2025 R20 Fri - Cronulla 31-18 Sydney @ Sharks

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2025 - Round 20
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Sydney Roosters
Sharks Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal (TICKETS)

Friday 18 July 2025
NRL kickoff 6pm
Live on Fox, Kayo

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Billy Burns 19. Chris Veaila 20. Niwhai Puru 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Jayden Berrell

Out: Billy Burns (bench to reserve)
In: Daniel Atkinson (bench)

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Chad Townsend 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Salesi Foketi 13. Victor Radley 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Blake Steep 16. Egan Butcher 17. Spencer Leniu 18. Ethan King 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Sandon Smith 21. Benaiah Ioelu 22. Tom Rodwell

Out: Hugo Savala (five-eighth)
In: Chad Townsend (five-eighth)
Changes: Spencer Leniu (front row to bench), Lindsay Collins (bench to front row)

Referee: Todd Smith
Sideline Officials: Phil Henderson, Chris Sutton
Video Referee: Adam Gee

HEAD TO HEAD - 1967 - 2025​

	TOTAL	CRONULLA	SYDNEY	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	103	36	65	2
SHARKS	50	19	29	2

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2022	Round 12	SYDNEY 36-16	Pointsbet	11500
2023	Round 7	CRONULLA 22-12	Pointsbet	11489
2023	Elim Final	SYDNEY 13-12	Pointsbet	12570
2024	Round 11	CRONULLA 38-30	Suncorp	50708
2025	Round 12	SYDNEY 42-16	Industree	13399

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
1991	Round 18	CRONULLA 48-14	Caltex	7071
2013	Round 19	SYDNEY 40-0	Allianz	13706

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 21	Round 22	Round 23	Round 24
CRONULLA	SOUTH SYDNEY (A)	NORTH QLD (H)	ST GEO ILLA (A)	GOLD COAST (H)
SYDNEY	MELBOURNE (H)	MANLY (A)	DOLPHINS (A)	CANTERBURY (H)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 17		Round 18		Round 19
CRONULLA	MELBOURNE	L 6-30	BYE	-	DOLPHINS	W 24-12
SYDNEY	BYE	-	WESTS TIGERS	L 28-30	ST GEO ILLA	W 31-24

STATE OF PLAY: 2025 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
CRONULLA	9th	17	2	9-8-0	390	382
SYDNEY	8th	16	3	8-8-0	403	382

LOWER GRADES
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND	SYDNEY
NSW Cup (Newtown) v Sydney, Henson Park, Saturday, 3:00pm Jersey Flegg v Sydney, Sharks Stadium, Friday, 3:35pm	NSW Cup v Newtown (CRO), Henson Park, Saturday, 3:00pm Jersey Flegg v Cronulla, Sharks Stadium, Friday, 3:35pm

 

[Fangs]

Payback time for Cronulla after their embrasssing defeat at Gosford earlier this year.

Sharks making the 8 makes the finals series a lot more interesting. Have to win these kind of games.

Sharks by 8.

 

[Valheru]

We get the pleasure of the Chad experience this week.

It actually makes sense to me given savala is only a week or 2.

Too much defensive liability with both walker and Sandon in the side and Chad can kick longer than either.

If we don't let him kick at all in the attacking 30 we might score some points.

 

[Captain Apollo]

We get the pleasure of the Chad experience this week.

It actually makes sense to me given savala is only a week or 2.

Too much defensive liability with both walker and Sandon in the side and Chad can kick longer than either.

If we don't let him kick at all in the attacking 30 we might score some points.

Yeah Savala's wrist injury is a bummer. Never know with Robbo though. He could go with Walker and Smith in the halves. That's what was going on last year so, who knows whom may run out on Friday at five eight.

 

[Warrimoo3]

Puff piece on channel 7 sports last night about how Nico is fit and in form and other teams are on notice. Scored a couple of tries last week when Herbie forgot to defend.

Back in 1999 Geelong player Garry Hocking did a deal with cat food maker Whiskas. For $100k he changed his name by deed poll to “Whiskas”. Geelong were financially strapped at the time so it was seen as an act of goodwill (allegedly 80k to the club and 20k to the player.)

So where am I going with this ? Well Nicho Hines and Heinz could be an advertiser’s dream. TPA gone crazy. Imagine the post game quotes. “I missed the field goal from 10 metres out and right in front to ice the game against the Bulldogs because my legs turned to spaghetti. Speaking of spaghetti , (holds up tin of Heinz), you can’t beat this! “

 

[Vic Mackey]

Dont the Roosters own the Sharks pretty hard?

Not sure what to make of Cronulla, this is such a poor comp that they should be shitting the top 4 in, instead theyre struggling to stay in the 8. Think Easts have a bit more footy in them, even with Chad there

Roosters by 10.

 

[Warrimoo3]

Big match for both teams . A bit of a log jam on the table with 4 teams on 22 points. I like what the Roosters bring to the table on their day. And I stress on their day. They can certainly make a run for the comp but I can’t see them winning 4 in a row from the bottom half of the eight. Too many errors. They’ll be ruing that loss to the Tigers too.

The Sharks need only look at Warrior Tanah Boyd’s performance last week to see what they need to unlock their backline strike. Someone who can square up their whole attack.

Anyway , the Roosters have lots of strike with Walker back and I expect their forwards to aim up. Marky Mark to make his mark. Even Chad may have a point to prove against his own club , but leave him out of the long kicking duties.

Roosters by 12.

 

[This Year?]

I found trying to build a tryscorer multi with decent odds very difficult.
All the usual suspects are at such short odds.

 

[Fangs]

This is actually the match of the round upon review. Not deserving of 6.00pm.

No matter. I'll be ready.

 

[mongoose]

I think the Sharks have been timing themselves for a run of form going into the finals. I think they will win here.

Sharks by 10

 

[Wb1234]

Embarrassing defence chooks

 

[lockyno1]

Oh hello tick

now I’m screwed

 

[yobbo84]

People used to joke about Origin Gagai but it's deadset Origin Collins these days.... bloke is plod in the NRL these days, like a slightly better Sean Keppie

He just watched that try happen

 

[lockyno1]

I think the Sharks have been timing themselves for a run of form going into the finals. I think they will win here.

Sharks by 10

A run to lose in straight sets as usual?

 

[lockyno1]

People used to joke about Origin Gagai but it's deadset Origin Collins these days.... bloke is plod in the NRL these days, like a slightly better Sean Keppie

He just watched that try happen

no one was better than Origin Nate Myles

he’s the gold medal

 

[Wb1234]

Whose that plodder he bombed it

 

[yobbo84]

Talakai is the overlap murderer

Bombed about 4 tries in the past couple of weeks

 

[lockyno1]

You fat mongoose

pass the ball Talakai

 

[Apey]

Gotta play to the whistle but how was the Sharks player not held in the first try? Havin' a laugh.

 

[mozza91]

I feel sorry for Johnson. He’s way too hot to be hanging around mouth breathers like Ennis and Voss.