A clash between two of the competition's heavyweights shapes up to be the match of the round with the Sharks coming off a statement win over the Roosters and the Panthers looking to bounce back from a narrow defeat.
The Sharks are shaping to be the team to beat in 2024, boasting a 9-1 record after downing the Storm and Roosters in recent weeks, well and truly rewriting the narrative that they can't beat the top teams.
Craig Fitzgibbon's men won't have forgotten their last meeting with the premiers when they were shut out 28-0 at BlueBet Stadium and skipper Cameron McInnes was forced to make 81 tackles for his side.
But the Shire boys will be keen for an opportunity to test themselves against the defending premiers and show their defensive resolve has come leaps and bounds this year.
The Panthers, meanwhile, are in unfamiliar territory coming off their first loss since Round 5 and will be looking to rue the errors (11) and discipline (39 missed tackles) which ultimately cost them against the Warriors.
Sportsbet Betting Preview - Sharks v Panthers
Team News
Sharks: The Sharks are 1-17 with no late changes. Stability is the catch cry in the Shire as the Sharks roll out the same 17 that knocked off the Roosters in Round 11. Halfback Nicho Hynes looks to press his Blues Origin claims further with another command performance while Cam Mcinnes, Jesse Ramien and Thomas Hazelton are also in the mix for rep honours. Mawene Hiroti is 18th man.
Panthers: The Panthers are 1-17 with no late changes. Scott orensen is promoted to the starting side after returning from a knee injury via the bench in Magic Round. Liam Henry returns from concussion and joins the bench with Luke Garner the man to miss out. Jesse McLean is 18th man.
Match: Sharks v Panthers
Round 12 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William KennedyFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
-
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione KatoaWinger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
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Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse RamienCentre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
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Centre for Sharks is number 4 Kayal IroCentre for Panthers is number 4 Paul Alamoti
-
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo MulitaloWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
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Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Daniel AtkinsonFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jack Cole
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Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas HynesHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Jarome Luai
Forwards
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Prop for Sharks is number 8 Thomas HazeltonProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
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Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke BraileyHooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
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Prop for Sharks is number 10 Oregon KaufusiProp for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Scott Sorensen
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
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Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnesLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Jack WilliamsInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Daine Laurie
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Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Siosifa TalakaiInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
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Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Royce HuntInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry
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Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Tuku Hau TapuhaInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Matthew Eisenhuth
Reserves
-
Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Mawene HirotiReplacement for Panthers is number 21 Jesse McLean
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Sharks have won six of their past seven games at PointsBet Stadium.
- The Panthers have won six of their past seven games against the Sharks.
- Sharks prop Tom Hazelton has scored four tries in his past five games.
- The Panthers have not won at PointsBet Stadium since 2012.
- Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored 32 tries in 29 games at PointsBet Stadium.
Match: Sharks v Panthers
Round 12 -
home Team
Sharks
1st Position
away Team
Panthers
2nd Position
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
