Sharks Receive Major Boost as Hynes and Brailey Return for Roosters Clash
The Cronulla Sharks have secured a significant advantage ahead of Sunday evening’s encounter with the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium, with the return of two pivotal players to the starting lineup.
Superstar halfback Nicho Hynes and New South Wales representative hooker Blayke Brailey have both been passed fit to play. Their reintegration into the starting 13 provides a critical boost to the Sharks’ tactical structure, returning a premier playmaker and an experienced ruck leader to a side looking to maintain momentum in the NRL premiership under the competition’s strict squad registration and interchange rules, which govern when and how players can return from injury.
Hynes’ return reshapes Cronulla’s attacking spine, restoring his combination with fullback William Kennedy and five-eighth Braydon Trindall, while Brailey’s inclusion stabilises the middle-third rotation and decision-making in defence. Against a Roosters outfit built around the playmaking of James Tedesco, Daly Cherry-Evans and Sam Walker, Cronulla’s ability to call on its first-choice playmakers looms as a decisive factor.
Warriors Utilize New 19-Man Squad Regulations
In the lead-up to their match against the North Queensland Cowboys, Warriors coach Andrew Webster has clarified the role of Luke Metcalf in the squad. While Metcalf is named on the interchange bench, Webster confirmed he is designated as “injury cover” rather than an impact player and would only be activated if a like-for-like specialist is ruled out.
This strategic move utilizes a recently introduced regulatory framework allowing for a 19-man squad, providing teams the capacity to bring on a specialist player only in the event of an injury to another specialist. The rule, administered under the NRL’s official competition rules and interpretations, differs from traditional utility placements and is designed to protect player welfare while preserving competitive balance, offering coaches greater flexibility in managing specialist positions during a match without encouraging tactical exploitation of the interchange system.
Injury Update for North Queensland Cowboys
The Cowboys are continuing to manage the recovery of halfback Tom Dearden, a key playmaker in their spine and an important figure in their salary cap planning and matchday strategy. Coach Todd Payten revealed that Dearden’s return from a syndesmosis injury was delayed after a fracture in the ankle-located higher up than the initial injury-was discovered several weeks after the first scan.
Dearden is currently described as “touch and go” for the upcoming fixture against the Panthers, highlighting the complex recovery timeline associated with high-ankle fractures and the conservative medical protocols clubs are expected to follow for marquee halves under modern concussion and load-management guidelines.
Moses will return for Origin 2 | 01:55
Sunday Match Schedule and Team Lists
Sunday’s triple-header shapes as a key checkpoint in the mid-season ladder, with squad depth, new regulatory settings and Origin-related workload management all in sharp focus across the three fixtures.
Warriors vs North Queensland Cowboys
Time: 2:00 PM @ ONE NZ Stadium
- Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Te Maire Martin, 8. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Jacob Laban, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark, 14. Samuel Healey, 15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Kayliss Fatialofa, 18. Rocco Berry, 20. Luke Metcalf, 21. Makaia Tafua, 22. Mitchell Barnett, 23. Kurt Capewell.
- Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater, 2. Braidon Burns, 3. Zac Laybutt, 4. Tomas Chester, 5. Murray Taulagi, 6. Jaxon Purdue, 7. Jake Clifford, 8. Thomas Mikaele, 9. Reed Mahoney, 10. Jason Taumalolo, 11. Heilum Luki, 12. Jeremiah Nanai, 13. Reuben Cotter, 14. Soni Luke, 15. Griffin Neame, 16. Matthew Lodge, 17. Coen Hess, 18. Liam Sutton, 19. Sam McIntyre, 20. John Bateman, 21. Jaxson Paulo, 22. Ethan King, 23. Wiremu Greig.
Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders
Time: 4:05 PM @ AAMI Park
- Storm: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo, 2. William Warbrick, 3. Jack Howarth, 4. Joe Chan, 5. Moses Leo, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Stefano Utoikamanu, 9. Harry Grant, 10. Josh King, 11. Cooper Clarke, 12. Ativalu Lisati, 13. Trent Loiero, 14. Trent Toelau, 15. Alec MacDonald, 16. Jack Hetherington, 17. Josiah Pahulu, 18. Shawn Blore, 19. Tyran Wishart, 20. Davvy Moale, 21. Preston Conn, 22. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown, 23. Lockyer-Azile Foliola.
- Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes, 2. Savelio Tamale, 3. Sebastian Kris, 4. Matthew Timoko, 5. Xavier Savage, 6. Ethan Strange, 7. Ethan Sanders, 8. Corey Horsburgh, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Joseph Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Zac Hosking, 13. Jayden Brailey, 14. Owen Pattie, 15. Ata Mariota, 16. Morgan Smithies, 17. Daine Laurie, 18. Jed Stuart, 19. Vena Patuki-Case, 20. Coby Black, 21. Jordan Uta, 22. Chevy Stewart.
Sydney Roosters vs Cronulla Sharks
Time: 6:15 PM @ Allianz Stadium
- Roosters: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Tommy Talau, 3. Billy Smith, 4. Robert Toia, 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6. Daly Cherry-Evans, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Naufahu Whyte, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Angus Crichton, 12. Siua Wong, 13. Victor Radley, 14. Connor Watson, 15. Spencer Leniu, 16. Nat Butcher, 17. Salesi Foketi, 18. Rex Bassingthwaighte, 19. Toby Rodwell, 20. Benaiah Ioelu, 21. Junior Tupou, 22. Egan Butcher, 23. Taylor Losalu, 24. Cody Ramsey.
- Sharks: 1. William Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. KL Iro, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Braydon Trindall, 22. Nicho Hynes, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 21. Blayke Brailey, 10. Jesse Colquhoun, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Teig Wilton, 13. Cameron McInnes, 7. Niwhai Puru, 14. Billy Burns, 15. Oregon Kaufusi, 16. Siosifa Talakai, 17. Thomas Hazelton, 18. Hohepa Puru, 19. Mawene Hiroti. (Players cut: Jayden Berrell, Samuel Stonestreet).
Worth a look
