Latest news with #CronullaSharks
1News
an hour ago
- Sport
- 1News
Capewell out, Boyd returns for NZ Warriors against Dragons
State of Origin star Kurt Capewell will miss NZ Warriors' crucial home game against St George Illawarra Dragons on Friday with concussion, but halfback Tanah Boyd is back in the starting line-up. Boyd was a last-minute drop from the team that fell to Canterbury Bulldogs last weekend, but has been ushered back into the line-up to replace the man who replaced him — Te Maire Martin — who lasted just 23 minutes, before also succumbing to concussion. Capewell left the field in the 60th minute for a head check and was cleared to return, re-entering the game with five minutes left on the clock, but has apparently not recovered as hoped afterwards. His place in the second row will be filled by teenage sensation Leka Halasima, with rookie Eddie Ieremia-Toeava promoted to the interchange. Hooker Wayde Egan also returns from a shoulder niggle, replacing Freddy Lussick in the playing line-up. Meanwhile, the Dragons have tweaked the team that defeated Cronulla Sharks last week, with Hastings-born centre Mat Feagai returning from a groin injury to replace Moses Suli, who has injured a knee. ADVERTISEMENT Prop Michael Molo is back from an ankle injury, while Auckland-born youngster Loko Pasifiki Tonga is named for the first time since Round 18. The Warriors sit fifth on the NRL table, but just two points clear of Brisbane Broncos and Cronulla Sharks, with eighth-placed Dolphins and ninth-placed Sydney Roosters another two back. St George are 11th, four points outside the playoff eight, but have accounted for tabletoppers Canberra Raiders and Cronulla in their last two outings. Warriors v Dragons, Go Media Stadium, 8pm, Friday, August 15 Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 16. Demetric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith Reserves: 18. Freddy Lussick, 20. Ed Kosi, 21. Tom Ale, 22. Kayliss Fatialofa, 25. Bunty Afoa ADVERTISEMENT Dragons: 1. Clint Gutherson, 2. Tyrell Sloan, 3. Hayden Buchanan, 4. Mat Feagai, 5. Corey Allan, 6. Lyhkan King-Tongia, 7. Kyle Flanagan, 8. Emre Guler, 9. Damien Cook, 10. David Klemmer, 11. Luciano Leilua, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Jack de Belin Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle, 15. Michael Molo, 16. Hame Sele, 17. Loko Pasifiki Tonga Reserves: 18. Ben Murdoch-Masila, 19. Lachlan Ilias, 20. Jacob Halangahu, 21. Nathan Lawson, 22. Christian Tuipulotu By Grant Chapman for
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hammer blow for Cronulla Sharks as star suspended for rest of NRL regular season
Things have gone from bad to worse for the Cronulla Sharks after their shock loss to the Dragons on Saturday, with Briton Nikora copping a three-game ban that means his regular season is over. The Kiwi second-rower was sin-binned in the dying stages of the Sharks' 22-14 loss on Saturday after racing out of the line and hitting Dragons winger Corey Allan high. On Sunday, the NRL match review committee hit Nikora with a grade-two careless high tackle charge. Because it's his third offence it carries a four-week suspension (three with an early guilty plea). The Sharks have a bye in Round 25, meaning they only have three games remaining in the regular season. Even if Nikora pleads guilty and accepts the three-game ban, he won't play again this year until the NRL finals. But considering the Sharks are seventh and haven't been setting the world on fire, there's no guarantee they'll even make it. Craig Fitzgibbon's side are on 28 points after their loss to the Dragons, just two points ahead of the Dolphins in eighth and Roosters in ninth. The Sea Eagles are lurking on 24 points in 10th, and even the Dragons are a mathematical chance to make the finals on 22 points. Cronulla had won four in a row before their loss to the Dragons, but their form hasn't been spectacular. They only narrowly beat the last-placed Rabbitohs 14-12 in Round 21, despite Souths having a plethora of players out injured. The Sharks could opt to challenge Nikora's charge at the NRL judiciary, but he'd cop a four-game ban if unsuccessful. That would mean he misses the first week of the finals - but only if the Sharks make it. Briton Nikora's regular season is now over. — The SuperCoach Whisperer (@SCWhisperer) August 10, 2025 Sharks rue missed chance to shake-up NRL top-four On Saturday night, Fitzgibbon lamented a spurned opportunity for his team's top-four ambitions after they failed to fire against the 11th-placed Dragons. Cronulla only play one top-eight team in the final five rounds of the regular season, and were expected to charge into the top-four. But they'll now need to rely on Penrith losing twice and the New Zealand Warriors to also drop points if they are to book a qualifying final spot. Fitzgibbon admitted Cronulla missed a chance to shake up the top four, as the Dragons scored their first win over the Sharks in five years. "We had an opportunity today and we didn't take it," Fitzgibbon said. "I thought the game had no rhythm to it at all ... it was a poor discipline performance from us. We opened the door and showed we were susceptible, and they took it." RELATED: Raiders rocked as young Canberra star signs with Penrith Panthers Jett Cleary could be handed NRL debut in stunning development Eight charges handed down after Roosters and Dolphins clash Meanwhile, the match review committee has handed down eight charges after the Roosters' fiery win over the Dolphins. Spencer Leniu, Kurt Donoghoe and Francis Molo all copped two charges each, with Molo facing a two-game ban for a grade-two carless high tackle on Naufahu Whyte. Leniu copped two fines for his role in an ugly melee that erupted in the first half, while Whyte and Aublix Tawha were also fined for the same incident. And Donoghoe copped two separate fines for a high tackle on Billy Smith and shoulder charge on Leniu.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Verran stars for Sharks, Warriors and Knights win
The talents of returning dual international Emma Verran has ensured Cronulla grabbed their third win of the NRLW season with a 20-6 victory over St George Illawarra at Jubilee Stadium. In other Saturday results, an upset seemed on the cards as the winless Wests Tigers trailed by only four (10-6) at halftime against high-flying Newcastle before the Knights machine rolled into gear for a 30-6 victory. The Warriors, meanwhile, are heading towards the top-six in their comeback season after an upset 34-6 win over the Canterbury Bulldogs at Accor Stadium. Verran was not named midweek but ran out as fullback in the No.22 jersey on her back and Sharks fans were pleased she did. She scored Cronulla's first try and set up three others, handing wingers Cassie Staples and Georgia Ravics doubles for the afternoon. The Sharks led 12-0 at halftime and would have won by a larger margin had goal-kicker Chantay Kiria-Ratu not missed all five conversions. "We were really happy to have her back and weren't quite sure until later in the week," Sharks coach Tony Herman said of Verran, who made three line-break assists, seven tackle busts and 20 runs for 174 metres alongside her three try assists. "The way she stood up today, with the footy she presented, I'm very proud of her." It took the Dragons 62 minutes to put points on the board, but winger Maria Paseka made it a memorable one by running 75 metres and brushing off several tacklers to cross over. Working against the Dragons was the fact eight players were non-starters through suspension or injury, including fullback Teagan Berry alongside skipper and halfback Raecene McGregor. "We've got to get our season back on track next week," Dragons coach Nathan Cross said. "No excuses. I know everyone loves to talk about the people we didn't have today but I'd like to focus on the ones we did have. From a coach's point of view we have to be better." Herman is also searching for consistency with five rounds left to the finals with the Sharks yet to find back-to-back wins this season. "It's been hard to get that consistency as we've had a lot of players in and out. From here we're hopeful of getting a few back and if we don't lose any more, we think we'll make a real charge at it." McEwen finds her way to the line 👊 — NRLW (@NRLWomens) August 9, 2025 At McDonald Jones Stadium, Jesse Southwell's streak of not missing a goal in five rounds came to an end on 22. She converted the Knights' first try but missed two of the next five. Doubles to winger Sheridan Gallagher and backrower Evah McEwen underpinned the hosts' six-tries-to-one win - their fifth in a row. Ikenasio on the chase in the Westpac Red Zone 🤯 — NRLW (@NRLWomens) August 9, 2025 Warriors five-eighth Patricia Maliepo had a personal tally of 18 points from two tries and five goals to steer the Auckland side to their second win on the road. The Warriors, who left the NRLW in 2020 but returned in 2025, moved from 10th to seventh on the ladder with their third win of the season, with Tysha Ikenasio scoring a great try. The Bulldogs' loss came at a cost with skipper and halfback Tayla Preston (knee) taken from the field via medicab, while forward Tegan Dymock (foot) left the ground in a moonboot.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ferocious Dragons upset Sharks to cause top four shake
Cronulla's top-four hopes have been dealt a huge blow with an upset 22-14 loss to St George Illawarra, who scored their first win over the Sharks in five years. The Sharks were touted to make a late top-four surge with a bye in hand and up against only one of the top-eight teams in the final five rounds of the regular season. Now, they will need to rely on Penrith to lose twice and the New Zealand Warriors to also drop points if they are to book a qualifying final spot. Debutant Hayden Buchanan and Clint Gutherson starred, scoring and setting up each other's tries to inspire a ferocious second-half Dragons performance at Jubilee Oval on Saturday. Buchanan goes over on debut 💯 — NRL (@NRL) August 9, 2025 But the win was bittersweet as big man Moses Suli limped off the field and had his right knee iced after coming off second best in a tackle. Will Kennedy (211 metres, five tackle busts) and Siosifa Talakai (171 metres) were big contributors for the Sharks, but ill-discipline cost them the opportunity for points as they conceded three unanswered tries. St George's season still has a very faint pulse as they need to win every match and score a significant amount of points to overhaul their negative for-and-against. Both teams started with energy in their legs, but it was the Dragons who drew first blood when Damien Cook punted the ball, finding a diving Emre Guler. Cronulla upped their intensity and tryscorers Braden Hamlin-Uele and Teig Wilton benefited. However, Wilton's try came after the bunker controversially ruled a penalty try after winger Tyrell Sloan tackled him midair. The Dragons winger had his fingers on the ball before Wilton stripped it and tackled him, video referee Chris Butler said as St George fans booed. Sloan, however, went over minutes later to give the Dragons the lead. After Gutherson's early second-half try, St George were almost perfect, completing set-after-set and using their speed to pressure Cronulla. A disallowed try to Cronulla with 15 minutes to go added to their pain, and after they conceded a penalty. Flanagan scored another two points to send the Dragons eight points clear. Cronulla had one more roll of the dice with minutes to go, but threw a forward pass, seeing out the eight-point victory margin.
Daily Mail
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Footy star reveals the shocking job he had to do to get enough money to afford nappies for his newborn baby despite being contracted to an NRL club
Cronulla star Sione Katoa is flying high in 2025, but the hulking winger has revealed he struggled for money so badly early in his NRL career that he had to collect cans and bottles for recycling just to make ends meet. Katoa, born in Hamilton, NZ, has played on the wing for the Sharks at NRL level since 2018, making 120 appearances and scoring 79 tries. Internationally, he represented Tonga between 2022–24 and in the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s, earning four Test caps and three appearances in the 9s tournament. His journey to the NRL began when he was just six years old and his family moved to Australia, setting roots in Sydney's west in Granville. Katoa was always the naturally gifted one amongst his friends in Sydney, dominating basketball contests that would stretch until 1am at the local youth centre because they had 'nothing better to do'. 'The youth centre days were some of the best, most fun days I've had in my life,' he said. 'If I did go to school, that's where I would be after. If I didn't go to school, that's where I would be. If I didn't go to school, it was because I would stay until 12 or 1 in the morning playing basketball. 'I can honestly say that place helped me a lot, looking back now.' It helped them stay on the rails in a tough environment, with many of their peers living on the street, getting involved with drugs and facing a bleak future. Eventually, Katoa's athletic talents were noticed by the Cronulla Sharks, and he was offered a minimum wage contract to start in 2018 when he was just 20 years old. 'Coming through I didn't think "I want to play NRL", it just slowly happened,' he said. 'I enjoyed it, I had fun and that's how I got there.' However, his rags-to-riches story didn't quite play out that way in the beginning. While Katoa grew up poor and humble, he now had a young family to feed and the first contract he signed with the Sharks didn't go far in the gentrified Shire. Once a surfer's hangout, Cronulla became a coastal paradise with luxury homes lining the foreshore, and Katoa spoke about what he needed to do just to make ends meet after leaving Sydney's inner west for the Shire. 'I got married young,' he told the Bros and Cons podcast, hosted by friends he has known since childhood. 'Because I got my wife pregnant. In the Tongan culture, we got married. 'So we had a little wedding and then we had a newborn and then I had to move into the Shire.' That was the moment Katoa realised the road to the NRL was not paved with gold. 'It was my first time moving out of home,' he said. 'At that time, my contract was not that much. The minimum was about $60k [a year] or something. 'When you move to the Shire, you've got to pay rent, bills and all these [expenses].' Katoa quickly realised that the $60,000 contract was not going to stretch far enough once all those bills were factored in. 'There was a time I had to collect the 10-cent bottles [for recycling].' It would have been a strange sight for locals, to see a towering Tongan NRL star walking the streets and collecting rubbish for money. So he collected the bottles and cans under the cover of darkness. 'I would wait until Tuesday nights, that was bin night,' Katoa said. 'I would wait until it gets dark. So that is what I was doing that time when it got hard. 'In Cronulla, there is a lot of drinking. There is a lot of partying. 'So I would wait until 11pm, 12am at night to go out because I was scared people might see me. I was shy to show my face [while] I am doing this. 'But at home, I just needed money.' Things got so bad that Katoa and his young wife Taufa ran out of money for essentials like nappies and formula for their child Keziah. 'I knew every street, where the jackpot was, cases of [empty] beer [bottles],' he said, able to laugh about it now. 'I was probably the only one doing it at that time. 'Some nights I would have my daughter in the car with me sleeping. 'I would fill these bags up, stack them up on top of my car. 'My wife would tell me that is enough, come home.' Highlighting how much extra work Katoa was doing to bring in extra income, the Sharks winger said he would bring home at least $200 from his Tuesday-night scavenges - collecting an average of 2000 bottles. 'That's a story that, I never want to tell it. Because I feel embarrassed.
