Official 2024 NRL Sharks Draw

[Wiz]

Top 4 this year with that draw is a pass mark imo.

Don’t call it a soft draw. Some will get offended

 

[Western Sharkie]

The Sharks have been handed the softest draw for the 2024 season, with Cronulla set to play eight games against this year’s bottom four sides while they’ll also play the fewest matches against top eight teams.
It’s a dream scenario for the Sharks who only have nine games against teams that played finals footy in 2023, with Craig Fitzgibbon’s men set to avoid the top teams from rounds 15-23.

The ease of the draw can be deceptive given some teams exceed expectations while others flounder, but there’s no denying the Sharks have done well with two matches against bottom four sides in the first three weeks.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-draw-sharks-big-winners-warriors-snubbed-in-freetoair-games/news-story/db6bdd5eef6e0afdc4ab4726e99f8d37

Ramien looks excited about it, that’s for sure!

 

[Born&bred]

We have 18 games with a 7 day plus turnaround, the second most of any team. This is brilliant.

We'll find a way to **** that up

 

[bort]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-draw-sharks-big-winners-warriors-snubbed-in-freetoair-games/news-story/db6bdd5eef6e0afdc4ab4726e99f8d37

Ramien looks excited about it, that’s for sure!

Reckon this offseason they’ll try making 10kg bigger than his usual playing weight?

 

[Mr Ryan]

So are games against Souths, Parramatta and Cowboys considered as easy games?

 

[Gards]

So are games against Souths, Parramatta and Cowboys considered as easy games?

If we win them, yes

 

[vicsharkfan]

Certainly a gifted draw. Hope like hell we can stay injury free and find another gear come finals time.

Am I wrong?
Digest this
2018 first week v panthers (1 point) was our last finals game win 1887 days and counting.

 

[Jeff Robson]

The NRL can bang on about the draw all they like, but until teams play each other
twice its a crock of s...

 

[Walley_01]

Certainly a gifted draw. Hope like hell we can stay injury free and find another gear come finals time.

Am I wrong?
Digest this
2018 first week v panthers (1 point) was our last finals game win 1887 days and counting.

Correct

 

[Western Sharkie]

SHARKS

What they need: Their new wave of forwards to stand up

The Sharks have always prided themselves on a big, tough and uncompromising pack, but Cronulla’s engine room has struggled to replace legends Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis, Andrew Fifita and Wade Graham from their last premiership winning side and it is time for the new wave of stars to make their mark. Briton Nikora, Teig Wilton, Royce Hunt, Oregon Kaufusi and Toby Rudolf need to step up and take ownership of the pack because Dale Finucane turns 33 and is getting towards the twilight of his career, while Cameron McInnes broke the record for most tackles in a game last season, which was almost embarrassing for his teammates. Wade Graham is the only loss from the Sharks squad for 2024, while at this stage they have bought zero players, which shows they are invested in their current crop. It is time their forwards proved they are the men to lead the Sharks to their second title or Craig Fitzgibbon may have to go to market to find the players that are.

Solution to $850k dilemma amid contract drama; Manly’s desperate Turbo plea: Every club’s Xmas wish

Solution to $850k dilemma amid contract drama; Manly’s desperate Turbo plea: Every club’s Xmas wish

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Tiger Shark]

So are games against Souths, Parramatta and Cowboys considered as easy games?

That’s the idea yeah. It’s dumb. Our draw might look “easy” now but every season some teams go in and out of the 8 so we might find ourselves playing more top 8 or top 4 teams

The number of 7 day turn around is definitely good but I’m paying no attention to what teams we play for the most part.

 

[HaroldBishop]

The NRL can bang on about the draw all they like, but until teams play each other
twice its a crock of s...

You know that can't happen.

 

[Vichyssoise]

We'll find a way to **** that up

Indeed. Considering how complacent this bunch was at times this year, they'll go probably into preseason training and the whole season in full "it's okay, we'll flick the switch newt week" mode and end up 9th.
Hopefully I'm wrong.

As most have said, even if some of the bottom teams have changed/improved their roster, a Top 4 finish is the absolute minimum with that draw. No ifs no buts.

 

[Capital_Shark]

I don't buy into setting standards based on the draw.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Indeed. Considering how complacent this bunch was at times this year, they'll go probably into preseason training and the whole season in full "it's okay, we'll flick the switch newt week" mode and end up 9th.
Hopefully I'm wrong.

As most have said, even if some of the bottom teams have changed/improved their roster, a Top 4 finish is the absolute minimum with that draw. No ifs no buts.

You'd expect Penrith, Brisbane and Melbourne (they always find a way) to be there again.

Souths have a lot of improvement in them.

I think people over estimate us, not sure our team is that good.

 

[BurgoShark]

Don’t they realise we are sponsored by Pilot?

We can make a soft draw hard!

 

[Art Vandelay]

we got the 8 games against the bottom 4 teams
2 againt the cows as well. you win all them...geez. top 4 tour

 

[Proud Shark]

You'd expect Penrith, Brisbane and Melbourne (they always find a way) to be there again.

Souths have a lot of improvement in them.

I think people over estimate us, not sure our team is that good.

CrazyHaroldBishop.

Agree though, surely Souths can't be that poor again. Roosters were coming good at the end too.

We'll need to find another gear to compete with big boys when it counts. Consistency and a good draw will keep us in the hunt though, and could be enough for top 4. Means nothing if we can't win the big games though.

 

[HaroldBishop]

CrazyHaroldBishop.

Agree though, surely Souths can't be that poor again. Roosters were coming good at the end too.

We'll need to find another gear to compete with big boys when it counts. Consistency and a good draw will keep us in the hunt though, and could be enough for top 4. Means nothing if we can't win the big games though.

Haha.

I'd expect us to be better than this year for sure, but I don't think top 4 is an absolute must in relation to if Fitz is a good coach, or not.

The more I think about our draw the less I like it. We need to be playing the better teams to improve.

 

[BurgoShark]

we got the 8 games against the bottom 4 teams
2 againt the cows as well. you win all them...geez. top 4 tour

The thing is, the draw back in the 90's used to be based on where you finished. In a 16 team comp they would set the draw with 22 rounds everyone would play each other once ins rounds 1-15, and then in rounds 16-22 teams would play teams either from the "even" or the "odd" finishing positions. E.g. if you finished 4th, you would play teams 2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 a second time. The teams all pretty much had free reign of their venues too, so the league could dictate the times without having to share. Clean, simple and fair.

It hasn't worked like that for a long time though. Most teams play in shared venues that need to work around other events, and teams want to play certain opponents twice because of rivalry and crowd numbers, and they know which teams don't draw a crowd so ask to avoid having them at home. No matter where they finish on the ladder the Sharks and Dragons will always play each other twice, same for the Bunnies and Roosters, the Dogs and Eels, all of the Qld teams playing each other, the Titans getting a home game against the Warriors, and so on...

The draw being fair, even or equally difficult for all teams is not even a consideration these days. All of those other things are way more important.