Sharks outlook suddenly shinier
November 12, 2014 • 208
Brad Forrest
OPINION
By Brad Forrest
Just Cronulla News Sports Editor
The anticipated signing of Dragons and Samoan Four Nations half Kyle Stanley, along with the prize signing of Ben Barba on Tuesday, means Cronulla Sharks could have overcome a major problem area for the start of next year’s NRL season.
Suddenly, after one of the darkest periods in the club’s 47-year-history, last season’s cellar dwellers are emerging as one of the league’s biggest movers and shakers for season 2015. It also corresponds with the start this week of building works for the club’s new $400m Woolooware Bay residential and retail development.
Busy recruitment program
The capture of Bulldogs captain, hooker Michael Ennis, and Dally M medal winner Barba tops off a busy recruitment period for a club left reeling last year by a massive injury toll, the ASADA scandal and suspension of their coach, the sacking of Todd Carney and on- and off-field dramas.
The Sharks’ recruitment for 2015 began with the signing of Ennis and team-mate and former Shark, winger Mitch Brown, along with Australian Schoolboys centre Jack Bird (ex Dragons).
It was topped off by Ben Barba’s signature and the return of former Shark back rower, Fiji World Cup representative Jason Bukuya. And there was the return from suspension of Sharks head coach Shane Flanagan the previous week.
Signatures snared
In between, the Sharks also snared promising Canberra winger Sami Sauiluma and Sydney Roosters giant prop, Saulala Houma, as well as Brisbane Norths half Todd Murphy.
With Samoa knocked out of the Four Nations tournament, the Sharks are expected to soon announce Kyle Stanley’s signature, and they may well also sign his Dragons team-mate, centre Gerard Beale.
The new-look halves combination means the Sharks will field what you could call their own “South Pacific” representative back line, with Stanley (Samoa) and Barba (Indigenous All Stars), Ricky Leutele (Samoa), Jack Bird (Australian Schoolboys), Sosaia Feki (New Zealand), Valentine Holmes (Australian Schoolboys), Michael Gordon (NSW Origin) and Mitch Brown, as well as Gerard Beale (New Zealand) if he signs.
Pack power
The Sharks pack boasts power and experience headed by representatives in captain Paul Gallen, Michael Ennis, Luke Lewis, Andrew Fifita, Wade Graham and Jason Bukuya, along with Anthony Tupou, Chris Heighington, Sam Tagataese and David Fifita, Andrew’s twin brother.
Ennis, recovered from the broken bones in his foot which cruelly ruled him out of the grand final, and Brown have been given a 10-day break from training by coach Shane Flanagan. They will return around the same time that Paul Gallen, Wade Graham, Anthony Tupou and Nathan Gardner come back from their ASADA suspensions.