Official 2025 Sharks Discussion

[Shark_Hatch]

What is everyone's thoughts on BHU getting into the 17 at the start of the season considering he pretty much only got into Newton's side 2024.

BHU is a very strong player & imo probably one of our better props. With Hunt gone & now Hazelton going perhaps then I'd be more then keen to start BHU on the bench straight away.

 

[bort]

What is everyone's thoughts on BHU getting into the 17 at the start of the season considering he pretty much only got into Newton's side 2024.

BHU is a very strong player & imo probably one of our better props. With Hunt gone & now Hazelton going perhaps then I'd be more then keen to start BHU on the bench straight away.

Makes the 17 easy if he has a decent preseason. I’m expecting him to be named.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

Makes the 17 easy if he has a decent preseason. I’m expecting him to be named.

100%

He had no preseason and battle injury all yeR last year. No wonder he was useless.

He will be there

 

[Born&bred]

I am seriously over the BS around him being under pressure. He is no more under pressure than any other half in the comp.

WTF? He is under more pressure than most players, let alone halves...

 

[Tiger Shark]

High salary means more pressure

Most halves are on a high salary, does that stop at non halves also who are on high salary?

So why is Nicho under more pressure than others then ?

He shouldn’t be and isn’t imo.

 

[Proud Shark]

Most halves are on a high salary, does that stop at non halves also who are on high salary?

So why is Nicho under more pressure than others then ?

He shouldn’t be and isn’t imo.

Internally he wouldn't be under pressure. The club love him, back him, and aren't buying the media ****.

Externally he'd be under more pressure than most because the perception is very different. That still plays a big part.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Most halves are on a high salary, does that stop at non halves also who are on high salary?

So why is Nicho under more pressure than others then ?

He shouldn’t be and isn’t imo.

Most halves aren't on 7 figures.

The dominant half has more pressure on him than most other positions. So no, it doesn't stop at non halves but there'd definitely more of a spotlight on the dominant half.

There will also be more pressure on Tricky since his pay rise, just not as much as Nicho.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Does anyone think Ash Taylor would have been under as much pressure if he was on 200k instead of 900k? Of course he wouldn't have been.

Anyone who doesn't think salary is relevant is crazy.

 

[Gumby]

Does anyone think Ash Taylor would have been under as much pressure if he was on 200k instead of 900k? Of course he wouldn't have been.

Anyone who doesn't think salary is relevant is crazy.

Good way to put it mate.

 

[Capital_Shark]

I think the pressure on Nicho is that he won the Dally M a couple of years ago, has been vocal about being our marquee playmaker, is pretty much the face of the club and of course with that he is paid very well. He is in a pretty good side who have struggled to get to the next level and to be convincing in big games.

That is the outside pressure and that’s what comes with being an NRL player. He will be under different pressure from the club and himself to perform and that is the pressure that matters. But they still have to deal with that external and public pressure and to be honest Nicho doesn’t have a great track record dealing with that stuff.

 

[apezza]

Internally he wouldn't be under pressure. The club love him, back him, and aren't buying the media ****.

Externally he'd be under more pressure than most because the perception is very different. That still plays a big part.

Agree. He's probably more under external spotlight / criticism than internal pressure.

 

[Capital_Shark]

There is pressure in all aspects of life. Nicho is under pressure internally but not the sort of pressure the media talk about. The advertised pressure that Nicho is under is just that of a professional sportsman and extra noise they have to deal with but the regular person at work in any job is under pressure – we are all under some sort of pressure, even if it is just to rock up every day.

The media stuff is negative pressure. No room for that. I’m confident all the pressure put on him from coach etc is the positive sort that drives you.

 

[Tiger Shark]

Most halves aren't on 7 figures.

The dominant half has more pressure on him than most other positions. So no, it doesn't stop at non halves but there'd definitely more of a spotlight on the dominant half.

There will also be more pressure on Tricky since his pay rise, just not as much as Nicho.

Alot are though, still doesn't explain why he's the most under pressure one. They all are.

Hynes for some reason gets an unhealthy amount from the general public, media and unfortunately a lot of Sharks fans.

 

[andrew's_sharks]

Makes the 17 easy if he has a decent preseason. I’m expecting him to be named.

I think this is the key. He should get a full preseason and be in good nick. It is Toby I think who will start the year slow.

 

[bort]

I think this is the key. He should get a full preseason and be in good nick. It is Toby I think who will start the year slow.

Well he presumably misses first 2-3 rounds due to his shoulder reco, unless he tracks ahead of schedule.

Given it is a shoulder he should be able to do most of the fitness work at the back end of preseason still, and top up on what he has missed while players do contact.

Play a round or 2 of jets and he’s likely in the NRL by mid April.

Toby is a funny one. Something like this could even be the best thing for him as it gives him something to keep in mind and focus on rather than ‘just another pre season’, but it is simple unlike the toe was, and allows fitness (and the rehab obviously) as his focus.

 

[Gumby]

What is everyone's thoughts on BHU getting into the 17 at the start of the season considering he pretty much only got into Newton's side 2024.

BHU is a very strong player & imo probably one of our better props. With Hunt gone & now Hazelton going perhaps then I'd be more then keen to start BHU on the bench straight away.

Personally I think him finding form is critical to our success this year. If he can find his best form we will be killing it through the middle. When AFB comes off, we need this guy to come on and keep that momentum going.

 

[andrew's_sharks]

Well he presumably misses first 2-3 rounds due to his shoulder reco, unless he tracks ahead of schedule.

Given it is a shoulder he should be able to do most of the fitness work at the back end of preseason still, and top up on what he has missed while players do contact.

Play a round or 2 of jets and he’s likely in the NRL by mid April.

Toby is a funny one. Something like this could even be the best thing for him as it gives him something to keep in mind and focus on rather than ‘just another pre season’, but it is simple unlike the toe was, and allows fitness (and the rehab obviously) as his focus.

Shoulders are a lot of work to get right. He also needs a lot of trust in it given we are talking rugby league and not Ballet. I think it will likely take him until round 7-10 before he finds his feet. I am talking not just making the side, but actually being able to perform to expectation.

 

[bort]

Shoulders are a lot of work to get right. He also needs a lot of trust in it given we are talking rugby league and not Ballet. I think it will likely take him until round 7-10 before he finds his feet. I am talking not just making the side, but actually being able to perform to expectation.

Not every injury or recovery is the same but I don't think we should be expecting to wait anywhere near round 10 to have him able to play well for us.
I know you said 'perform to expectation' but we can manage that pretty easily by bringing him through as a the 4th forward. He should be able to give us 20 good minutes well before round 7 I assume, or at least by around then be playing big minutes in Cup, if we don't bring him straight up (that would be likely a credit to other peoples form as much as anything to do with him)

NRL player usual recovery time usually about 16 weeks, has been as little as 12

(following dot points are per NRL Physio)

• Cleary surgery start of November aiming for round 1 and a good chance of being there, was back doing limited training including passing in December.
• Edwards reported mid November (approx 2 weeks later) and considered touch and go for round 1
• Talagi reported same time as Edwards, hoping for round 1 reported as 15 weeks after his surgery but considered 'in doubt'
• Rudolf surgery reported 4 days later than above two (so round 1 probably approx 14 weeks post surgery)

He shouldn't take 6 months recovery to be a good contributor when his minutes can be controlled better than anyone above.
Even round 7 is a 22 weeks (5.5 month) post surgery. Ideally he's been clear for play 6 weeks (give or take) by that stage.

Even if not up for a 60+ minute starting gig in the first couple of months back (which he could be) I don't think there is any particular reason he shouldn't be able to give us good football.

Murray had latarjet early October 2021 and played 58 minutes round 1 2022, this is about a 5 monther. 12 runs and a 42-1-3 tackle count.
Cleary had it in 2021 also after repeated shoulder issues through the year, he did however miss first 3 rounds but on return in a grand final rematch played 80, ran 10 times although it was one of the worst defensive performances (statistically) you could find for him, 13-6-3

Quite a long post to basically agree with you he may not be at his absolute peak until more like round 7, but that I think he can be a good contributor and play the role we need from him before then, but I did go down the rabbit hole of what other recoveries have looked like haha

 

[andrew's_sharks]

Not every injury or recovery is the same but I don't think we should be expecting to wait anywhere near round 10 to have him able to play well for us.
I know you said 'perform to expectation' but we can manage that pretty easily by bringing him through as a the 4th forward. He should be able to give us 20 good minutes well before round 7 I assume, or at least by around then be playing big minutes in Cup, if we don't bring him straight up (that would be likely a credit to other peoples form as much as anything to do with him)

NRL player usual recovery time usually about 16 weeks, has been as little as 12

(following dot points are per NRL Physio)

• Cleary surgery start of November aiming for round 1 and a good chance of being there, was back doing limited training including passing in December.
• Edwards reported mid November (approx 2 weeks later) and considered touch and go for round 1
• Talagi reported same time as Edwards, hoping for round 1 reported as 15 weeks after his surgery but considered 'in doubt'
• Rudolf surgery reported 4 days later than above two (so round 1 probably approx 14 weeks post surgery)

He shouldn't take 6 months recovery to be a good contributor when his minutes can be controlled better than anyone above.
Even round 7 is a 22 weeks (5.5 month) post surgery. Ideally he's been clear for play 6 weeks (give or take) by that stage.

Even if not up for a 60+ minute starting gig in the first couple of months back (which he could be) I don't think there is any particular reason he shouldn't be able to give us good football.

Murray had latarjet early October 2021 and played 58 minutes round 1 2022, this is about a 5 monther. 12 runs and a 42-1-3 tackle count.
Cleary had it in 2021 also after repeated shoulder issues through the year, he did however miss first 3 rounds but on return in a grand final rematch played 80, ran 10 times although it was one of the worst defensive performances (statistically) you could find for him, 13-6-3

Quite a long post to basically agree with you he may not be at his absolute peak until more like round 7, but that I think he can be a good contributor and play the role we need from him before then, but I did go down the rabbit hole of what other recoveries have looked like haha

He had a shoulder reconstruction. This is significant surgery and recovery. Glad we agreed in the end haha

 

[Gumby]

Is Michael Gabreal likely to play for the every week for the jets this year?