Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has called on his spine to step up as Cronulla aim to bounce back from a heartbreaking Round 5 loss when they face the Sea Eagles in the first game of a Perth double-header.
MATCH CENTRE: Sharks v Sea Eagles score, stats, blog
The Sharks-Sea Eagles clash will kick off a WA double-header at Perth’s Optus Stadium with this game to be followed by South Sydney-North Queensland.
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The Sharks were beaten by a try after the buzzer in their most recent clash against the Raiders, and Fitzgibbon believes the side’s spine, led by halfback Nicho Hynes, lacked polish.
“The spine were on the ball plenty enough but we didn’t have the detail,” Fitzgibbon said this week.
“We didn’t execute the plays at the right times and there were some details we needed to fix during the week which we’ve done.”
Cronulla will be boosted by the return of gun back row duo Siosifa Talakai and Teig Wilton.
For the Sea Eagles, speedster Tommy Talau will make his season debut.
Talau replaces an injured Jason Saab (ankle) on the wing.
Josh Aloiai returns and will start in the front row with the suspended Corey Waddell dropping out of the side.
TEAMS
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
Sea Eagles: 1. Lehi Hopoate 18. Tommy Talau 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 19. Aaron Schoupp 22. Michael Chee Kam
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