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The Seawolves showed their ambition with a hard-fought win over San Diego in Week 1, and they’ll want more from their clash of marine predators against the Sharks. Miami are playing their first road game and it takes them all the way from the Atlantic Southeast to the Pacific Northwest.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
1-0-0 (W1) West 3rd
0-1-0 (L1) East 4th
| LINEUP CHANGES |
2 Joe Taufete’e replaces Peter Malcolm (HIA)
5 Jean Droste replaces Mahoni Ngakuru (injury)
6 Huw Taylor replaces Jean Droste
14 Lauina Futi replaces Toni Pulu (wore 11 vs San Diego)
16 DaQuan Perry replaces Joe Taufete’e
20 Pago Haini replaces Taylor Krumrei (wore 19 vs San Diego)
23 Jeremiah Sio replaces Lauina Futi
2 Sean McNulty replaces Kirby Myhill
5 Michael Etete replaces Stan van den Hoven
11 Santiago Videla replaces Eric Naposki
16 Alex Glover replaces Sean McNulty
23 Eric Naposki replaces Avery Oitomen
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(5) – Taylor*, Perry, Wenglewski, Haini, Windsor
(5) – Etete*, Videla*, Glover, Schor-Haskin, Morley*
*MLR debut
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(7) – Taufete’e, Hattingh, Lopeti, Futi, Wenglewski, Rees (USA), Rossouw (Namibia)
(11) – Evans (Wales), Piussi, Ardao, Etcheverry, Inciarte (Uruguay), Bonasso (USA), Cubelli (Argentina), Grigg (Scotland), Videla (Chile), O’Leary, du Toit (Canada)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Peter Malcolm (HO), Mahonri Ngakuru (LO), Tevita Kuridrani (CE), Toni Pulu (WI)
– Kirby Myhill (HO), Stan van den Hoven (LO)
| NOTES |
- Chance Wenglewski and Sam Windsor should make their Seattle debuts… both were unused replacements against San Diego… similarly Chase Schor-Haskin and Damian Morley did not see the pitch in Miami’s close defeat to Chicago
- Miami’s Alex Glover should earn his second MLR cap against his former team… he made his pro debut with Seattle as a replacement in the last game of the regular season against San Diego in 2023… starting hooker Sean McNulty spent half a season with the Seawolves in 2022
- Alec McDonnell continues to cover tighthead prop for Miami… he is usually a loosehead but Alex Tucci tore a bicep in the preseason and draft pick Setu Vole has yet to make his pro debut
- Huw Taylor was named in Seattle’s roster last week but was a late withdrawal before kickoff… with Jean Droste taking his spot… both are named in Saturday’s lineup
- the Sharks will feature fully-capped internationals from seven different nations… with Chilean World Cup starter Santiago Videla this week given the thumbs up to make his MLR debut
| PREDICTION |
Miami gave a solid account of themselves against Chicago and will be looking forward to dryer conditions, but will miss the warmth of home. Seattle were methodical in their approach against San Diego and will be a bit more refined this week. The travel is a lot for the Sharks to handle, while the Seawolves are pressing their case as early title contenders. Seattle are clear favorites.
| LINEUPS |
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Cameron Orr, 2 Joe Taufete’e, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 5 Jean Droste, 6 Huw Taylor, 7 Charles Elton, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 Mack Mason, 11 Jade Stighling, 12 Dan Kriel, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Lauina Futi, 15 Divan Rossouw
Replacements: 16 DaQuan Perry, 17 Chance Wenglewski, 18 Olive Kilifi, 19 Reid Davis, 20 Pago Haini, 21 Ryan Rees, 22 Sam Windsor, 23 Jeremiah Sio
MIAMI SHARKS
1 Rob Evans, 2 Sean McNulty, 3 Reinaldo Piussi, 4 Tomás Casares, 5 Michael Etete, 6 Benjamín Bonasso, 7 Dan Pryor, 8 Manuel Ardao, 9 Tomás Cubelli (capt.), 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 11 Santiago Videla, 12 Nick Grigg, 13 Tomás Inciarte, 14 Marcos Young, 15 Shane O’Leary
Replacements: 16 Alex Glover, 17 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 18 Alec McDonnell, 19 Rick Rose, 20 Chase Schor-Haskin, 21 Damian Morley, 22 Guiseppe du Toit, 23 Eric Naposki
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, March 9
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 19:00 local (22:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: cloudy, 45°F (7°C), wind S 11-17mph (18-27km/h)
Broadcasts: Bally Sports Florida, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Cisco Lopez (USA)
Assistants: Robin Kaluzniak (Canada) & Brad Schwalger (Canada)
TMO: Greg Gilliam (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (0) – first match
