Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 6 clash between the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Date: Saturday, 12 April, 3:00pm (AEST, 1:00 pm WST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Sharks:1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Mawene Hiroti 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Billy Burns 20. Hohepa Puru 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Jesse Colquhoun
Sea Eagles:1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Clayton Faulalo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Nathan Brown 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Tommy Talau 19. Aaron Schoupp 20. Jakob Arthur 21. Lachlan Croker 22. Michael Chee Kam
Referee: Adam Gee
Bunker: Ashley Klein
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
On Saturday night the people of Perth will witness a display of talent, skills, and strength when two Sydney teams, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, battle it out in round 6 of the competition at Optus Stadium.
Last Thursday night the Sharks thought they had it in the bag when they took on the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium.
Brilliant plays by the Sharks backline gave them the strength they needed in their attack. Successful conversions by Nicho Hynes and two exceptional tries by Briton Nikora had them riding on the coattails and edging ever so closer to a tiring Raiders side.
Both teams gave it their all, but the Sharks fading defence allowed the Raiders to capitalise on this, slipping through the gaps, edging in front to take the lead just over the 79th minute, with a try from Sebastian Kris and a successful conversion by Jamal Fogarty. The Sharks were defeated 24-20, but not without a fight.
Coach Craig Fitzgibbon is confident to keep an unchanged side when they take on the Sea Eagles. The solid forward pack, which includes newly signed Addin Fonua-Blake, receives a further boost with the return of Teig Wilton from illness, and Siosifa Talakai returns from concussion. Billy Burns drops to reserve, and Tuku Hau Tapuha moves to 18th man. Kayal Iro is still out with a hamstring injury.
The last time these two teams met, back in the final round last year, the Sharks devoured the Sea Eagles by a groundbreaking 40-20.
The Sharks will enter this match with confidence that they can easily complete the task that lies ahead of them, with players like Samuel Stonestreet, who averages 160 running metres, his ability to be able to move effortlessly through the field of play, Nikora, who can slip through the gaps, the kicking skill and ability of Braden Trindall, and the quick ball-handling skills of William Kennedy, could cause concern for the Sea Eagles.
The Sea Eagles got their spirits dampened by a disheartening loss against the mighty Melbourne Storm last Sunday afternoon in front of a feisty Manly home ground crowd at 4 Pines Park.
Plagued by errors and obvious holes in their defence, they were no match for an aggressive, switched-on Storm lineup, who took advantage of this, ploughing their way through the field of play.
Having only lost one game so far this season, the Sea Eagles hedged their bets but just were not strong enough against the unbeatable defence and impeccable speed of play from the Storm and players like Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, Xavier Coates, and Grant Anderson.
The combination of Daly Cherry-Evans leadership, quick-thinking Luke Brooks, the raw power of Jake Trbojevic, and the speed of Tolutau Koula in the centre backs to get over the line provided a bit of relief but was just not enough to forge their way forward to victory against the Storm. The fight back from the Sea Eagles came too late, going down to the Storm 48-24.
These same players, combined with the bullet pace of winger Jason Saab’s bullet pace on the outside edge and the beast of a second-row forward, Haumole Olakau’tau, who will play his 100th game for the NRL this Saturday, could be the Sea Eagles secret arsenal in their victory over the Sharks.
Prop Josh Aloiai will return from a shoulder injury when the Sea Eagles face the Sharks, with slight modifications to the lineup. Toafofoa Sipley moves to the bench. Interchange forward Corey Waddell will miss two games due to a careless high tackle. Hooker Lachlan Crocker will be on reserve as he returns from a knee injury. Tommy Talau is the 18th man.
On Saturday afternoon in an unfamiliar territory for both teams, it is anyone’s guess who will take the victory; both teams defence may hold the key to the outcome.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Sharks by 6 points.
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
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