NRL Preliminary Finals Late Mail: Sharks star Jesse Ramien ruled out of Panthers clash

The Sharks have suffered a blow on the eve of their preliminary final against the Panthers, with one star ruled out of the must win clash.

The inevitable has been realised for Cronulla with centre Jesse Ramien unable to overcome an ankle injury ahead of a grand final qualifier.

Ramien had tried valiantly to prove his fitness in time for a preliminary final against the Panthers at Accor Stadium on Saturday night.

However, he has officially been ruled out.

Siosifa Talakai will replace Ramien in the centres with utility Daniel Atkinson elevated from 18th man and onto the interchange bench.

WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 25: Jesse Ramien of the Sharks celebrates scoring a try during the round 25 NRL match between St George Illawarra Dragons and Cronulla Sharks at WIN Stadium, on August 25, 2024, in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon confirmed Kayal Iro was fit to play.

“He’s fine,” Fitzgibbon said of the young Sharks centre.

“Kayal has had a slight wrist injury for a number of weeks but he’s good to go.”

The Panthers are sweating on the fitness of premiership-winning forward Scott Sorensen, who was named in the reserves, is battling a hamstring injury.

NRL PRELIMINARY FINAL TEAMS

STORM vs. ROOSTERS

Friday, 7:50pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne

STORM

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero

Interchange: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Christian Welch 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Alec MacDonald

Reserves: 18. Grant Anderson

Cut: 19. Kane Bradley 20. Lazarus Vaalepu 21. Joe Chan 22. Sualauvi Faalogo

Late Mail: No changes.

ROOSTERS

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley

Interchange: 14. Spencer Leniu 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Nat Butcher 17. Terrell May

Reserves: 18. Zach Dockar-Clay

Cut: 19. Siua Wong 20. Fetalaiga Pauga 21. Jake Elliott 22. Michael Jennings

Late Mail: No changes.

PANTHERS vs. SHARKS

Saturday, 7:50pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

PANTHERS

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 14. Brad Schneider 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Matt Eisenhuth

Reserves: 18. Casey McLean 19. Trent Toelau 20. Scott Sorensen 21. Daine Laurie 22. Luke Sommerton

Late Mail: To come...

SHARKS

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 14. Siosifa Talakai 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Daniel Atkinson

Reserves:19. Braden Hamlin-Uele 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Samuel Stonestreet

Cut: 3. Jesse Ramien

Late Mail: Jesse Ramien has been ruled out, with Siosifa Talakai coming into the starting side at centre, with Daniel Atkinson the new face on the bench. Kayal Iro has been cleared to play despite battling a biceps injury.