Official Craig Fitzgibbon

[Flanno]

None of our other players are aging? That’s amazing. Must be something in the water at Shark Park. I wonder why Dale isn’t drinking it.

You should see our new signing, Benjamin Button. He’s amazing

 

[Sharkfox]

Sharkfox is just determined to make room for Maloney

 

[Sharkfox]

Sacking the bloke in charge of offense is an interesting way to improve the defence

Our offense isnt anything special, and isnt successful against in form teams, falls apart and we look like a 1 trick pony.

Who cares if he's rated as a coach for maroons, thats origin not club. He's got star players to work with, with ex stars and gun players assisting with him, cruzy role and job.

Maybe we should go back to having defense as our strength and just worry more about that haha

 

[Sparkles]

Our offense isnt anything special, and isnt successful against in form teams, falls apart and we look like a 1 trick pony.

Who cares if he's rated as a coach for maroons, thats origin not club. He's got star players to work with, with ex stars and gun players assisting with him, cruzy role and job.

Maybe we should go back to having defense as our strength and just worry more about that haha

Defence wins you comps so it makes sense to only have defensive coaching staff

 

[Deleted member 2543]

Defence wins you comps so it makes sense to only have defensive coaching staff

Need to get Sandercock back. 1 point was enough for Mounties women in the Harvey Norman Cup GF.

 

[Sevshark]

Need to get Sandercock back. 1 point was enough for Mounties women in the Harvey Norman Cup GF.

Would be good for Whalebone's development

 

[Wiz]

Our offense isnt anything special, and isnt successful against in form teams, falls apart and we look like a 1 trick pony.

Who cares if he's rated as a coach for maroons, thats origin not club. He's got star players to work with, with ex stars and gun players assisting with him, cruzy role and job.

Maybe we should go back to having defense as our strength and just worry more about that haha

Yeah I don’t get the our attack is so good argument.

It’s actually not ; if you can’t score against top teams then it’s not that great is it

 

[Deleted member 3365]

Yeah I don’t get the our attack is so good argument.

It’s actually not ; if you can’t score against top teams then it’s not that great is it

Our attack looks amazing against **** sides.

The one fundamental thing we can't do in attack is build pressure. It'll be great to not have all our attack dependant on one half aswell.

 

[Sparkles]

Our attack looks amazing against **** sides.

The one fundamental thing we can't do in attack is build pressure. It'll be great to not have all our attack dependant on one half aswell.

And that's on the halves. Our gameplan is one thing, but knowing when to roll the dice or roll it in for a repeat set is very subjective and down to their footy IQ. We're definitely not there yet.

 

[MrDravid]

And that's on the halves. Our gameplan is one thing, but knowing when to roll the dice or roll it in for a repeat set is very subjective and down to their footy IQ. We're definitely not there yet.

Repeat sets are also more of a lottery these days... short drop outs are getting the ball back plenty of times.

 

[bort]

Repeat sets are also more of a lottery these days... short drop outs are getting the ball back plenty of times.

Yep, strong trend towards many sides being happy to have a dig and get tackled in the corner as the worst case.
Let opposition try force their way out of there instead of giving them a lottery ticket to the short kick jackpot.

 

[Blair]

Yeah I don’t get the our attack is so good argument.

It’s actually not ; if you can’t score against top teams then it’s not that great is it

I'd argue it is good. Its just not consistent. I think its our defence that lets us down in big games.

When on song, our attack is one of the best to watch in the league. Part of that was due to Moylan, but a moot point - because he can't tackle.

Fitz is on record saying he wants Nicho to reel it in a bit and play with more structure, so hopefully that sinks in over the offseason, after an 'up and down' 2023. If Nicho can choose his moments better I think we will continue to be one of the best attacking teams in the comp.

 

[Deleted member 2543]

I'd argue it is good. Its just not consistent. I think its our defence that lets us down in big games.

When on song, our attack is one of the best to watch in the league. Part of that was due to Moylan, but a moot point - because he can't tackle.

Fitz is on record saying he wants Nicho to reel it in a bit and play with more structure, so hopefully that sinks in over the offseason, after an 'up and down' 2023. If Nicho can choose his moments better I think we will continue to be one of the best attacking teams in the comp.

When did Fitz say that mate?

 

[Blair]

When did Fitz say that mate?

Oof good question. I’ll have to go back and have a look, but pretty sure it was a press conference. Media was discussing Nicho’s good form, and how attack was humming - Fitz said how it’s good but wished he (Nicho) would reel it in/ play higher percentage… I’m paraphrasing, but I’ll see if I can find it.

 

[Gards]

There's a bit of criticism going around in regards to our lack of involvement in the transfer/recruitment market of late but I think it's a big show of faith from club and coach that they believe us to have the pieces available for success and it's more about just fitting them together.

There are advantages to having a large portion of your playing squad having been together for a long time and frankly I prefer our approach to retention and recruitment compared to whatever the **** it is the Dogs and Tigers are trying to do.

We are going to have alot of mid to late 20's players come into their peaks around the same time. Old enough to have their heads on straight and young enough to still be as strong and athletic as they will ever be.

Let me ask these 2 questions:

1. Who have we actually missed out by not hitting the market? Keeping in mind we are competing with basket case clubs with big checkbooks so there is no guarantee we would have secured a player on the market anyway.

2. Who would have been better than we already have and was realistically in a position to sign with the Sharks in the last 2 seasons?


I don't think we could do much better in our spine - Maybe Jack Whighton to come in for Sifa in centres or @ 5/8 instead of Mozza/Trindall. Expensive player though so we would have to move on more than just Mozza and Tracey.

I wouldn't replace Kennedy, Katoa or Ronnie, hard to do much better for the price. Ramien going well, Sifa good player just need to find the right position for him.

Forwards - yea maybe (AFB obvious but that is recent news). Maybe a better second row option was out there over Tieg but Wade came good anyway. Our forwards are big and talented they just need bit of a rocket to fire up.

Hooker - maybe Mahoney over Blayke

Benchies - are bench is pretty solid/strong when coach picks it properly

Depth - we have some talent coming through and have already promoted the likes of Hazelton, Dykes, Colquhoun with some other youngsters on the cusp. Need second row depth though. Tracey has been very useful as a Mr Fix it across the park

 

[Seenoevil]

There's a bit of criticism going around in regards to our lack of involvement in the transfer/recruitment market of late but I think it's a big show of faith from club and coach that they believe us to have the pieces available for success and it's more about just fitting them together.

There are advantages to having a large portion of your playing squad having been together for a long time and frankly I prefer our approach to retention and recruitment compared to whatever the **** it is the Dogs and Tigers are trying to do.

We are going to have alot of mid to late 20's players come into their peaks around the same time. Old enough to have their heads on straight and young enough to still be as strong and athletic as they will ever be.

Let me ask these 2 questions:

1. Who have we actually missed out by not hitting the market? Keeping in mind we are competing with basket case clubs with big checkbooks so there is no guarantee we would have secured a player on the market anyway.

2. Who would have been better than we already have and was realistically in a position to sign with the Sharks in the last 2 seasons?


I don't think we could do much better in our spine - Maybe Jack Whighton to come in for Sifa in centres or @ 5/8 instead of Mozza/Trindall. Expensive player though so we would have to move on more than just Mozza and Tracey.

I wouldn't replace Kennedy, Katoa or Ronnie, hard to do much better for the price. Ramien going well, Sifa good player just need to find the right position for him.

Forwards - yea maybe (AFB obvious but that is recent news). Maybe a better second row option was out there over Tieg but Wade came good anyway. Our forwards are big and talented they just need bit of a rocket to fire up.

Hooker - maybe Mahoney over Blayke

Benchies - are bench is pretty solid/strong when coach picks it properly

Depth - we have some talent coming through and have already promoted the likes of Hazelton, Dykes, Colquhoun with some other youngsters on the cusp. Need second row depth though. Tracey has been very useful as a Mr Fix it across the park

I've had a couple of tequilas, so I am going to bite on this

I understand appreciate the points you are making, want to say that upfront.
It is results that matter I would contend, theory and good faith are important of course,

For me personally, i do not get the hiring of Kaufusi at all, I read the comments on here and bow to the wisdom shown, but he looks mid at best, but maybe he is a work in progress, how long? Who knows.
But i would question that recruitment, I get that there are cap issues, no idea how the sharks seem perpetually in some sort of bother about that

Is it just paying overs continually? No idea myself.

I have said this before, but cannot , at all, fathom , playing Sifa in the centers, I know he is popular and did have a purple patch a long time ago, but seriously when will Iro get a shot?

But to refer back to your question, who could we have got?
Likely nobody, either because we are not an attractive destination or we have no pots of gold or cannot arrange 3rd party stuff, who knows

I think overall the recruitment has been lackluster, I get we needed an old head and somebody who could be an exemplar for younger players , but Dale , on the field , at least, when he is on it, is a shadow of his former self.

I still do not think Nicho is a halfback but better judges than me , will say he is.

For me at least, I need to see results before I make up my mind about the Coach, but I have been disappointed, 2 seasons , same result.

I will await the pushback to cheer me up haha

 

[Proud Shark]

Let me ask these 2 questions:

1. Who have we actually missed out by not hitting the market? Keeping in mind we are competing with basket case clubs with big checkbooks so there is no guarantee we would have secured a player on the market anyway.

2. Who would have been better than we already have and was realistically in a position to sign with the Sharks in the last 2 seasons?

1. Big* movements over the last two years:
Reynolds, Capewell, Fogarty, Hodgson, Burton, Fox, Tpj, Meaney, Elliot, Sj, Coates, Gagai, Townsend, Leilua, Api, Smith, Kikau, Katoa, papalii, Walsh, CNK, Mahoney, Foran, Walker, Marzhew, Barnett, Klemmer, Gilbert, Hopgood, Flegler, Wighton, Crichton, Curran, Farnsworth, Leniu.

Obviously lots more re-signings, but let's just assume those would have stayed on anyway. Not saying we should have gone for all these, just putting the market out there. Will go into more below.

2. I don't think there's many. I can make a case for having any of Gagai, Fox, Coates, Marzhew, Wighton, Crichton or Herbie in the outside backs, but I can't say any of them would have been value for money. The only one that didn't go for overs, or to an elite club is Marzhew, and I don't think anyone would have called for him over our wingers, and many may still not.

Forwards, Flegler, Barnett, Gilbert, Kikau, Klem and Papalii all went for way over what we should have and could have offered. Lenui and Hopgood would both have been elite signings, but one went to the chook$ and the other is just another piece of good rookie recruitment.

Spine is the only place I wish we'd gone harder. Arey, Api, Sj or Walsh make this a top 4 side IMO. And I would have tried anything to get or keep one of them. I know many would disagree on SJ. Also Arey supposedly wanted out of Sydney and Walsh could only sign with Brisbane.

TLDR:
- SJ
- Api
- Leniu
- Hopgood
- Marzhew

They are the only ones I think we could have kept or gotten.

 

[bort]

Marzhew also was traded by titans needing a hooker. Berrell maybe could have got it done although as our only backup we weren’t in much of a position to do it.

 

[Proud Shark]

For me at least, I need to see results before I make up my mind about the Coach, but I have been disappointed, 2 seasons , same result.

I will await the pushback to cheer me up haha

I've been thinking about this a bit lately and I think the short time frames for coaches to deliver results is why there aren't many 'good' coaches in the nrl.

Realistically, if you wanted immediate results, the only coaches you could probably bank on are Bellamy and Bennett. Ones not leaving till he retires and the other is 100. Flanno maybe another option, but for obvious reasons he's never coming back here.

I also think this short term thinking is what leads clubs into constant cycles of mediocrity. If you expect coaches to get things happening quickly, they will hit the market as such. Potentially pushing players out and paying freight, signing players for overs or front/backloading contracts. This might get you a crack at a title if you're lucky, but more often leaves a mess that can take 5-10 years to repair.

I think the clubs backing Fitz for the long term, and so he's been able to recruit as such. Going for youth and trying to develop guys into the side. Say in 2025/6 we have Dykes/Healey/Iro/Stonestreet/Colquhoun ripping it up on peanuts, all of a sudden you can pinch hit in an elite player for a year or two to win a comp like the chooks did with cronk.

I believe in the long term plan, and I'll judge Fitz along the way by how he improves as a coach rather than purely the results.

Look at Parra, most other clubs would have fired Arthur but he took them to a GF. Just a shame they had Penrith to beat.

Long winded posts over.

 

[Shortfin Mako]

I've had a couple of tequilas, so I am going to bite on this

I understand appreciate the points you are making, want to say that upfront.
It is results that matter I would contend, theory and good faith are important of course,

For me personally, i do not get the hiring of Kaufusi at all, I read the comments on here and bow to the wisdom shown, but he looks mid at best, but maybe he is a work in progress, how long? Who knows.
But i would question that recruitment, I get that there are cap issues, no idea how the sharks seem perpetually in some sort of bother about that

Is it just paying overs continually? No idea myself.

I have said this before, but cannot , at all, fathom , playing Sifa in the centers, I know he is popular and did have a purple patch a long time ago, but seriously when will Iro get a shot?

But to refer back to your question, who could we have got?
Likely nobody, either because we are not an attractive destination or we have no pots of gold or cannot arrange 3rd party stuff, who knows

I think overall the recruitment has been lackluster, I get we needed an old head and somebody who could be an exemplar for younger players , but Dale , on the field , at least, when he is on it, is a shadow of his former self.

I still do not think Nicho is a halfback but better judges than me , will say he is.

For me at least, I need to see results before I make up my mind about the Coach, but I have been disappointed, 2 seasons , same result.

I will await the pushback to cheer me up haha

To be honest with you, I am generally happy with Fitzy. The only disappointment for me was last year - it felt like we stalled. Hoping for a better year (footy-wise, at least having a plan B and C)