatives, coach Craig Fitzgibbon saw enough in the Sharks efforts to indicate an improved performance against the Titas on Sunday afternoon.

“We created plenty of opportunities to win the game and had enough chances but just didn’t get it done,” Fitzgibbon said of the Raiders game. “But I thought the performance levels were improved from the previous week.

"But we’ll have to step up again tomorrow.”

Throwing a proverbial spanner in the works for the Sharks will be the absence of playmaker Braydon Trindall who suffered a shoulder dislocation early in the Raiders game.

Likely to be sidelined for the next few weeks leading into the NRL Finals, Fitzgibbon has called upon Niwhai Puru to fill the void.

Puru played three games for the Sharks earlier in the season, for three wins, included amongst those the gritty victory over the Warriors in New Zealand.

“He’s really composed Neets,” Fitzgibbon said of Puru. “He’s been at the club now for a number of years and knows our system, and he’s a confidence boost for the side in knowing what they’ll get.”

Another key addition to the team that went down to Canberra was Addin Fonua Blake, with the front rower to return after being sidelined due to suspension last week.

“It won’t have hurt him to have the week off and to get the spring back in his step. He’s really stepped up at training this week,” the coach added.

In the 30 matches played between the two clubs, the Sharks hold a distinct advantage, with 20 wins, against nine from the Titans, with one draw.

The record is even more in the Sharks favour of late, with the Cronulla team winning 12 of the past 13 games against the Titans, the one loss coming in 2024 in a match played in Coffs Harbour.

And at Robina, the Sharks have won the past four, and six of 10 games against the Titans, while at CBus in 2016 the two teams played out an infamous 18-all draw, a result which ended Cronulla’s 15 game win streak

The Sharks have won six of 12 games played away from Ocean Protect Stadium this season, and five of the past seven, while they have also taken home the two competition points from the last three visits to Queensland venues.

The teams met in round one at Ocean Protect Stadium, with the Sharks comprehensive 50-10 victors.

The Sharks come into the game in fifth position on the NRL ladder, with 13 wins and eight losses, while the Gold Coast are 16th following six wins, 15 losses so far in 2026.

In personal milestones, Nicho Hynes needs 13 points to pass Luke Covell (948) for third most points scored for the Cronulla club, while Ronaldo Mulitalo needs one try to pass club legend David Peachey for the second most tries for the Sharks. Mulitalo is currently sitting on 110 tries and he has seven tries in seven games against the Titans.

See following the 24-hour team list, with the Sharks reporting no injury concerns to the team as selected. The match scheduled to kick off at 2.00pm.

Round 25 - Round 25 - Sunday 23 Aug

4:00 am

Titans

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Titans is number 1 Keano Kini

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
Winger for Titans is number 2 Jaylan De Groot

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
Centre for Titans is number 3 Jojo Fifita

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Mawene Hiroti
Centre for Titans is number 4 AJ Brimson

Centre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro
Winger for Titans is number 5 Phillip Sami

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Jayden Campbell

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Niwhai Puru
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Lachlan Ilias

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicho Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Titans is number 8 Moeaki Fotuaika

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Titans is number 9 Oliver Pascoe

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Titans is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Jesse Colquhoun
2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Arama Hau

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
Lock for Titans is number 13 Cooper Bai

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Interchange

Interchange for Titans is number 14 Kurtis Morrin

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Siosifa Talakai
Interchange for Titans is number 15 Klese Haas

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Billy Burns
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Chris Randall

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
Interchange for Titans is number 17 Bodhi Sharpley

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton
Interchange for Titans is number 18 Luke Sommerton

Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Hohepa Puru
Interchange for Titans is number 19 Siale Faeamani

Interchange for Sharks is number 21 Samuel Stonestreet