NRL: NZ Warriors v Cronulla Sharks - everything you need to know

Warriors v Sharks

Kickoff 7.30pm Saturday, 7 June

Sharks Stadium Sydney

Live blog updates on RNZ Sport

History

Cronulla Sharks lead the all-time head-to-head rivalry against NZ Warriors 29-21, and that advantage balloons out to 17-8 at home and 14-7 at Sharks Stadium.

The teams have faced each other home and away over the past six seasons, with the Sharks holding a 7-5 edge over that period.

The Warriors actually won the last meeting between the two at the Shire 30-28, with winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scoring three tries - including the winner in the final minute - in Shaun Johnson's farewell appearance at the end of last season.

They trailed 22-4 at halftime, but piled on four consecutive tries in the second half to make up the deficit.

The Warriors' biggest win over the Sharks came in 2023, when Watene-Zelezniak had a try double in a 44-12 victory at Go Media Stadium. Their biggest defeat came in 2020, when Johnson scored a try and kicked 7/8 from the tee for Cronulla in their 46-10 win.

Form

After seeing their five-game winning streak ended by Canberra Raiders, the Warriors bounced back with another nervous victory over South Sydney Rabbitohs last week.

Leading 30-12 after 54 minutes, they took their foot off the throat and conceded back-to-back tries, as Souths drew within six points. Winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck scored the second of his pair to put his team clear again, but a try to Latrell Mitchell ensured the final few minutes were tense - as always.

They are now 9-3 to start the season, sitting third on the NRL table, with the Sharks (7-5) four points behind in fifth.

Cronulla are coming off a bye in Round 13 and were strangely outplayed 42-16 by an Origin-depleted Sydney Roosters outfit the previous week. The Sharks were at full strength, while the Roosters had five players on state duty.

Before that they rode a three-game winning streak, and their record this season includes success against playoff contenders Melbourne Storm, North Queensland Cowboys and Manly Sea Eagles.

The Warriors (82 percent) and Sharks (81) sit one and two in the competition for set completion, while Sharks half Nico Hynes has provided the most linebreak assists (16).

Warriors hooker Wayde Egan leads the league in dummy half runs (73) and most tackles (538), with Sharks opposite Blayke Brailey his closest rival in both categories.

Teams

Warriors: 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Adam Pompey, 4 Kurt Capewell, 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Luke Metcalf, 8 James Fisher-Harris, 9 Wayde Egan, 10 Jackson Ford, 11 Leka Halasima, 12 Marata Niukore, 13 Erin Clark

Interchange: 14 Te Maire Martin, 15 Jacob Laban, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Tanner Stowers-Smith

Reserves: 23 Taine Tuaupiki, 20 Sam Healey

After having a fully fit squad to choose from last week - the first time since 2023 - coach Andrew Webster has had to juggle his line-up again, with co-captain Mitch Barnett ruled out for the season with a ruptured ACL in his right knee and centre Rocco Berry hampered by a hamstring twinge.

Webster has addressed Berry's absence by shifting versatile second-rower Kurt Capewell into the midfield, but also has specialist centre Ali Leiataua on an extended bench.

Teenage sensation Leka Halasima and tireless front-rower Jackson Ford have been moved into the starting pack.

Sharks: 1 Will Kennedy, 2 Sione Katoa, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 KL Iro, 5 Mawene Hiroti, 6 Braydon Trindall, 7 Nico Hynes, 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Blayke Brailey, 10 Oregon Kaufusi, 11 Briton Nikora, 12 Teig Wilton, 13 Cam McInnes

Interchange: 14 Daniel Atkinson, 15 Jesse Colquhoun, 16 Siosifa Talakai, 17 Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18 Billy Burns, 21 Jayden Berrell

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has named former Warriors front-rower Addin Fonua Blake to face his old team for the first time, since his early release to return across the Tasman.

Kiwis winger Ronaldo Mulitalo is suspended, so Hamilton-born Sione Katoa makes his comeback from shoulder reconstruction, while NZ-born players Mawene Hiroti, Oregon Kaufusi, Briton Nikora and Braden Hamlin-Uele are also named.

In return, Cronulla get to watch their 'one that got away' - Dally M-leading Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf.

On a side note, the game will be officiated by Peter Gough, the referee who allowed Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's knockon against the Dolphins three weeks ago.

Player to watch

Brace yourself for a clash of the titans between Addin Fonua-Blake and the man who replaced him at the Warriors - now sole captain James Fisher-Harris.

Fonua-Blake is having another Dally M-type season, as he leads the competition in post-contact metres (976) by more than 100 metres.

Statistically, Fisher-Harris' campaign has been set back by a month on the sidelines injured, but he will be challenged to match his rival in the long-term absence of tag-team partner Barnett.

Kiwi to watch

Centre Kayal Iro is descended from rugby league royalty, son of Kiwis great Kevin 'The Beast' Iro and nephew of Warriors stalwart Tony Iro.

Born in England, while his dad played out the final years of his career at St Helens, Kayal is another who slipped through the Warriors net, playing a season with their U20s, and has gone on to form a formidable Sharks centre pairing with Jesse Ramien.

Iro has scored a try in each of his last eight games.

They said it

"Mitch would have helped stop that, but it didn't matter who's in front of Addin, he's a good player, so everyone's got to bring their best this week and it's a great challenge for the whole squad."

Warriors coach Andrew Webster on Barnett's absence against Fonua-Blake

"These are the challenges you look forward to going up against each week. They've got an alpha in every team and you've got to match their energy every week."

Former Warriors front-rower Addin Fonua-Blake, now with the Sharks

What will happen

Sorry Warriors fans, this feels like an ambush waiting to happen.