Match 2026 NRL Round 1 - Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs Gold Coast Titans 5:30pm, Saturday 7 March @ Ocean Protect Stadium

[BlackWhiteBlue]

Panthers have won around 50% of their round 1 games over the last 10 seasons

Some teams just start kinda slow and still have some rust from the post / pre-seasons

Fitz kinda alluded to it being difficult to perform @ 100% over an entire season (particularly physically in regards to intensity) when talking about our late season run of form and improved defense at the back end of 2025 and that this might have been somewhat intentional and part of his overall plan for the year and clicking at the right time instead of fading

Doesn't mean we shouldn't be trying to win every week or that we are happy accepting bad form, we should be trying to improve every week but it just isn't realistic to not expect some bad patches and hiccups along the way

Not making Top 4 last year was quite risky on our part in terms of our finals campaign and there were multiple games we could have won (to get us Top 4) that we just didn't lock down and let slip

We just need to keep building the blocks, take more steps forward along the way than we take backwards

Its funny i remember flanno talking about dividing the season into blocks and having an early realistic kind of projection of wins/losses in each block. I figure a lot of coaches probably work much the same. You arent going to win every game. Obviously you want to be competitive every week but youre bound to have a surprise win or a surprise loss. Youre going to have a massive win noone saw coming and also cop some flogging noone expected as well.

Round 1 is just as much ironing out creases as the trials. Given we really only played half a trial with our first grade team, albeit against a team missing plenty of first graders, there will be rust

 

[Gards]

Its funny i remember flanno talking about dividing the season into blocks and having an early realistic kind of projection of wins/losses in each block. I figure a lot of coaches probably work much the same. You arent going to win every game. Obviously you want to be competitive every week but youre bound to have a surprise win or a surprise loss. Youre going to have a massive win noone saw coming and also cop some flogging noone expected as well.

Round 1 is just as much ironing out creases as the trials. Given we really only played half a trial with our first grade team, albeit against a team missing plenty of first graders, there will be rust

I think Flanno was talking about Cinder blocks but yea

As long as you make top 4 does it really matter if you drop a few games during the regular season

You can finish 1st like the Raiders and still be gone in 2 weeks because your team ran out of juice and/or you got an unlucky injury or suspension in your squad

It's more important to be heading into the finals fit, firing and in form than having the best Win % over the season

A club like the Panthers can sneak into the finals after a horrid regular season and still back themselves 100% to go all the way

 

[HaroldBishop]

I think Flanno was talking about Cinder blocks but yea

As long as you make top 4 does it really matter if you drop a few games during the regular season

You can finish 1st like the Raiders and still be gone in 2 weeks because your team ran out of juice and/or you got an unlucky injury or suspension in your squad

It's more important to be heading into the finals fit, firing and in form than having the best Win % over the season

A club like the Panthers can sneak into the finals after a horrid regular season and still back themselves 100% to go all the way

Tbf to Canberra the loser of that first final was always going to go out in straight sets imo, that would have been so deflating.

 

[Super Impose]

Tbf to Canberra the loser of that first final was always going to go out in straight sets imo, that would have been so deflating.

Very similar to our loss to the Cowboys a few years ago ..

 

[SF]

Team lists here: https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2026/round-1/sharks-v-titans/

Katoa named, no Teig.

Hazelton starting prop.

Bench is Sifa, Toby, OK, Uele, Puru, Vea'ila.

 

[SF]

Team List Tuesday presented by Zambrero: Round 1 v Titans

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has named his 22-man squad for Saturday's Round 1 clash with the Titans at Ocean Protect Stadium.

www.sharks.com.au

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has named his 22-man squad for Saturday's Round 1 clash with the Titans at Ocean Protect Stadium.

Match: Sharks v Titans​

After being installed as co-captain last week, hooker Blayke Brailey will lead the team solo as Cameron McInnes completes his recovery from an ACL injury.

Billy Burns and Briton Nikora will start in the second row with Teig Wilton in the final stages of his rehab from off-season shoulder surgery.

Sifa Talakai, Toby Rudolf, Oregon Kaufusi, Braden Uele, Hohepa Puru and Chris Vea'ila are listed on a versatile interchange. While new rules allow teams to carry six men on the bench, only four are permitted to enter the action on game day.

Two players will be omitted from the squad 24 hours out from the match, with the final 19 to be confirmed 90 minutes before the opening whistle.

Kick-off is at 5.30pm. CLICK HERE to secure tickets!
The match will be broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo.
See the squad below.

1	Will Kennedy	The Roaming Cup
2	Sione Katoa	Bath Haus
3	Jesse Ramien	The Vinyl Room Nightclub Gymea
4	KL Iro	Shire Steel & Fabrication
5	Sam Stonestreet	A Corp. Computers
6	Braydon Trindall	Totally Workwear Kirrawee
7	Nicho Hynes	John Ryan Freight Services
8	Addin Fonua-Blake	Hicon
9	Blayke Brailey (c)	Elite Legal
10	Tom Hazelton	Club Central Menai
11	Briton Nikora	Guardian Venue Management International
12	Billy Burns	White Wolf Constructions
13	Jesse Colquhoun	Alltech Payroll
Interchange
14	Siosifa Talakai	O'Brien Palmer
15	Toby Rudolf	Quest Apartment Hotels
16	Oregon Kaufusi	Hamilton Elevators NSW
17	Braden Uele	Ocean Protect
18	Hohepa Puru
19	Chris Vea'ila
20	Jayden Berrell
21	Michael Gabrael
22	Niwhai Puru

 

[SF]

 

[AdShark]

CV is an interesting choice

 

[Thresher]

CV is an interesting choice

Maybe they don't mind if he rots away on the extended bench for the season as he's off to the Bears after it.

 

[Gumby]

Where's Hiroti? He injured?

 

[Blue_Eyes84]

1. Good to see Hazelton start. He is primed for a big year.
2. No need to rush Teig back. BB is doing a great job in the back row
3. CV did well in the Gosford trial. He might be there just in case for Katoa.
4. Up Up Cronulla.

 

[Gibs]

I hope Forward Puru gets a run, his trial form was fantastic

 

[Blue_Eyes84]

I hope Forward Puru gets a run, his trial form was fantastic

Me too. H. Puru also looks like having a good year.

 

[bvella]

Valuable style of player with the new extended bench

 

[stormshark]

Was right about Burns, good on him.

 

[may]

Team List Tuesday presented by Zambrero: Round 1 v Titans

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has named his 22-man squad for Saturday's Round 1 clash with the Titans at Ocean Protect Stadium.

www.sharks.com.au

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has named his 22-man squad for Saturday's Round 1 clash with the Titans at Ocean Protect Stadium.

Match: Sharks v Titans​

After being installed as co-captain last week, hooker Blayke Brailey will lead the team solo as Cameron McInnes completes his recovery from an ACL injury.

Billy Burns and Briton Nikora will start in the second row with Teig Wilton in the final stages of his rehab from off-season shoulder surgery.

Sifa Talakai, Toby Rudolf, Oregon Kaufusi, Braden Uele, Hohepa Puru and Chris Vea'ila are listed on a versatile interchange. While new rules allow teams to carry six men on the bench, only four are permitted to enter the action on game day.

Two players will be omitted from the squad 24 hours out from the match, with the final 19 to be confirmed 90 minutes before the opening whistle.

Kick-off is at 5.30pm. CLICK HERE to secure tickets!
The match will be broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo.
See the squad below.

1	Will Kennedy	The Roaming Cup
2	Sione Katoa	Bath Haus
3	Jesse Ramien	The Vinyl Room Nightclub Gymea
4	KL Iro	Shire Steel & Fabrication
5	Sam Stonestreet	A Corp. Computers
6	Braydon Trindall	Totally Workwear Kirrawee
7	Nicho Hynes	John Ryan Freight Services
8	Addin Fonua-Blake	Hicon
9	Blayke Brailey (c)	Elite Legal
10	Tom Hazelton	Club Central Menai
11	Briton Nikora	Guardian Venue Management International
12	Billy Burns	White Wolf Constructions
13	Jesse Colquhoun	Alltech Payroll
Interchange
14	Siosifa Talakai	O'Brien Palmer
15	Toby Rudolf	Quest Apartment Hotels
16	Oregon Kaufusi	Hamilton Elevators NSW
17	Braden Uele	Ocean Protect
18	Hohepa Puru
19	Chris Vea'ila
20	Jayden Berrell
21	Michael Gabrael
22	Niwhai Puru

Strong round 1 team..

(Touch wood.. Hypothetical question)..
Who in the team would be the backup during the game if Kennedy was injured or had to go for HIA

Iro, Hynes or one of the other backs ?

 

[bort]

Strong round 1 team..

(Touch wood.. Hypothetical question)..
Who in the team would be the backup during the game if Kennedy was injured or had to go for HIA

Iro, Hynes or one of the other backs ?

Tough one, those probably the top 2 picks

Katoa could also drop back. Dropped himself back there for Tonga for a bit to cover injury as I recall

 

[Blue_Eyes84]

Strong round 1 team..

(Touch wood.. Hypothetical question)..
Who in the team would be the backup during the game if Kennedy was injured or had to go for HIA

Iro, Hynes or one of the other backs ?

KL Iro. He played FB in the juniors I think.

 

[Sparkles]

Strong round 1 team..

(Touch wood.. Hypothetical question)..
Who in the team would be the backup during the game if Kennedy was injured or had to go for HIA

Iro, Hynes or one of the other backs ?

Nicho had a short stint at the back in the all stars game so he could do it... Then Peru comes into the halves. Would be kind of fun to see

 

[Shark_Hatch]

How long till Teig can be back from his surgery? What about Mulitalo & McCInnes?