Sharks coach Shane Flanagan has named a 20-man squad for Cronulla’s World Club Challenge match against English Super League champions Wigan.
Cronulla have chosen 13 of their premiership-winning heroes for the February 19 match, with new signings Jeremy Latimore and Daniel Mortimer as well as local Aquinas Colts junior Jayden Brailey also in the squad.
Valentine Holmes (hamstring), Sosaia Feki (knee) and new signing Tony Williams (hamstring) will all miss the trip with Michael Ennis (retired) and Ben Barba (released) the only other members of Cronulla’s title winners that won’t play.
Gerard Beale has trained at fullback alongside Holmes during the pre-season and is the favourite to wear the No.1 jersey in the 21-year-old’s absence, while under-20s winger Jesse Raimen has earned a call up after his impressive performance at the Auckland Nines last weekend.
The Sharks leave for the UK on Saturday night and will be based in London until Thursday when they head north to Manchester.
The match at the DW Stadium, Wigan kicks off at 2am on Monday (AEDT).
Sharks squad: Jack Bird, Jesse Raimen, Gerard Beale, Ricky Leutele, Kurt Capewell, James Maloney, Chad Townsend, Paul Gallen, Wade Graham, Luke Lewis, Andrew Fifita, Matt Prior, Chris Heighington, Jeremy Latimore, Jayson Bukuya, Daniel Mortimer, Fa’amanu Brown, Jayden Brailey, Joseph Paulo, Sam Tagataese