Cronulla Sharks Face Panthers in NRL Preliminary Final Clash

The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are set to face the Penrith Panthers in an NRL preliminary final on Saturday night, following a late change to their lineup. Siosifa Talakai has been called up to replace Jesse Ramien after Ramien was withdrawn due to an ankle injury. Talakai joins the run-on side while utility playmaker Daniel Atkinson has been named on the interchange bench. Meanwhile, Mawene Hiroti has been designated as the 18th man.

The Sharks are gearing up to challenge the Panthers at Accor Stadium, aiming to derail Penrith’s quest for a historic fourth consecutive grand final appearance. Cronulla is coming off a significant 26-18 victory over the Cowboys in the semi-finals and is seeking to embrace their role as underdogs against the reigning champions.

Cronulla’s head coach, Craig Fitzgibbon, acknowledged the Panthers’ status as favorites, noting their achievements and milestones, while also expressing confidence and excitement for the upcoming challenge. “The greater the challenge, the greater the opportunity,” Fitzgibbon stated.

The Panthers, having benefited from a 15-day break after defeating the Roosters 30-10, enter the match with notable big-game experience and depth, despite some regular season injury challenges, including those affecting star player Nathan Cleary.

The spotlight will shine on the halves pairings: Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall versus Penrith’s Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai. Hynes, nearing his 100th NRL game, aims to make a significant impact alongside Trindall, with Fitzgibbon emphasizing the importance of their synergy for team success.

The matchup marks only the second finals meeting between the Sharks and Panthers since both joined the first-grade competition in 1967, with Cronulla having claimed a victory in their previous finals encounter in 2018. The Panthers, however, claimed a comprehensive 42-0 win during their regular season meeting earlier this year.

Cronulla captain Cam McInnes noted that while external perceptions may not favor the Sharks, the team remains focused on pursuing victory, consistent with their approach in all high-stakes matches. “We’re going after the game like we do every week,” McInnes declared.

Kick-off for the highly anticipated match is scheduled for 7:50 pm, with arrangements in place for transportation to Accor Stadium and various broadcast options available for fans not attending in person.