True, and the funniest thing is reading some of the articles from that pre-season. A lot of them were talking us up hard, saying that we'd improved the squad from 2018!
Barrett was seen as a big upgrade on Noddy, and going into 2009 Seymour was still seen as a going concern.
Somehow Corey Hughes was seen as smart recruitment.
I think we lost Ross in the first game and the first half of that game too IIRC.
However looking back, 2009 was the year I became the most engaged with the Sharks since being a kid. I got Foxtel because of 2008 and thinking 2009 we had a shot and I didn't want to miss a game. I was so gutted when everyone wanted to kick us out for all the scandals. It really solidified me as a fan. I think it's when I signed up here too.
I ended up really connecting with the underdog spirit and put my hopes in the kids coming through.
In 2008 I wouldn't haven't been able to name everyone in the 17. In 2009 I knew who Atelea Vea was and was pissed that Storm had 'poached' him.
So I have a real soft spot for 2009 in a twisted way.