Official 2024 NRL Sharks Draw

Joined
Aug 11, 2011
Messages
17,182
Reaction score
5,284
Location
Perth WA
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.


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

Mr Ryan

Bull Shark
Joined
Nov 6, 2010
Messages
2,278
Reaction score
462
So are games against Souths, Parramatta and Cowboys considered as easy games?
 
Joined
Jul 29, 2006
Messages
13,847
Reaction score
1,511
Location
victoria
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

Hammerhead
Joined
Jul 8, 2013
Messages
312
Reaction score
93
Location
Panama
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

Tiger Shark
Joined
Mar 14, 2012
Messages
1,264
Reaction score
494
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
 
Joined
Aug 11, 2011
Messages
17,182
Reaction score
5,284
Location
Perth WA
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.

 
Joined
Apr 27, 2010
Messages
9,905
Reaction score
1,903
Location
Sydney
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.
 

Vichyssoise

Great White
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
3,018
Reaction score
2,125
Location
Tokyo, Japan
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.
 

HaroldBishop

Megalodon
Joined
Mar 8, 2012
Messages
58,398
Reaction score
12,246
Location
Sydney
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.
 

Art Vandelay

Tiger Shark
Joined
Jan 14, 2010
Messages
1,110
Reaction score
104
Location
Canberra
we got the 8 games against the bottom 4 teams
2 againt the cows as well. you win all them...geez. top 4 tour
 
Joined
Feb 3, 2015
Messages
10,263
Reaction score
4,819
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

Megalodon
Joined
Mar 8, 2012
Messages
58,398
Reaction score
12,246
Location
Sydney
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.
 
D

Deleted member 2543

Guest
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.
 
Top