MLR 2025: Eastern Conference Semi Final – New England Free Jacks vs Miami Sharks – ARN Guide

The defending champion Free Jacks will look to secure their place in another Eastern Conference Final when they host the Miami Sharks at Fort Quincy on Sunday. After a slow start to the campaign, New England finished in top spot in the East but face another team whose form improved in the second half of the season. The winner will move on to face the Chicago Hounds in a week’s time.

11-5-0 (W2) East 1st

8-8-0 (L1) East 4th

	IN	OUT
1	Malakai Hala-Ngatai	Kyle Ciquera
2	Andrew Quattrin	Foster DeWitt
6	Jed Melvin	Conor Keys
9	Cam Nordli-Kelemeti	Oscar Lennon
10	Dan Hollinshead	Harrison Boyle
11	Paula Balekana	Jack Reeves
12	Le Roux Malan	Wayne van der Bank

	IN	OUT
1	Ma’ake Muti	Alex Tucci
2	Kirby Myhill	Sean McNulty
3	Alec McDonnell	Reinaldo Piussi
4	Tomás Casares	Rick Rose
6	Manuel Ardao	Chase Schor-Haskin
7	Benjamín Bonasso	Calvin Ihring
9	Tomás Cubelli	Damian Morley
10	Martín Elías	Guiseppe du Toit
13	Matías Orlando	Lautaro Soto Ansay
14	Marcos Young	Jake Negrete
15	Shane O’Leary	Connor Burns

(11) – Quattrin, von Dadelszen, LeSage, Webster, DeWitt, Larsen, Fryer (Canada), Koroiduadua (Fiji), Conradie, Malan (Namibia), Geiger (USA)

(11) – Myhill (Wales), Casares, Bonasso (USA), Ardao, Inciarte (Uruguay), Cubelli, Orlando (Argentina), Videla (Chile), O’Leary, du Toit (Canada), Koloamatangi (Tonga)

– Jerónimo Gómez Vara (FL/N8), Jayson Potroz (FH), Jack Reeves (CE/WI)

– Sean McNulty (HO), Reinaldo Piussi (TH), Ronan Foley (N8)

Both teams field run-on sides close to their preferred lineups. The Free Jacks are again without star playmaker Jayson Potroz but Dan Hollinshead has returned from New Zealand to take the reins at No10. Miami will be without their usual No8 Ronan Foley, though the position has been contested by Marques Fuala’au all season. Manuel Ardao is the key figure for the Sharks, though his class is countered by the outstanding Free Jacks loose forward trio. Miami have traditionally fared poorly at Quincy, having failed to score even a single try in their two matches at the venue. New England are favorites at home.

NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Jone Koroiduadua, 4 Piers von Dadelszen, 5 Sam Caird, 6 Jed Melvin, 7 Joe Johnston (capt.), 8 Wian Conradie, 9 Cam Nordli-Kelemeti, 10 Dan Hollinshead, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Simon-Peter Toleafoa, 15 Brock Webster

Replacements: 16 Foster DeWitt, 17 Kyle Ciquera, 18 Kaleb Geiger, 19 Josh Larsen, 20 Ethan Fryer, 21 Oscar Lennon, 22 Wayne van der Bank, 23 Harrison Boyle

MIAMI SHARKS
1 Ma’ake Muti, 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Alec McDonnell, 4 Tomás Casares, 5 Mauro Rebussone, 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 Benjamín Bonasso, 8 Marques Fuala’au, 9 Tomás Cubelli (capt.), 10 Martín Elías, 11 Tomás Malanos, 12 Santiago Videla, 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Marcos Young, 15 Shane O’Leary

Replacements: 16 Tomás Bekerman, 17 Alex Tucci, 18 Tau Koloamatangi, 19 Braemar Murray, 20 Rick Rose, 21 Tomás Inciarte, 22 Chase Schor-Haskin, 23 Guiseppe du Toit

Date: Sunday, June 15
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 14:00 local (11:00 Pacific)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 66°F (19°C), wind E 8-18mph (13-29km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, Fan Duel Florida, NBC Sports Boston, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network

Referee: Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
Assistants: Kahlil Harrison (USA) & Eanna O’Dowd (Ireland)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)

HEAD-TO-HEAD (4) – New England 2, Miami 2
2025-05-16 – Miami Sharks 30, New England Free Jacks 19 (Baptist Health Community Field)
2025-04-06 – New England Free Jacks 43, Miami Sharks 6 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2024-05-25 – Miami Sharks 15, New England Free Jacks 13 (AutoNation Field)
2024-04-06 – New England Free Jacks 25, Miami Sharks 3 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)