Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 19 clash between the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and The Dolphins.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Vs The Dolphins
Venue: Sharks Stadium, Sydney
Date: Friday July 11, 7:50pm (AEST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. Siosifa Talakai, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Braydon Trindall, 7. Nicholas Hynes, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Blayke Brailey, 10. Oregon Kaufusi, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Teig Wilton, 13. Cameron McInnes, 14. Daniel Atkinson, 15. Jesse Colquhoun, 16. Toby Rudolf, 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele, 18. Billy Burns, 19. Hohepa Puru, 20. Niwhai Puru, 21. Michael Gabrael, 22. Jayden Berrell
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Max Feagai, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Jake Averillo, 6. Sean O’Sullivan, 7. Isaiya Katoa, 8. Francis Molo, 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Mark Nicholls, 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 12. Oryn Keeley, 13. Kurt Donoghoe, 14. Aublix Tawha, 15. Connelly Lemuelu, 16. Ray Stone, 17. Josh Kerr, 18. Harrison Graham, 19. Trai Fuller, 20. Tevita Naufahu, 21. LJ Nonu, 22. Peter Hola
Referee: TBC
Bunker: TBA
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
Separated by four positions on the ladder, but sitting on 20 competition points each, the Cronulla Sharks and Dolphins meet in Cronulla on Friday night to kick off Round 19. With the competition for lower top eight positions so tight – 6th to 15th covered by five points – a win for either team will be important but not season-defining if they lose. Yet.
The Dolphins’ second best for-and-against of +162 certainly helps, as much as the Sharks’ -4 points does not. Like a lot of the teams around them, both teams still have the free two bye points to come.
Aside from their now traditional loss to Newcastle, the Dolphins are one of the hottest teams in the NRL, having won four of their last five and passed 50 points in the last three of those wins. All with a key forward injury list that would have an embattled coach using as an excuse in every press conference. They continue to rely on their smaller forwards, with Kurt Donoghoe becoming one of their most important players, and he is well backed up by Oryn Keeley and the angry tackling machine that is Ray Stone. Those players aren’t quite as important as Isaiya Katoa, who continues to impress as he leads the Dolphins around the park. So much so that he was invited into the NSW Blues camp. One gets the feeling that it won’t be too long until he gets his chance.
Cronulla have been completely unaffected by Origin, which should have been good news for Nicho Hynes, who has struggled with Origin rejection in previous seasons, but rumours continue to persist about a potential move to fullback for the current Sharks half. These have been strenuously denied by head coach Craig Fitzgibbon. But the Sharks come into the game on a run of one win from their last five matches and has seen them drop from a comfortable top eight position to 10th. Cronulla have conceded 30 points or more in those four losses, which is not great form if the Dolphins turn on the points again.
The key match-up for the game involves the two previously mentioned halves in Hynes vs Katoa. Katoa remains the toast of the NRL, while Hynes seems to wear the brunt of fan frustrations in the Shire. One thing going against Katoa for this weekend is his partner in crime for the season is missing in Kodi Nikorima. The Dolphins five-eighth has been the perfect compliment to Katoa this season, providing a little more running game and spark, so his replacement Sean O’Sullivan has big shoes to fill. One wonders if O’Sullivan being more of a kicking halfback will hamper or help the in-form Katoa.
Stats favour the Dolphins, who are yet to lose to Cronulla since joining the NRL. One was a win at Suncorp Stadium inspired by Valynce Te Whare on debut in 2023, and the other was a drought-breaking away win in Sydney last season. The Dolphins have improved on the road since and have won their last two games in Sydney, one against an Origin-depleted Bulldogs. Cronulla do have some slightly more obscure stats in their favour as they have won their last four Friday games, plus the Sharks have won seven games in a row at Shark Park on a Friday, with a last loss in 2018.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Dolphins by 8 points.
Check out our round 19 predictions here.
What’s your prediction? Drop it in the comments below.
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