2026 Sharks Discussion

Gards said:
I don't even know why there is a betting market for this - is it just the bookies trying to scam punters?

The only way the Dragons could even make the finals is for like 10 teams above them to get done for salary cap rorting and lose all their points
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So take $200k....

Put $100k on the Dragons and then drop $10k anonymously into the accounts of one player from each of those 10 teams. Call in a tip. Pocket a cool $20m.

Dragons would still have to win games though. Maybe make that 13 x $10k so the Dargons just have to beat out the Titans, Tigers and Broncos.
 
Shark_Hatch said:
The game against Dragons this weekend, If KL is going to be out with his failed HIA, considering we are only playing against the Dragons, anyone else think it's time to give Gabrael his NRL debut next weekend before Hiroti for a change?
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This WON'T happen and for very good reasons, BUT I'd love to see Ronnie at Centre for 1 game with Stoney on the wing .
But no doubt Hiroti is the logical choice.
 
egg said:
This WON'T happen and for very good reasons, BUT I'd love to see Ronnie at Centre for 1 game with Stoney on the wing .
But no doubt Hiroti is the logical choice.
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Ok now we are getting at the deep end of the season & we are finding our consistency fair enough to keep the experience going, when will Gabrael get his debut though, he's very quick which would in certain occasions. He deserves a debut sometime soon.
 
Shark_Hatch said:
Ok now we are getting at the deep end of the season & we are finding our consistency fair enough to keep the experience going, when will Gabrael get his debut though, he's very quick which would in certain occasions. He deserves a debut sometime soon.
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Why? This is not Under 10s mate. As I said before I am a huge Michael Gabrael fan, I think he will be a great player when he does make his debut but we are at the pointy end of the season with a top four or top two berth on the line and we HAVE to go with the best player for the position, not just someone who the fans think deserves it.

If somehow Fitz does name Gabrael this afternoon, I'll be both amazed and delighted but I really think we will see Hiroti's name in 4.
 
Do we have anyone who qualifies for our Rookie of the Year this year? Probably Niwhai? Maybe Hohepa scrapes in
 
SF said:
Do we have anyone who qualifies for our Rookie of the Year this year? Probably Niwhai? Maybe Hohepa scrapes in
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Pep doesn’t qualify. 5 games last year. That’s the cut off.

Just Niwhai. He’ll need a big 5 weeks to get the chocolates this year.

Could get it next year in a Bears jersey. I hope he comes second after Taj.
 
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Sharks NRL Prospects said:
Pep doesn’t qualify. 5 games last year. That’s the cut off.

Just Niwhai. He’ll need a big 5 weeks to get the chocolates.

Taj next year ;)
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I was thinking it was 6, but Pep also played 2 for Raiders so that's 7 games played anyway.

Might be Niwhai by default at the moment.

Unless Gabrael gets on and really does something remarkable this week!
 
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bort said:
I was thinking it was 6, but Pep also played 2 for Raiders so that's 7 games played anyway.

Might be Niwhai by default at the moment.

Unless Gabrael gets on and really does something remarkable this week!
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It’s not the 2 games for the Raiders. The rule is debut +2 years so that’s fine by that criteria.

Once you play 5 games in a single season that’s your final year of eligibility… which he did in 2025. The rule probably needs a re-think given he came on as 18th man in one of those. Not like he will win it but he’d be dirty if he was carving up this year and a 3 minute NRL stint ruined it for him.
 
Unless we were out of contention for the finals you don't worry about the next season you focus on the current campaign

Coaches are remembered for results, not handing out debuts and making sure their family and friends are there.

Hiroti is still on our books until the end of the season and he is a solid experienced player these days. He is our best choice for centre depth so you pick him to do the job.

Imagine if Fitz went out of his way to give a player like Gabriel a debut against the Dragons and he has a stinker and we lose the game and we end up 4th instead of 3rd - would never hear the end of it and it would be a confidence setback for Gabriel as well.

We are not in a rebuilding phase, we are challenging for the premiership and these players wont be together ever again in Sharks jerseys. There is no guarantee we are in this position on the ladder this time next season either. We need to go all in on the next 8-9 weeks of NRL.

It has nothing to do with who deserves what, a quality young player is going to get their chance eventually

If Hiroti hadn't been performing in FG the last few seasons or wasn't fully fit it's a different discussion because it's a different situation
 
Gards said:
Unless we were out of contention for the finals you don't worry about the next season you focus on the current campaign

Coaches are remembered for results, not handing out debuts and making sure their family and friends are there.

Hiroti is still on our books until the end of the season and he is a solid experienced player these days. He is our best choice for centre depth so you pick him to do the job.

Imagine if Fitz went out of his way to give a player like Gabriel a debut against the Dragons and he has a stinker and we lose the game and we end up 4th instead of 3rd - would never hear the end of it and it would be a confidence setback for Gabriel as well.

We are not in a rebuilding phase, we are challenging for the premiership and these players wont be together ever again in Sharks jerseys. There is no guarantee we are in this position on the ladder this time next season either. We need to go all in on the next 8-9 weeks of NRL.

It has nothing to do with who deserves what, a quality young player is going to get their chance eventually

If Hiroti hadn't been performing in FG the last few seasons or wasn't fully fit it's a different discussion because it's a different situation
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Agree. If anyone is still not convinced (about playing our strongest team), go rewatch the Dargons game from this time last year...
 
Anyone know what Wade's role with the team is, if any? Noticed him in the coaches box this week. Not sure if he's been in there before.
 
Sharksby40 said:
Anyone know what Wade's role with the team is, if any? Noticed him in the coaches box this week. Not sure if he's been in there before.
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Yeah I was going to ask the same but forgot. I haven't noticed him in the box before, either.
 
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