The Sharks have a shot out to a 14-6 lead over the Dragons in a fiery local derby that’s living up to expectations.
With an opportunity to jump the Panthers and move up to third on the ladder, the Sharks turned up to WIN Stadium in a mood — and that was made clear in Jesse Ramien’s reaction after he scored off a scrum for the first points of the game.
MATCH CENTRE: Dragons vs Sharks live updates, score, stats
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Ramien, however, then went from hero to zero when he was sin-binned for a high shot on Mat Feagai.
It took six minutes with the one-man advantage, but the Dragons finally hit back through Jack Bird.
But the Sharks responded five minutes later when Braydon Trindall — who returned after two weeks out with a hamstring injury — set up Kayal Iro.
They followed it up with another try as rookie winger Sam Stonestreet beat three Dragons players to score. One of those players, Max Feagai, was unfortunately injured in the process and left the field with what looked to be a shoulder injury.
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MATCH PREVIEW
There’s plenty on the line at WIN Stadium on Sunday when the Dragons host the Sharks in a blockbuster local derby.
The Dragons forced their way into the top eight last week after defeating the Titans and can edge closer to locking in a finals berth with an upset win over the fourth-placed Sharks.
Cronulla are chasing four-straight wins and could jump up to third spot if they get beat their local rivals.
Craig Fitzgibbon’s side is boosted by the return of halfback Braydon Trindall from a hamstring injury, while Kayal Iro returns from an illness in the centres. Forwards Teig Wilton and Tom Hazelton are also back on deck.
But the Sharks will be without Siosifa Talakai due to calf tightness and Ronaldo Mulitalo was a late scratching after a flare-up to a knee injury he’s been carrying. Mulitalo has been replaced on the wing by Mawene Hiroti.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan made mass changes to his side ahead of kick-off with Jack de Belin and Luciano Leilua benched and Ryan Couchman and and Blake Lawrie replacing them. Lykhan King-Togia has also joined the bench.
TEAMS
Dragons team: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Mathew Feagai 4. Max Feagai 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Jack Bird 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 16. Blake Lawrie 15. Ryan Couchman 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth 10. Jack de Belin 11. Luciano Leilua 14. Toby Couchman 18. Lyhkan King-Togia. 18th man: 20. Michael Molo
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 18. Mawene Hiroti 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Braydon Trindall 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Royce Hunt 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Thomas Hazelton. 18th man: 21. Chris Veaila
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