Match 2026 Round 23 - Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs St George-Illawarra Dragons - 4:05pm, Sunday 9 August @ Jubilee

Match threads
SF said:
Maybe. Fitz likes to put on a big show for the debuts though, and Gabrael has a very loyal family (often a big group at Jets games)... so I think he'd want to do it properly.
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Yeah that's the only issue with the six man bench when there's a debutant.
 
SF said:
Maybe. Fitz likes to put on a big show for the debuts though, and Gabrael has a very loyal family (often a big group at Jets games)... so I think he'd want to do it properly.
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@Sevshark you should get out to a Jets game to buy his brother a beer and thank him for his service 😀
 
HaroldBishop said:
I think it is, 18th man you knew you were only getting on if there was a hia.
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The hypotheticals that fans proposed around the 6 man bench have never eventuated though. Fitz hasn't once put someone on late to "give them a run" or played the 4th benchie in a whacky position tactically. He's purely using the last two guys as emergency reserves.

Could an outside back roll an ankle in the first 5 minute and MG be required to debut without the fanfare? Sure - but they've gone 19 games in a row with an unused outside back on the 6 man bench. That's a big enough sample size to tell use that Fitz probably isn't going to use that guy unless is absolutely necessary or a 5th benchie gets activated (as per old 18th man).
 
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Sharks NRL Prospects said:
The hypotheticals that fans proposed around the 6 man bench have never eventuated though. Fitz hasn't once put someone on late to "give them a run" or played the 4th benchie in a whacky position tactically. He's purely using the last two guys as emergency reserves.

Could an outside back roll an ankle in the first 5 minute and MG be required to debut without the fanfare? Sure - but they've gone 19 games in a row with an unused outside back on the 6 man bench. That's a big enough sample size to tell use that Fitz probably isn't going to use that guy unless is absolutely necessary or a 5th benchie gets activated (as per old 18th man).
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Yeah I agree with that.

I guess my point is in that scenario, MG gets a run. Last year, if he was 18th man, he wouldn't.
 
HaroldBishop said:
Yeah I agree with that.

I guess my point is in that scenario, MG gets a run. Last year, if he was 18th man, he wouldn't.
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Atko's Sharks debut was 2 minutes as 18th man. Do you know what they did for him? Did he get a presentation a few days after the game or something?

Also possible that MG just drops out of the squad and Stoney gets added to the bench. MG might just be there in case a centre breaks down between now and game day. It's exciting for fans to see MG in the 19 but the bench numbers on Tuesday haven't meant a whole lot this season.

Áo makes sense if you believe that Fitz loves a copy/paste on Tuesday . Everyone who played last week is in the same jersey number. Hohepa in for Sifa. MG takes Hiroti’s number.
 
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Sharks NRL Prospects said:
Atko's Sharks debut was 2 minutes as 18th man. Do you know what they did for him? Did he get a presentation a few days after the game or something?

Also possible that MG just drops out of the squad and Stoney gets added to the bench. MG might just be there in case a centre breaks down between now and game day. It's exciting for fans to see MG in the 19 but the bench numbers on Tuesday haven't meant a whole lot this season.

Áo makes sense if you believe that Fitz loves a copy/paste on Tuesday . Everyone who played last week is in the same jersey number. Hohepa in for Sifa. MG takes Hiroti’s number.
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I'm not talking about it from that perspective, more about friends and family being there to watch when not knowing if they'll get on or not, which can be quite a logistical challenge if they're not in Sydney.

Anyway, it's not a big deal, just something worth mentioning. I like the six man bench.
 
HaroldBishop said:
I'm not talking about it from that perspective, more about friends and family being there to watch when not knowing if they'll get on or not, which can be quite a logistical challenge if they're not in Sydney.

Anyway, it's not a big deal, just something worth mentioning. I like the six man bench.
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Yeah I just meant that maybe Atko got that stuff anyway, but later. Preso, friends, family etc. at his first game in the 17.

There are allowances in the salary cap to pay for travel for family etc. for debut matches. As you said.... makes it confusing for family and expensive for the club if they travel and he never went on.
 
SF said:
Maybe. Fitz likes to put on a big show for the debuts though, and Gabrael has a very loyal family (often a big group at Jets games)... so I think he'd want to do it properly.
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Was sitting next to them last week. They were adamant that the pass that got called back wasn't forward. i think they're ready even if MG isn't quite. But honestly I think he would go alright. He has that bit of extra pace that can make a difference. Couldn't be worse than Ronnie's, Iro's or Will's debuts. Look where they've ended up.
 
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49erShark said:
Was sitting next to them last week. They were adamant that the pass that got called back wasn't forward. i think they're ready even if MG isn't quite. But honestly I think he would go alright. He has that bit of extra pace that can make a difference. Couldn't be worse than Ronnie's, Iro's or Will's debuts. Look where they've ended up.
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Thanks yeah the more I think about it, the more I think it’s worth giving him a go. It could give the team that little energy boost that helps break up the routine
 
49erShark said:
Was sitting next to them last week. They were adamant that the pass that got called back wasn't forward. i think they're ready even if MG isn't quite. But honestly I think he would go alright. He has that bit of extra pace that can make a difference. Couldn't be worse than Ronnie's, Iro's or Will's debuts. Look where they've ended up.
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Haha nice.

Could do a job for sure. Big question mark is whether he can do it on the other side of the field.

Best case scenario tbh is probably this going in to round 26, so the Sharks can rest a few stars play a few younger/depth guys against the Eels (without gutting the Jets).

1. Panthers
--4 point gap --
2. Sharks
-- 4 point gap ---
Anyone else.
 
Sharks NRL Prospects said:
Haha nice.

Could do a job for sure. Big question mark is whether he can do it on the other side of the field.

Best case scenario tbh is probably this going in to round 26, so the Sharks can rest a few stars play a few younger/depth guys against the Eels (without gutting the Jets).

1. Panthers
--4 point gap --
2. Sharks
-- 4 point gap ---
Anyone else.
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I'd take it, but not sure it's the best case scenario
 
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