2026 Sharks Discussion

Blue_Eyes84 said:
Realistically, where does everyone see us finishing this season?

I think Brisbane, Roosters and Penrith have better squads than us. I see us battling it out for that last top four spot with Melbourne.
Click to expand...
I've got us top 4.

I think the three you've mentioned have good squads for sure, but they aren't unbeatable like Penrith/Melbourne of the early part of this decade.

To start next year, you'll have Teddy 33, DCE 37, Hunt 36, Reynolds 35. Teddy seems to ignore time, but the others have had their various struggles with regression and injury.

Every chance Penrith refund their groove next year, but Melbourne have some big changes that make me feel like they won't dominate. They'll certainly still be competitive and every chance at a top 4 finish.

Overall, I think it's another season that is up for grabs, we just need to start fast. Last year the top 3 sides for most of the season were the dogs, raiders and NZ. We certainly have it in us to do better than that.

Set the tone in the first 10 rounds with 7 wins plus the bye and we'll have a premiership winning platform.
 
Recruitment & Retention is going to be interesting in next couple of month for 2027 season, made harder with arrival of Bears.
So far weve seen Hiroti & Vea'ila sign for Titans & Bears respectively.
Meanwhile Colquhoun and Burns have been linked with exits in recent weeks too.
Add onto that players like Kennedy, Ramien & Katoa who, from what we understand either havent been offered extensions and/or gave been told to test the open market.
Then theres also Rudolf, BHU & McInnes off contract too.

We could easily be looking at the biggest roster overhaul in years but worryingly, looking at the OOC list from other clubs, there isn't a dearth of talent for us to cherry pick from
 
The Punisher said:
Recruitment & Retention is going to be interesting in next couple of month for 2027 season, made harder with arrival of Bears.
So far weve seen Hiroti & Vea'ila sign for Titans & Bears respectively.
Meanwhile Colquhoun and Burns have been linked with exits in recent weeks too.
Add onto that players like Kennedy, Ramien & Katoa who, from what we understand either havent been offered extensions and/or gave been told to test the open market.
Then theres also Rudolf, BHU & McInnes off contract too.

We could easily be looking at the biggest roster overhaul in years but worryingly, looking at the OOC list from other clubs, there isn't a dearth of talent for us to cherry pick from
Click to expand...

Always been a major criticism of the 'move on from' and 'roster change up' calls we have seen often whenever a game or two is lost.
If our guys are so bad and it is so easy to get good players in then why are we consistently so competitive compared to most of the league...

You're correct it only gets harder again with more competition but I think (/hope) our success and strong pathways have us well positioned to keep who we need to and do a lot of high quality internal promotion.
 
The Punisher said:
Recruitment & Retention is going to be interesting in next couple of month for 2027 season, made harder with arrival of Bears.
So far weve seen Hiroti & Vea'ila sign for Titans & Bears respectively.
Meanwhile Colquhoun and Burns have been linked with exits in recent weeks too.
Add onto that players like Kennedy, Ramien & Katoa who, from what we understand either havent been offered extensions and/or gave been told to test the open market.
Then theres also Rudolf, BHU & McInnes off contract too.

We could easily be looking at the biggest roster overhaul in years but worryingly, looking at the OOC list from other clubs, there isn't a dearth of talent for us to cherry pick from
Click to expand...
Fitz has generally shown he's keen to develop players, but isn't prepared to buy the right guy if he can.

There isn't really a position in our side that we don't currently have depth to promote someone into the 17. And the best part is they are pretty well all exciting prospects.

If you told me 2027 looked like below I'd be excited.

1. Ison
2. Ronaldo
3. Gabrael
4. Iro
5. Stonestreet
6. Trindall
7. Hynes
8. Afb
9. Brailey
10. Hazleton
11. Wilton
12. Nikora
13. Kaufusi

And that would be with only retaining Stonestreet out of the whole list. We'd have heaps more cash than that, so if you made it finish with the below I'd be stoked.

13. Colquhoun

14. Kaufusi
15. Talakai
16. Rudolf
17. Faitili/Hassett/McCullough

Realistically we could do the above easily, and if we decided to bring in one more big outside recruit, losing two more of those guys could still have us in an elite position. The club is in such a good roster spot it's actually unbelievable.
 
Proud Shark said:
Fitz has generally shown he's keen to develop players, but isn't prepared to buy the right guy if he can.

There isn't really a position in our side that we don't currently have depth to promote someone into the 17. And the best part is they are pretty well all exciting prospects.

If you told me 2027 looked like below I'd be excited.

1. Ison
2. Ronaldo
3. Gabrael
4. Iro
5. Stonestreet
6. Trindall
7. Hynes
8. Afb
9. Brailey
10. Hazleton
11. Wilton
12. Nikora
13. Kaufusi

And that would be with only retaining Stonestreet out of the whole list. We'd have heaps more cash than that, so if you made it finish with the below I'd be stoked.

13. Colquhoun

14. Kaufusi
15. Talakai
16. Rudolf
17. Faitili/Hassett/McCullough

Realistically we could do the above easily, and if we decided to bring in one more big outside recruit, losing two more of those guys could still have us in an elite position. The club is in such a good roster spot it's actually unbelievable.
Click to expand...
Still gives us an impact bench.
SS has the potential to surpass Katoa.
We're just as strong in the forwards, assuming they stay healthy (like any team).

We'll need a centre/fullback back to develop to a fairly elite level I think, that's what we're missing.
 
We don't sign many big proper 1st grade players compared to other clubs, if we want to sign top 1st grade players, we've got to sign a decent FB & left centre imo. Give Ison a go at FB after Kennedy though, if Ison ain't a top player enough then we'll need a top FB. If Gabrael after Jesse Ramien ain't a top player good enough either then we'll need another RC.
 
Shark_Hatch said:
We don't sign many big proper 1st grade players compared to other clubs, if we want to sign top 1st grade players, we've got to sign a decent FB & left centre imo. Give Ison a go at FB after Kennedy though, if Ison ain't a top player enough then we'll need a top FB. If Gabrael after Jesse Ramien ain't a top player good enough either then we'll need another RC.
Click to expand...
Not a big Iro guy?
 
Fake news!!!
😉

WTF would ANY “Fox network” know about anything?????

CRONULLA SHARKS


Ceiling: 3rd-4th

Floor: 7th-8th

At this stage, they lack the starpower to be considered leading premiership winning threats, but you have to give this side a stack of credit for how consistent they’ve been.


Since 2015, they’ve made the top eight in ten of 11 seasons including the last four years, progressing to a prelim in 2024 and 2025.

This is a very settled line up who work so well with each other. They’ve been able to build strong combinations at key positions as there just hasn’t been much player turnover.

The season-ending injury to strike winger Ronaldo Mulitalo won’t help, but Sam Stonestreet or Mawene Hiroti will prove to be more than capable replacement options.

Given how genuine this team has been, there isn’t much separating their floor and ceiling.

Finals looks inevitable, but it would be surprising if Cronulla win enough games to take top spot.
Click to expand...

www.foxsports.com.au

Eels, Tigers’ stunning rise; Broncos’ hangover risk — Every NRL team’s 2026 floor/ceiling

Eels, Tigers’ huge rise; Broncos’ hangover risk — Every NRL team’s 2026 floor/ceiling
www.foxsports.com.au www.foxsports.com.au
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top