Official 2024 Sharks NRL General Discussion

[HaroldBishop]

At this stage, I agree. However I think the NRL like the suburban ground element, so there is more incentive there than with the current government.

The other thing is there are times of growth and times of savings. I work in government so I can definitely say that right now is a time of massive penny-pinching. If everything is being cut down, sports grounds are right off the agenda. Doesn't mean it may never happen. If in 5 years or so we can put together some cash internally, then potentially put a proposal together where we go thirds with the NRL and the government, who knows?

The best way to put it on our agenda is for the fine folk in the cook voting area to kick out the liberals so they pay more attention to the area. It's too safe a seat for either party to give a **** about.

Yeah agree with all of that, especially the last bit.

I just get the feeling that governments going forward will want to see more clubs utilise the bigger grounds rather than spend cash on suburban grounds. I really hope not, the atmosphere at those grounds stinks unless you're getting big crowds.

 

[MrDravid]

Blaize Talagi playing 5/8 for Eels?

Apparently played in the halves as a junior

 

[HaroldBishop]

5 of our last 6 regular season losses have been by more than 20 points.

This is very alarming.

 

[Capital_Shark]

5 of our last 6 regular season losses have been by more than 20 points.

This is very alarming.

You gotta go back to r15 last year to find 5 20+ losses.

We've had 7 20+ wins since then too.

 

[HaroldBishop]

You gotta go back to r15 last year to find 5 20+ losses.

We've had 7 20+ wins since then too.

That's the problem, the gap between our best and worst is dreadful.

So inconsistent.

 

[HaroldBishop]

It also shows our last game wasn't the wake up call we needed as a few are saying, we've had plenty of games that should have been a wake up call.

It's a worry.

 

[Capital_Shark]

That's the problem, the gap between our best and worst is dreadful.

So inconsistent.

I agree. I just hate those sorta stats in isolation. "5 of last 6 regular season losses" - sounds very bad but we've played 14 regular season games & won 9 of them (7 by 20+) in that time.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I agree. I just hate those sorta stats in isolation. "5 of last 6 regular season losses" - sounds very bad but we've played 14 regular season games & won 9 of them (7 by 20+) in that time.

Yeah I know, which highlights the inconsistency.

I think it's a valid stat tbh. Fitz may not say so publicly but I'm sure any coach would be worried by that.

 

[BurgoShark]

I agree. I just hate those sorta stats in isolation. "5 of last 6 regular season losses" - sounds very bad but we've played 14 regular season games & won 9 of them (7 by 20+) in that time.

Here’s one you’ll hate then…

Sharks have now gone 27 consecutive games without being able to select their preferred 1 + 7 + 8 + 10 + 13 all in the same game.

Has only happened once in the last 41 games.

Being pumped and missing one or more of the guys would be related imo.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Here’s one you’ll hate then…

Sharks have now gone 27 consecutive games without being able to select their preferred 1 + 7 + 8 + 10 + 13 all in the same game.

Has only happened once in the last 41 games.

Being pumped and missing one or more of the guys would be related imo.

That seems like a pretty random stat mate. How does that compare to other teams?

 

[bort]

Here’s one you’ll hate then…

Sharks have now gone 27 consecutive games without being able to select their preferred 1 + 7 + 8 + 10 + 13 all in the same game.

Has only happened once in the last 41 games.

Being pumped and missing one or more of the guys would be related imo.

I assume it doesn’t change much throwing 9 in there

 

[BurgoShark]

That seems like a pretty random stat mate. How does that compare to other teams?

I would guess poorly.

 

[Wizard]

Here’s one you’ll hate then…

Sharks have now gone 27 consecutive games without being able to select their preferred 1 + 7 + 8 + 10 + 13 all in the same game.

Has only happened once in the last 41 games.

Being pumped and missing one or more of the guys would be related imo.

That doesn’t change the fact that we’re a weak team

If anything it highlights our “next man up” mentality is non-existent

 

[BurgoShark]

That doesn’t change the fact that we’re a weak team

If anything it highlights our “next man up” mentality is non-existent

That mentality won’t turn Lachie Miller in to Kalyn Ponga.

Sure - the Panthers have managed to win some games without Cleary. How have the next batch faired though? What’s Brisbane’s record missing Carrigan or Reynolds? How do the Warriors go without SJ? Knights with no Ponga? How about Manly with no Turbo or DCE? Storm have managed to cover for Pap (and Welch) pretty well during the regular season but their last two finals campaigns have been massive flops. They have missed those guys badly. Looking at the middle of the pack teams, how did the Dolphins go once they lost Gilbert to injury and Hammer either sat out for origin or had to play centre to cover other injuries? How did the Bunnies go minus Lattrel?

Throw hooker into the mix and those six players probably comprise half of most teams’ salary cap. If you lose multiple guys from that group for long periods you can’t expect their replacement to be able to play at the same level. Hazelton is doing a fantastic job of being Hazelton, but he’s no Hamlin-Uele. Connor Tracey’s great work ethic won’t make him competent at executing a 3-on-2. Royce Hunt being a 15 minute attacking bench weapon won’t help much if the other team ends up having the ball for 20 minutes straight.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I would guess poorly.

Probably but would be good to know, 5 players is a lot.

 

[Sparkles]

That doesn’t change the fact that we’re a weak team

If anything it highlights our “next man up” mentality is non-existent

Highlights we need a 'next men up' mentality... We're usually 2-6 men down each game

 

[Wizard]

That mentality won’t turn Lachie Miller in to Kalyn Ponga.

Sure - the Panthers have managed to win some games without Cleary. How have the next batch faired though? What’s Brisbane’s record missing Carrigan or Reynolds? How do the Warriors go without SJ? Knights with no Ponga? How about Manly with no Turbo or DCE? Storm have managed to cover for Pap (and Welch) pretty well during the regular season but their last two finals campaigns have been massive flops. They have missed those guys badly. Looking at the middle of the pack teams, how did the Dolphins go once they lost Gilbert to injury and Hammer either sat out for origin or had to play centre to cover other injuries? How did the Bunnies go minus Lattrel?

Throw hooker into the mix and those six players probably comprise half of most teams’ salary cap. If you lose multiple guys from that group for long periods you can’t expect their replacement to be able to play at the same level. Hazelton is doing a fantastic job of being Hazelton, but he’s no Hamlin-Uele. Connor Tracey’s great work ethic won’t make him competent at executing a 3-on-2. Royce Hunt being a 15 minute attacking bench weapon won’t help much if the other team ends up having the ball for 20 minutes straight.

Your examples would mean Hynes being out ; I’m not meaning Hynes being out.

But if Uele is out or Finucane is out which is what your original comment was alluding to then those next up players we have aren’t a big step down

 

[Wizard]

Highlights we need a 'next men up' mentality... We're usually 2-6 men down each game

I meant that our next man mentality isn’t all that ; Storm and Panthers do it the best

We’ve almost always got our backline on deck, always got our 9, always have our halves and there is typically just one forward out.. who we should be able to cover for.

I wouldn’t be blaming our lack of success on injuries.

I agree with HB that our set-up/team Fitz is running is still very fragile

 

[BurgoShark]

Your examples would mean Hynes being out ; I’m not meaning Hynes being out.

We’ve almost always got our backline on deck, always got our 9, always have our halves and there is typically just one forward out.. who we should be able to cover for.

Even just looking at Kennedy + Hynes the Sharks have only had them together in 32/54 games under Fitz.

That's 41% of games where they were missing one or both. I know of a few of these games where at least two other outside backs were missing too.

But if Uele is out or Finucane is out which is what your original comment was alluding to then those next up players we have aren’t a big step down

If you want to ignore Dale, that's fine.

You don't think the step down from BHU/Rudolf to Hunt/Kaufusi/Hazelton is a big one though? I do.

FYI since Fitz came on board 3 the Sharks are 18-1 in games where BHU + Rudolf + Kennedy + Hynes were all in the starting line-up and finished the game healthy - and it came out later that in that one game Kennedy was playing injured in that loss (Bunnies final).

I meant that our next man mentality isn’t all that ; Storm and Panthers do it the best

Bellamy and Fitz have won exactly the same amount of games since the start of 2022.

In finals the Storm are 1/4 and were fisted by the two top teams last year.

I wouldn’t be blaming our lack of success on injuries.

It's pro sports. They either have the talent and the depth to succeed or they don't.

The Sharks in 2022 and 2023 have had the talent but not had the depth. This is why the AFB signing along with keeping both the current starters is such a good move (along with getting valuable experience for the other middles). The drop off has been a factor. Fitz has addressed it for 2025.

 

[Sparkles]

I've got a new theory. And it's definitely not just killing time until the footy starts. Have at it you lot...

The teams that are playing well have fullbacks that are very involved in playmaking. I could name them but I reckon you know who they are.

Our Will is currently playing as a backline player and rarely as an extra half. With Trindall's inexperience and Nicho seemingly less than settled in his role (or not entirely sure what it should be yet), we're missing that option, to our detriment.

When we all got excited about Will it was when he was getting early, deep ball and using his running and a newly found passing game to carve up. We haven't seen that for a while. And I think to get back to where our attack was, Will needs to take on more of that playmaker role again.