Craig Fitzgibbon arrives at Cronulla armed with a squad which just missed out on the finals in 2021 – and has added some class and firepower.
Fitzgibbon has a reputation as the game’s brightest coaching prospect and there’s an expectation that his arrival will carry the Sharks back to finals football.
But what is the ceiling for Cronulla in 2022? David Riccio takes a deep dive into what to expect from the Sharks next season.
FULL 2022 SQUAD
Blayke Brailey, Andrew Fifita, Dale Finucane, Wade Graham, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Mawene Hiroti, Royce Hunt, Nicho Hynes, Sione Katoa, Will Kennedy, Cameron McInnes, Matt Moylan, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Briton Nikora, Franklin Pele, Jesse Ramien, Toby Rudolf, Siosifa Talakai, Jensen Taumoepeau, Connor Tracey, Braydon Trindall, Jack Williams, Luke Metcalf, Teig Wilton, Aiden Tolman, Lachie Miller, Matt Ikuvalu, Jayden Berrell
**Two roster spots still available
INS: Dale Finucane (Storm), Nicho Hynes (Storm), Cameron McInnes (Dragons), Matt Ikuvalu (Roosters), Lachie Miller (Rugby Sevens), Jayden Berrell (Wynnum Seagulls)
OUTS: Josh Dugan (Retired), Shaun Johnson (Warriors), Chad Townsend (Cowboys), Aaron Woods (Dragons), Billy Magoulias (Warrington), Will Chambers (US Rugby), Nene Macdonald (released)
SQUAD STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
Strengths: For the past two seasons, dummy-half Blayke Brailey has averaged close to 80-minutes without a single back-up hooker in the club. His effort to play 24 matches last season was extraordinary. But in 2022, Brailey’s game will benefit from earning a rest during games with McInnes and Berrell capable of spending 10 to 15 minutes at hooker.
Weaknesses: Depth at centre. Jesse Ramien is one centre spot with the resourceful Connor Tracey tipped to earn the right-centre role. However, outside of those two, Fitzgibbon’s next-best option is shifting proven winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, middle or edge forward Siosifa Talakai or edge forward Teig Wilton to the centres. Matt Ikuvalu’s move from the Roosters to the Shire provides cover on the wing for the aforementioned moves to be made.
COACH STATUS AND SAFETY RATING
Craig Fitzgibbon enters the NRL furnace as the Sharks head coach until 2024. Finals football and a return to their hardened defensive culture is what Cronulla are demanding. That’s what Fitzgibbon will be measured on.
WHAT THEY NEED TO TWEAK
Without doubt their defence. When the Sharks won the 2016 title they bashed teams into submission. With every season since, the amount of points scored against Cronulla has progressively worsened; leaking an ordinary 556-points in 2021 – their worst defence in seven years. Fitzgibbon’s defensive focus was key to his appointment.
FREE AGENCY WRAP
The acquisition of Cam McInnes and Dale Finucane is the elite level of leadership and experience the Sharks have needed to add to a relatively young forward pack.
Nicho Hynes is the X-factor for Cronulla; a player the club can build their team around if he continues to take his game on an upward trajectory, while Roosters winger Matt Ikuvalu will add much-needed depth out wide.
OFF-CONTRACT STARS
There are nine players off-contract in 2022: Andrew Fifita, Wade Graham, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Mawene Hiroti, Royce Hunt, Matt Moylan, Briton Nikora, Franklin Pele and Jack Williams. 2022 is likely to be Fifita’s swan song, while the decision whether to extend their captain Graham and how Moylan performs after taking a large pay-cut will be major talking points.
WHICH PLAYER CAN THEY REINVENT?Nicho Hynes.
It sounds odd given his tremendous form over the past 18 months. But at the Sharks, Hynes is the man. No longer the Mr Fix-It like he was at the Storm, Hynes will be asked to run the team by returning to the halfback position he played throughout his elevation through the grades
WILL DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT UPGRADED KIDS MAKE AN IMPACT?
The Sharks are effectively Penrith by the sea in regards to their elite junior academy and proven development pathways programs – so the unearthing of a new talent is almost guaranteed. Three names to keep an eye out for are:
Local junior Kade Dykes – a talented fullback with size, speed and is the son of club favourite Adam Dykes. He’s been training with the NRL squad this summer.
From the Illawarra, hard-running rookie forward Jesse Colquhoun. The front-rower won the 2021 Coaches Award in the SG Ball last year and is a genuine leader. He and six-foot-five prop Tom Hazleton are in genuine contention for NRL in 2022.
Another one to watch is Ryan Rivett; a talented half who came down from Palm Beach Currumbin as a teenager. 90kg with a terrific kicking game.
WHO TAKES THE NEXT STEP? William Kennedy.
The fullback finished the season as the Sharks Player of the Year.
But Kennedy must to go to yet another level, particularly defensively with a sharp improvement required in the area of try-saves, if he’s to be considered one of the elite fullbacks in the competition.
IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR… Matt Moylan.
The 30-year-old is set for a career-defining season with the opportunity to form a lethal combination with Hynes.
When he was finally fit, Moylan showed glimpses of his brilliant best over the final three rounds of the 2021 season. It’s all about staying injury-free and on-field consistency for the playmaker, who has no option but to fire with Braydon Trindall or Luke Metcalf capable of overtaking him.
WHERE THE FINISH IN 2022 – Top 8
The Sharks finished ninth in 2021 after a season that included the departure of John Morris and a mass injury ward. Everything points to them improving in 2022. Fitzgibbon with his experienced assistants Steve Price and Josh Hannay will bring much-needed stability and direction while the addition of Cam McInnes, Dale Finucane and Hynes will restore the Sharks hardened edge of old. They should be playing finals and anything less is disappointing.
Cronulla's best 17 for 2022
1. Will Kennedy
2. Sione Katoa
3. Connor Tracey
4. Jesse Ramien
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo
6. Matt Moylan
7. Nicho Hynes
8. Dale Finucane
9. Blayke Brailey
10. Toby Rudolf
11. Briton Nikora
12. Wade Graham
13. Cam McInnes
14. Braydon Trindall
15. Braden Uele
16. Jack Williams
17. Siosifa Talakai
CAPTAINCY CONTENDERS
Whilever he’s fit, Wade Graham will be the Sharks captain, but don’t be shocked if either Dale Finucane or Cam McInnes step-up into a dual captaincy role also.
A slow start, with just two wins from 10 games, saw the Sharks miss the finals for the first time in seven seasons but it’s their record against top sides which Sharks’ fans will be hoping coach Fitzgibbon and his start recruits can address.
The Sharks finished 2021 with just one win from 10 games against the top seven sides – and last season they failed to win one against the top seven,
Were the only team to lose to both the Bulldogs and Broncos in 2021.
FOX SPORTS LAB’S AARON WALLACE SAYS:
A slow start, with just two wins from 10 games, saw the Sharks miss the finals for the first time in seven seasons but it’s their record against top sides which Sharks’ fans will be hoping coach Fitzgibbon and his start recruits can address.
The Sharks finished 2021 with just one win from 10 games against the top seven sides – and last season they failed to win one against the top seven,
Were the only team to lose to both the Bulldogs and Broncos in 2021
