SHARKS NEED TO MAUL WHALES
Boast the core ingredients of a very good footy side with a dangerous fullback in Will Kennedy, gifted and ever-evolving playmaker in Nicho Hynes and a super talented dummyhalf in Blayke Brailey. What the Sharks will need to answer in 2024 is how long does the new-look halves combination of Braydon Trindall and Hynes take to fire and ultimately, can they jump the hurdle that has brought them undone over the past two seasons and that is, consistently beat top-four sides?
BACKS
Hard to fault with two of the NRL’s top tryscorers in Ronald Mulitalo and Sione Katoa on the wings. Kennedy, as mentioned, is key to the Sharks’ attack. They clearly struggled in that space when he was out injured last season. Jesse Ramien, while powerful and dangerous, can chase Origin selection through greater consistency.
Fellow centre Siosifa Talakai needs a fast start to the season to continue holding down his spot. The powerful ball carrier has mounting pressure from Kade Dykes and Kayal Iro on him. Deeper in the roster, keep an eye on local junior Sam Stonestreet. Tall, fast and powerful, Stonestreet is a major prospect on the wing.
SPINE
If the back-end of last season for Cronulla and the NRL All Stars is any indication, the new halves combination – following the departure of Matt Moylan – of Trindall and Hynes looks a winner. Trindall is a solid defender and, coupled with his long and short kicking game and willingness to take on the line, will take mass pressure off Hynes from needing to call every play for Cronulla. What few footy fans wouldn’t know is that Trindall has a deep connection and combination with fullback Will Kennedy from several seasons spent together in the NSW Cup. Brailey has reached the point of his career where he needs to prove he’s one of the best hookers in the NRL. A justified winner of the Sharks’ best player award in 2023, he needs to back it up again.
FORWARDS
The recruitment of Addin FonuaBlake for 2025 speaks volumes on what the Sharks are missing this season. Or perhaps, the signing of AFB prompts a response from the current Sharks pack, with an enforcer to emerge. Oregon Kaufusi is young, big and powerful.
After a solid debut season with the Sharks, there’s a belief he could be the one who steps up in 2024. Briton Nikora is one of the best edge backrowers in the NRL, while Teig Wilton must lock down the jersey that Wade Graham made his own. Lock Cam McInnes is a player every side would love, while Jack Williams, Toby Rudolf and Braden HamlinUele must dominate their opposition for the Sharks to be any hope in 2024.
The question marks rests around Dale Finucane.
A smaller but robust forward, the debate will be how much longer he can keep playing without selfpreservation, particularly with pressure from the likes of promising forwards Tom Hazelton and Jesse Colquhoun.
Braydon Trindall. For a Sharks side that is devoid of any major off-season signings, Trindall emerges as the most significant change to Cronulla from last season. The former Queensland under-20s playmaker has waited his whole career for this moment, playing bit roles as a back-up half, until now. Man of the match for the Indigenous All Stars, Trindall has shown he has the skill set to make the Sharks a more formidable side.