A crucial Round 16 showdown closes the weekend as the Roosters aim to snap a form slump against a red-hot Sharks side surging up the ladder. With both teams boasting strike power out wide, expect fireworks at Allianz Stadium.

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Matchday Details

Sunday, 21 June 2026 – 6:15pm AEST – Allianz Stadium, Sydney
📺 Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Ashley Klein | Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Sydney Roosters: 1. James Tedesco (c), 2. Tommy Talau, 3. Billy Smith, 4. Robert Toia, 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6. Daly Cherry-Evans, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Naufahu Whyte, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Angus Crichton, 12. Siua Wong, 13. Victor Radley, 14. Connor Watson, 15. Spencer Leniu, 16. Nat Butcher, 17. Salesi Foketi, 18. Rex Bassingthwaighte, 19. Toby Rodwell, 20. Benaiah Ioelu, 21. Junior Tupou, 22. Egan Butcher, 23. Taylor Losalu, 24. Cody Ramsey

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks: 1. William Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. KL Iro, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Braydon Trindall, 7. Niwhai Puru, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Jayden Berrell, 10. Jesse Colquhoun, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Teig Wilton, 13. Cameron McInnes (c), 14. Billy Burns, 15. Oregon Kaufusi, 16. Siosifa Talakai, 17. Tom Hazelton, 18. Hohepa Puru, 19. Mawene Hiroti, 20. Samuel Stonestreet, 21. Blayke Brailey, 22. Nicholas Hynes

Match Preview

Two teams with identical records but contrasting form lines meet when the Sydney Roosters host the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Allianz Stadium to conclude Round 16 of the 2026 season.

The Roosters have lost three of their past four matches, slipping to sixth on the ladder—one spot behind a Sharks side riding high on the back of four consecutive victories.

With the Roosters needing to turn their form around, coach Trent Robinson has named all seven of his State of Origin players to back up from Wednesday night’s match. Hugo Savala is out after being concussed against the Dolphins, allowing Billy Smith to return to his regular centre position. Tommy Talau remains on the left wing with Daniel Tupou still unavailable, while Cody Ramsey has been relegated to the reserves. Round 15 debutants Rex Bassingthwaighte and Toby Rodwell remain on the extended bench.

Craig Fitzgibbon has named a largely unchanged Sharks side from the one that defeated the Warriors, with Addin Fonua-Blake and Briton Nikora set to back up from Origin II. Billy Burns shifts back to the bench, while Toby Rudolf is sidelined for a month with a knee injury. Nicho Hynes and Blayke Brailey have both been named on the extended bench as they edge closer to returning from injury.

Since their last game in New South Wales in Round 10—an unconvincing win over the Titans in Gosford—the Roosters’ early-season form has declined significantly. The same discipline issues that have plagued them in recent years have crept back into their performances, with the side now ranking second-last for errors (12.9 per game) and penalties conceded (5.5 per game).

Despite a heavy 48–10 loss to the Dolphins last weekend, their defence has generally held up well. They kept Canberra scoreless and conceded just 18 points against both Melbourne and North Queensland. The Roosters have the fewest missed tackles per game (27.9) and concede the fifth-fewest points in the competition (22.9). If they can improve their ball security, they have the attacking ability to trouble top-quality opposition.

The Sharks, meanwhile, have emerged as one of the competition’s form teams over the past month. Wins over Manly and the Warriors, combined with comfortable victories against Canterbury and St George Illawarra, have propelled them into the top five. Braydon Trindall has stepped up impressively in the absence of Hynes, highlighted by his match-winning field goal against the Warriors last weekend, while Ronaldo Mulitalo has made a seamless return from an ACL injury, scoring four tries in as many matches.

All eyes will be on the battle between opposing wingers Ronaldo Mulitalo and Mark Nawaqanitawase. Their first meeting in 2025 went Nawaqanitawase’s way after Mulitalo was sin-binned for a high shot, but Mulitalo responded in the elimination final with two tries in Cronulla’s 20–10 win. Nawaqanitawase showcased his attacking brilliance on Wednesday night, but Mulitalo will be confident of challenging the Roosters’ edge defence.

Since Fitzgibbon left the Roosters to coach the Sharks in 2022, results between him and former mentor Robinson have been evenly split at four wins apiece. The Roosters took the honours in their most recent meeting, coming from 16 points down to win 34–22 in Perth in Round 6. This will be the first time the two sides meet at the new Allianz Stadium, with the Sharks the only team yet to play there. Cronulla have featured in two finals matches at the venue, splitting the results. The Roosters, meanwhile, have won six of their past seven at the ground, with five of those victories coming by 13 points or more.

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Roosters by 8
Full Round 16 tips →
Bold call: Mark Nawaqanitawase and Ronaldo Mulitalo both score two tries.

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Lachlan Jeffery
Panthers lower grades reporter for The Western Weekender.

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