2013 NRL General Discussion Thread

[dylan the villian]

wowza, some good signs here...... sopoaga groomed for 1st grade and sharks trying to get fergo contract registered.....

EXCITING Cronulla Sharks back rower Tupou Sopoaga will be groomed for first grade to take the place of departing Jayson Bukuya next season.


Bukuya, who is joining New Zealand Warriors, is among several Sharks NRL stars who played their last game for the club on Friday night in the 24-18 loss to Manly Sea Eagles at Allianz Stadium.

Despite losing five-eighth star Todd Carney last week and then centre Ben Pomeroy, benched near half-time after he reinjured his thigh, the 16-man Sharks gamely stayed "alive" right up until the final 30 seconds of the drama-filled semi-final, which included controversial decisions again.

Of the squad named on Friday, fill-in half Chad Townsend is joining Bukuya at the Warriors and veteran prop Ben Ross is retiring. Of the top 30 squad, Tyrone Peachey is heading to Penrith and Stewart Mills, Mark Taufua, Jon Green and Matt Wright remain unsigned, with centre Ben Pomeroy in discussions about a possible extension.

Sopoaga, 21, whose older brother Lima plays Super Rugby for the Highlanders in Dunedin, has been one of the stars of the Sharks NSW Cup side which easily won the 2013 Cup minor premiership, and has advanced to this Sunday's grand final qualifier at Leichhardt Oval, after Cronulla's 54-18 demolition of Newtown on Sunday.

Like Fijian World Cup player Bukuya, Sopoaga is a fine attacking backrower, and with more size on him.

After playing for the NRL side in their last round win over Canberra, coach Shane Flanagan said he was ‘‘excited’’ by his potential.

Flanagan and Sharks chief executive Steve Noyce have 4-5 ‘‘second tier’’ positions to fill, with former Shark and Canberra centre Blake Ferguson still a chance of returning to the club if the NRL allows a new contract to be registered.

The Sharks have locked up all of their stars, with extensions given to the likes of John Morris, Sam Tagataese, Nathan Stapleton and Nathan Gardner.

Coach Flanagan is also looking towards securing a long-term contract.

‘‘We gave it a good crack and just missed moving through [finals], and looking towards 2014 I hope fans are excited about the squad we’ve built,’’ said Sharks chief executive

Steve Noyce.

John Morris, now finishing his coaching degree, will mix NRL football next year with recruiting more young talent and coaching in the Sharks Junior Academy.

The Sharks NSW Cup team take on North Sydney in a grand-final qualifier at 3pm this Sunday at Leichhardt Oval.

The Tony Herman-coached Sharks were back to their brilliant best on Sunday, running in 10 tries and highlighted by their back three forwards — Tyrone Peachey, Tupou Sopoaga and Junior Moors — and front- rower David Fifita, twin brother of Andrew Fifita.

The Sharks led 28-12 at the break and continued on after, including an 80-metre solo try to fullback Nathan Gardner.

SHARKS IN 2014

Into top 30: Centres Blake Ayshford (Wests Tigers) and Ricky Leutele (injured all season), second rower Tupou Sopoaga (NSW Cup), prop David Fifita (drafted into NSW Cup late), under 20s hooker Michael Lichaa, and 4-5 extra players.

Out of top 30: Ben Ross, Chad Townsend, Tyrone Peachey, Stewart Mills, Mark Taufua, Jon Green and Matt Wright.

Possible inclusion: Centre Blake Ferguson (dependent on NRL registering his contract for 2014).

 

[slide rule]

Found this bit interesting:

John Morris, now finishing his coaching degree, will mix NRL football next year with recruiting more young talent and coaching in the Sharks Junior Academy.

 

[snowman]

awesome that we could get fergo back, that makes up for the re-signing of pomeroy

 

[skeksis]

I wonder if the reason we haven't heard anything official from the club on that is they're waiting on Fergo.

 

[1990 sharkie]

The contract wont mean anything unless nrl say its ok for him to be a shark
They gotta show in the contract how they will help him

 

[rahnos]

So does that mean he has been signed pending nrl approval or once nrl approval is given we will try and sign him??

 

[1990 sharkie]

Not to sure have to wait and see , can mean both

 

[egg]

awesome that we could get fergo back, that makes up for the re-signing of pomeroy

That big Leader article (above) had this line in it,,also

with centre Ben Pomeroy in discussions about a possible extension.

 

[dylan the villian]

Sharks chairman Damian Keogh says the club isn’t leaving Sutherland Shire - and the club’s board is working on a strategic plan to ensure the club is financially viable for the next 50 years. In a series of questions put to him by the Leader, Mr Keogh made it clear the club was staying put but needed increased support from members, fans and sponsors

While the Sharks were one of rugby league’s real success stories on the field this year, the club has continued to struggle off-field, transcended by the ASADA investigation, with findings expected after this year’s NRL grand final.


The club is still burdened by debt, and cannot rely on income from the yet-to-be built $400 million Woolooware Bay retail and unit development for at least two to three years.

Q: Are you confident the Sharks can become financially viable and not force the NRL to make a decision to move the Sharks in future?

A: Yes, we have a strategic plan for the next four years which will cultivate the Sharks 50th anniversary year, and so ensure the Sharks are still in the shire for the next 50 years, too.

There is just no truth to the [Wednesday] media speculation about us being relocated to Queensland. In fact, the Sharks club has never been stronger. Sure, we have short-term [financial] problems, but they don’t affect the viability of this club. In fact, if it wasn’t for the costs associated with the ASADA investigation and the [NRL] salary cap fine, the club would have broken even.

Q: What financial plan has been put in place to cover any future NRL fine of $1 million or more if the ASADA investigation goes badly for the club?

A: Any future fine is speculative, of course, and we have met with the NRL several times ... and there is nothing more we can do. The club has paid a high price already, for an investigation of something that might have happened for 10 weeks, in 2011, by a group who had no intent to cheat in any way. But if we face a fine, then I’m confident it won’t impact on the club’s [financial] viability.

Q: Has the club gained major and minor corporate sponsors, or gained pledges of increased support, to back the Sharks financially at Woolooware next year?

A: We secured OneSolution, Remondis and a number of new sponsors late this season. A number of big companies were obviously reluctant to back us with the [ASADA] investigation going on. But I believe our commercial department has more support now than at any time in the history of the club, and we’re hopeful of those big sponsors signing up before the new season begins. Everyone is working hard, and we appreciate the tremendous support we received from local companies this year, which we want to grow.

Q: Does the club plan to save money by not spending their full salary cap for $2014?

A: No, the performance of the team on the field is paramount to the Sharks. The way they banded together under coach Shane Flanagan in a very difficult year was inspiring, and the on-field success they had, led by Paul Gallen and blokes like Todd Carney and Luke Lewis, touched all fans, not just the Sharks. That’s why we won’t be compromising on our salary cap. We’ll be spending the full cap.

Q: Is the club paying off its $3.3m bank loan?

A: It is a $3 million bank loan which we hope to pay off by around January. We’re working on various payment options, we have financial experts on our board ... refinancing and/or working in with the developers are some of the options.

Q: In the financial arrangements made with the NRL to cover legal costs of the ASADA process, has the NRL given the club any guarantees about its future?

A: The NRL has helped us and other clubs financially. The unbudgeted debt from the cost of the ASADA investigation was about $650,000. Our future isn’t being discussed, as the NRL CEO [David Smith] made clear, and as our own CEO Steve Noyce pointed out. We are now aiming for future annual annuity revenues of between $3m to $5m, and later once development revenues come on stream, a future fund to provide for the long-term survival of the club. We have had tremendous support from the shire with membership doubling to more than 10,000. That was great. But I will stress the ongoing support from the area will dictate our future. The support of fans, and members, is paramount to the Cronulla Sharks ... and our club membership for 2014 is now open.

See related story: http://www.theleader.com.au/story/1800435/sharks-laugh-at-moving-north-report/?cs=1255

 

[mjef3966]

Hey Guys,

I’ve been following the media reports on the sharks situation pretty closely this year, needless to say but the daily telegraph seems to be hitting the sharks with negative publicity more than any other media paper or news group. In particular Rebecca Wilson has pretty much had her fingers in all the negative stuff that has been written about the sharks.
Judging by what everyone else has written it really seems that Rebecca Wilson has some personal agenda against the sharks. Can anyone shed some light on this by any chance? Is there any reason why she would pound the sharks with all this negative publicity?
Has anyone else noticed this?
Some of the opinion columns she has posted as well as the “journalist columns” this year seem pretty harsh not only towards the Sharkies but Rugby league as a whole.

Sorry I have been away from these forums for most of the year and I don’t know if it has been discussed. I have tried to search some post for this subject but had no luck. Please link me if already been discussed.

 

[Tatus]

All those ********s seem to think that there is too many sides in Sydney. My take on all this, because our name is being dragged through the mud we are an easy target and the more outlandish the article the more hits she is going to get. I used to really like NRL 360 but it seems Kent hates the Sharks and wants us to fold or relocate... The NRL says they have no plans, but "NRL power-brokers" think this is best for the game.

 

[lisadb]

awesome that we could get fergo back, that makes up for the re-signing of pomeroy

I will not be renewing my membership if they sign loud mouth obnoxious fergo

 

[sharkyboy]

I will not be renewing my membership if they sign loud mouth obnoxious fergo

Sorry to hear, hope we dont see you when we make the finals next year. Myth.

 

[sharks2010]

I will not be renewing my membership if they sign loud mouth obnoxious fergo

ive never understood this mentality, but meh each to their own

 

[snowman]

I will not be renewing my membership if they sign loud mouth obnoxious fergo

sweet. dont celebrate when he scores tries either.

and dont bandwagon when we make the finals with him in our team.

kthnxbye

 

[stevie013]

I will not be renewing my membership if they sign loud mouth obnoxious fergo

we have signed lots of players over the years that i hate, but never once did i decide to not renew my membership. what a **** attitude. we dont want attitudes like that at the club, piss off to the dragons.

 

[skeksis]

Assuming we even get him...I'd be pissed of they passed on him and signed skidz, but I'd never reneg on my membership. If we can get him, it'll be huge.

 

[hamsy44]

I will not be renewing my membership if they sign loud mouth obnoxious fergo

understand your sentiment but the truth is it won't stop us signing him. It does however stop you being a part of the group of members who were there when we win the comp.

 

[gando2230]

we have signed lots of players over the years that i hate, but never once did i decide to not renew my membership. what a **** attitude. we dont want attitudes like that at the club, piss off to the dragons.

The QLD Dragons.

 

[lisadb]

we have signed lots of players over the years that i hate, but never once did i decide to not renew my membership. what a **** attitude. we dont want attitudes like that at the club, piss off to the dragons.

I have been supporting the sharks for 35 years. Mght surprise you but you don't have to be a member to be a supporter.

**** off