2026 Sharks Discussion

Great_White_Shark_USA said:
Love the optimism. I feel the source of the loss can be tracked to the regular season. Needed to have top 2 slot going in. Securing the Bye in playoffs helps immensely. We see it every year in the NFL, yes I’m from USA.
Penrith seem to be the only team that can play anytime anywhere in the playoffs and still be a force.
Regulars like Hynes need to be consistent and lethal in regular season. Melbourne were rested, sharp, and up for it.
I just feel it’s important to look at whole season in its entirety before so many fans will begin scrutinizing yesterday’s game.
I’m relatively new to the game and correct me if I’m wrong but this game is a lot easier when you’re just that little bit closer to your physical peak, less bruises, and in front of your own fans. Little difference from NFL really in that way.
Winning titles from low seeds are anomalies, not regularities. Focus for 2026 should be to secure a top spot in playoffs in those nice 2016 remake uniforms that was mentioned 😀
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Welcome on board mate!

Too true, the importance of snagging top 2 is so important in the context of finals.
 
I think the 2026 season is going to be a very interesting season.
Every year under Fitz has seen the team add a new element/dimension to the team.
The big questions/talking points for next year
- Will the team start with the same resilience in defence ?
- How are they going to attack next year ?
- Will Fitz follow the philosophy as the 2025 workload/tampering off and rotation of forwards to have the team firing at the end of the year or follow the storms principles of being consistent throughout the year
- Competition of certain positions and number of contracted positions up for grabs. The way they have managed the salary cap, the 2026 season will be the last chance for a number of these core group of players to fire and win the comp before there was a large turnover of players. (Fullback, wing, centre, second row, lock + bench) will all be up for grabs next year. And the sharks have secured a number of promising junior to these positions.

Despite the lost last night, there was some great performances and positive signs this year.

Left field assistant coach candidate: Jason Taylor (excellent attacking coach and tactical), although I would love to see John morris back or Noddy.
 
may said:
I think the 2026 season is going to be a very interesting season.
Every year under Fitz has seen the team add a new element/dimension to the team.
The big questions/talking points for next year
- Will the team start with the same resilience in defence ?
- How are they going to attack next year ?
- Will Fitz follow the philosophy as the 2025 workload/tampering off and rotation of forwards to have the team firing at the end of the year or follow the storms principles of being consistent throughout the year
- Competition of certain positions and number of contracted positions up for grabs. The way they have managed the salary cap, the 2026 season will be the last chance for a number of these core group of players to fire and win the comp before there was a large turnover of players. (Fullback, wing, centre, second row, lock + bench) will all be up for grabs next year. And the sharks have secured a number of promising junior to these positions.

Despite the lost last night, there was some great performances and positive signs this year.

Left field assistant coach candidate: Jason Taylor (excellent attacking coach and tactical), although I would love to see John morris back or Noddy.
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Interesting points.
For me the most important change is the departure of Hannay.
Who replaces him and how does it impact the way Fitz does things and the way the team plays?

And we're free of the Vegas distraction.
 
Storm were kissed on the dick getting the highly regarded Utoikamanu out of cellar dwellers at a good price.
He was massive for them.

If we can fluke a signing or youngster making a big leap to have an impact anything like that next season we’ll be well placed
 
Capital_Shark said:
Exactly, all of those blokes now have the experience of making and playing in a prelim. For most that was 2 in a row. Our squad has already levelled up for next year as far as big-game experience goes.
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we will potentially lose some of these blokes, and we are still unclear as to our FB

but yes, 2 Prelims in a row should help our guys be a bit more driven to push to that GF spot
 
Great_White_Shark_USA said:
Love the optimism. I feel the source of the loss can be tracked to the regular season. Needed to have top 2 slot going in. Securing the Bye in playoffs helps immensely. We see it every year in the NFL, yes I’m from USA.
Penrith seem to be the only team that can play anytime anywhere in the playoffs and still be a force.
Regulars like Hynes need to be consistent and lethal in regular season. Melbourne were rested, sharp, and up for it.
I just feel it’s important to look at whole season in its entirety before so many fans will begin scrutinizing yesterday’s game.
I’m relatively new to the game and correct me if I’m wrong but this game is a lot easier when you’re just that little bit closer to your physical peak, less bruises, and in front of your own fans. Little difference from NFL really in that way.
Winning titles from low seeds are anomalies, not regularities. Focus for 2026 should be to secure a top spot in playoffs in those nice 2016 remake uniforms that was mentioned 😀
Click to expand...
Welcome aboard. The Weather is great!
Vichyssoise said:
Welcome aboard, mate.

First recruit for the 2026 season. It's looking bright already.
Speaking of optimism, you don't happen to play fullback, do you?
😁
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Or another spare $5-10m (in USD is preferred) do you???
 
bort said:
Storm were kissed on the dick getting the highly regarded Utoikamanu out of cellar dwellers at a good price.
He was massive for them.

If we can fluke a signing or youngster making a big leap to have an impact anything like that next season we’ll be well placed
Click to expand...
Without going into to many examples, that’s how a lot of premiership teams can be built around a salary cap. Bird? Holmes? A couple of examples for us. hit the ground running, win their premiership and then get on the big salary.

Let’s hope next year Gabriel, Ison, Stoney, both Puru and even now just with Jesse starting gives us something like that. One or two of them really burst on the scene for us and gives us the X factor we are missing to take that next step.
 
Gal The Goat said:
Without going into to many examples, that’s how a lot of premiership teams can be built around a salary cap. Bird? Holmes? A couple of examples for us. hit the ground running, win their premiership and then get on the big salary.

Let’s hope next year Gabriel, Ison, Stoney, both Puru and even now just with Jesse starting gives us something like that. One or two of them really burst on the scene for us and gives us the X factor we are missing to take that next step.
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I would be cautious with Ison. I'd rather WK right now as there is cohesion and I think our window is open.

Ison is coming off a season ending injury and he would probably need a good pre-season and a decent chunk of reserve grade to get his body in motion again.

If we didn't finish in the top 8 this year, I would say yes bring him in, but he needs time.
 
G.H Shark said:
I would be cautious with Ison. I'd rather WK right now as there is cohesion and I think our window is open.

Ison is coming off a season ending injury and he would probably need a good pre-season and a decent chunk of reserve grade to get his body in motion again.

If we didn't finish in the top 8 this year, I would say yes bring him in, but he needs time.
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Yeah it’s still Kennedy’s jersey atm (providing we re-sign him) Ison has to take it off him.

I really hope Ison does kick on for us and turns into our own Papenhuyzen but agree it’s probably going to take time. Not a next year round 1 fix
 
Proud Shark said:
Funnily enough I was told last night the club has spoken to him. Huge grain of salt though.
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Yeah i heard that rumour too
Apparently values premiership chances more than overinflated wages and is willing to accept a paycut to join.
Think it'd be a phenomenal signing
Spine of Ponga, Trindell, Hynes & Brailey is impressive
 
The Punisher said:
Yeah i heard that rumour too
Apparently values premiership chances more than overinflated wages and is willing to accept a paycut to join.
Think it'd be a phenomenal signing
Spine of Ponga, Trindell, Hynes & Brailey is impressive
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If that is true, wow.
 
Re Ponga, the question is - which 3 players are we happy together ridnl of to pay for him?

At the moment we can afford to have some good backups
 
The Punisher said:
Yeah i heard that rumour too
Apparently values premiership chances more than overinflated wages and is willing to accept a paycut to join.
Think it'd be a phenomenal signing
Spine of Ponga, Trindell, Hynes & Brailey is impressive
Click to expand...
Would have to take a big haircut
we only have $300 in our cap.
 
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