2026 Sharks Discussion

Sharks NRL Prospects said:
7 minutes in the middle?

Fitz said more than that. He gave Niwhai a big wrap. Said his 2025 performance was great, he probably would have debuted in round 27 last year if he hadn't gotten injured, he is definitely ready for the NRL if given the opportunity, and he is a player the team is invested in.

There seems to be a large gap in how most fans/media rate Niwhai versus how the team and coach appear to rate him. He has possibly the most impressive lower grade resume of any player in the comp and is still just 23 but he cops a lot of criticism on the forum/podcasts and doesn't even rate a mention in any of the "Sharks best prospects" articles.
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What would you deem his main assets mate ?
 
Niwhai looks solid as to me and like he wouldn’t let anyone down in NRL. Just never thought his ceiling to be that high.

Admittedly didn’t see much of him last year as didn’t pay for the stream but just doesn’t seem to have in the past to have any elite attributes.

If he was your cash saver in an otherwise good spine I’m sure you could do well. Look at Chaddy.

For me Riley also younger enough he’s more likely to start hitting his straps at a time where we could have more transition in haves. Niwhai should’ve seeking a start in next couple of years at that probably doesn’t fit our expectations of when we need a half.
 
egg said:
What would you deem his main assets mate ?
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Just a good all around playmaker. Good mix of run, long pass, short pass, kick, play at the line etc. and has had success with different style halves partners. Adequate defender for the most part. Can get bumped off but that's something he has improved on. Plays straight on both sides of the field. Left footed. Can kick a mean field goal.
 
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Sharks NRL Prospects said:
Just a good all around playmaker. Good mix of run, long pass, short pass, kick, play at the line etc. and has had success with different style halves partners. Adequate defender for the most part. Can get bumped off but that's something he has improved on. Plays straight on both sides of the field. Left footed. Can kick a mean field goal.
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I think the main criticism I have seen online (mainly a particular podcast) is his defense but that was Iro's weakness as well in NSW cup and look at him now.
 
bort said:
Niwhai looks solid as to me and like he wouldn’t let anyone down in NRL. Just never thought his ceiling to be that high.

Admittedly didn’t see much of him last year as didn’t pay for the stream but just doesn’t seem to have in the past to have any elite attributes.

If he was your cash saver in an otherwise good spine I’m sure you could do well. Look at Chaddy.

For me Riley also younger enough he’s more likely to start hitting his straps at a time where we could have more transition in haves. Niwhai should’ve seeking a start in next couple of years at that probably doesn’t fit our expectations of when we need a half.
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Yeah. Could just be this. People don't think the Sharks need a half in the next 2-3 years so thee 23 year old is seen as a "backup" rather than a prospect.

Hard to know where his ceiling would be though. Plenty of halves break in to the NRL a little older and have success. Niwhai was an absolute weapon in Flegg and has been at least as good as Trindall in Cup.

XGinga said:
I think the main criticism I have seen online (mainly a particular podcast) is his defense but that was Iro's weakness as well in NSW cup and look at him now.
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It gets over-stated. He had one real shocker defensively last year against the Dragons but mostly was good. Back end of the year was better than the first half. Also had a revolving door of left edge second rowers last season. Probably had 6-8 different guys play there. Some continuity would help him.
 
Sharks NRL Prospects said:
Hard to know where his ceiling would be though. Plenty of halves break in to the NRL a little older and have success. Niwhai was an absolute weapon in Flegg and has been at least as good as Trindall in Cup.
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Absolutely, I don't believe he can't be better in NRL than what I have seen from him in the past might indicate. I'm usually the first one to defend someone in their early 20s being able to improve... just ask Hiroti...

I think he can be a perfectly serviceable NRL player at least, which is more than can be said for many. And tbf, is probably roughly what I'd call Trindall too although others rate him much much higher.
 
bort said:
Niwhai looks solid as to me and like he wouldn’t let anyone down in NRL. Just never thought his ceiling to be that high.

Admittedly didn’t see much of him last year as didn’t pay for the stream but just doesn’t seem to have in the past to have any elite attributes.

If he was your cash saver in an otherwise good spine I’m sure you could do well. Look at Chaddy.

For me Riley also younger enough he’s more likely to start hitting his straps at a time where we could have more transition in haves. Niwhai should’ve seeking a start in next couple of years at that probably doesn’t fit our expectations of when we need a half.
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He was so much better in 2025 with Hohepa there. A lot more creative.

I'm not as sold yet on Pollard as Sharkcast etc.
 
SF said:
He was so much better in 2025 with Hohepa there. A lot more creative.

I'm not as sold yet on Pollard as Sharkcast etc.
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That's good to hear, as I said unfortunately I cut myself off from seeing much Cup given I didn't want to pay for another service
 
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bort said:
That's good to hear, as I said unfortunately I cut myself off from seeing much Cup given I didn't want to pay for another service
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He wasn't perfect, still quite a few errors in him, and not always picking the right time. But at least he showed more on the positive side, rather than just being sold and boring.
 
bort said:
Absolutely, I don't believe he can't be better in NRL than what I have seen from him in the past might indicate. I'm usually the first one to defend someone in their early 20s being able to improve... just ask Hiroti...

I think he can be a perfectly serviceable NRL player at least, which is more than can be said for many. And tbf, is probably roughly what I'd call Trindall too although others rate him much much higher.
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Agree and agree, I feel he could be a very good complimentary player, which is a term Fitz has used for Trindall and many would say of players like Chad, Sexton, Fogerty, Harris-Tevita, Atkinson, Nikorima et al.

SF said:
He was so much better in 2025 with Hohepa there. A lot more creative.
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Yeah. They are a lot of fun to watch when they are rolling together, especially when they load up on a short side. Would be a nightmare to try to defend those two when they are coming at you with speed and you know the lock is just as likely to try a chip and chip and chase as the halfback.

Hosking is getting a lot better at filling that role when Hohepa is away though, and fwiw Rajab did improve throughout last year at that Moylan-style dig in to the line to create space for Niwhai to play on the other side of the field.

SF said:
I'm not as sold yet on Pollard as Sharkcast etc.
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Same. I want to see him be consistent in Cup. Mixed bag last season in both leagues. Risks, errors, defence. I'm not throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Plenty of time to fix those things. I just think Puru is much better currently, and could still be better 2 years from now.

SF said:
He wasn't perfect, still quite a few errors in him, and not always picking the right time. But at least he showed more on the positive side, rather than just being sold and boring.
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Yeah - he definitely had some games with errors and poor options. Continuity probably also played its part in that some of the time. A few games where passes were hitting the deck or he threw passes to guys who looked like they were running a different line than what he expected. Could be fixable with better comms, but could also just be the personnel changes causing issues.

My (halfback) son gets really frustrated when the team has a few injuries and people are playing out of position. Says it's effectively impossible to play at the line or have anyone push into gaps. Ends up dummying and running half the time rather than throwing a pass to someone in the wrong position.
 
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Sharks NRL Prospects said:
Just a good all around playmaker. Good mix of run, long pass, short pass, kick, play at the line etc. and has had success with different style halves partners. Adequate defender for the most part. Can get bumped off but that's something he has improved on. Plays straight on both sides of the field. Left footed. Can kick a mean field goal.
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AWESOME - Thanks heaps for that
 
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