Season 2022 - When Do We Call it a Year?

[stormshark]

Warriors gonna throw caution to the wind in their own selections, and probably throw the ball around even more than normal. High alert/risk game coming.

 

[bort]

I’d be tempted to just take the safe route with this one and just don’t even bother fielding a fullback

 

[Proud Shark]

If we are not careful, it is very possible to end up with 0 points from those 4 games (Storm, Cows, Panthers and Bunnies)

Hopefully Papenhauzen makes the squad and pushes Nicho out from 18th man.

Taking on storm without Paps, Grant, Munster, Coates and Kaufusi is a winnable game.
You'd also imagine Cotter, Val and possibly Nanai get a rest as we play the friday night after game 3. Cows are still pretty formidable without them though.

To be a chance at the top four, we have to go 3/3 then 2/4 over that period you'd think. If we drop one or two of our next games though we could easily find ourselves outside the 8 with 5 games left to play.

 

[Gumby]

we wont make top 4 this year

 

[MrDravid]

If we are not careful, it is very possible to end up with 0 points from those 4 games (Storm, Cows, Panthers and Bunnies)

Sure, but if you squint, you can see us winning 11 of the next 12 games leading into finals

 

[squiddy]

we wont make top 4 this year

We won’t make top 8 this year either

 

[andrew's_sharks]

We won’t make top 8 this year either

Barring major injuries to key players. We will easily make the 8,

 

[sharks2010]

Barring major injuries to key players. We will easily make the 8,

You mean like we have now?

 

[bort]

You mean like we have now?

We are in the 8

 

[sharks2010]

We are in the 8

Exactly

 

[squiddy]

Barring major injuries to key players. We will easily make the 8,

Hate to be negative but I cant see it - too many movers below us - Canberra , Manly even Saints - we are too inconsistent at present - hope Im proven wrong but Im not seeing a top 8 team week in week out

 

[andrew's_sharks]

Hate to be negative but I cant see it - too many movers below us - Canberra , Manly even Saints - we are too inconsistent at present - hope Im proven wrong but Im not seeing a top 8 team week in week out

Take a look at our draw. Outside of 3 matches in a row v pennies, cows and storm (which is during the second half of the origin period. it is fairly good.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Hate to be negative but I cant see it - too many movers below us - Canberra , Manly even Saints - we are too inconsistent at present - hope Im proven wrong but Im not seeing a top 8 team week in week out

We had a good stretch as well. Point is none of those teams, like us, will keep it going.

 

[Western Sharkie]

Apologies if already posted elsewhere

SHARKS

Ladder: 6th (7-0-5, +38)

What’s gone right: New coach Craig Fitzgibbon has instilled the steel of old in the Sharks pack from when they won their maiden title in 2016. The Sharks have made some astute purchases in Dale Finucane, Nicho Hynes and Cameron McInnes and their commitment and effort has rubbed off on the rest of the team. Siosifa Talakai has taken his game to greater heights and was even a smoky for an Origin debut after a barnstorming start to the year. Matt Moylan has wound back the clock to combine brilliantly with Hynes and Blayke Brailey has come of age as an attacking dummyhalf. The Sharks have been in the top four for much of the year and despite a slip in recent weeks, if they can get healthy a top four finish is not beyond them.

What’s gone wrong: Injuries to their two most experienced forwards in skipper Dale Finucane and former captain Wade Graham has seen the Sharks lacking commitment and focus in some slow starts this season. They were upset by the Broncos despite leading at halftime and were blown off the park by the Raiders and Roosters in the last month, while they were outclassed by the Storm showing there is still a way to go to match the top sides consistently.

The star: Nicho Hynes has been arguably the buy of the year and a revelation at halfback since switching from playing fullback at the Storm last year. Hynes’ devastating running game and deft playmaking skills has unlocked the Sharks edges and he has iced a couple of games with his kicking from both the tee and the boot. Hynes was rewarded with a spot in the Blues squad and nearly nabbed a bench spot for game one, which shows how far his game has come.

Needs to lift: William Kennedy started the season in excellent form, but a suspension has halted his momentum and he now has one-game rookie Lachlan Miller breathing down his neck for the fullback spot. Kennedy has been one of the Sharks most consistent players for the last two seasons, but they need more from him if they are going to be a top four side. He has the runs on the board at the moment, but if the Sharks mid-season slump continues, Miller could get another shot after an impressive debut against the Titans.
Top-eight chances: Should be safe.
Grade: B

What’s gone right, wrong at every club as grades revealed: NRL mid-season report card

What’s gone right, wrong at every NRL club as grades revealed: Mid-season report card

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Sir Chadley]

Funny how the scribes don't rate BHU. When I read we were missing two of our top forwards, I was waiting to read his name.

As we all know, Wade is way below his best - just goes to show reputations count for a fair bit for these journos.

BHU has been streets ahead of Wade and is one of the main reasons we are in a slump - even allowing for the fact that Wade hasn't played many games.

 

[Western Sharkie]

They’ve sacked Wade as captain too.

TBF, he hasn’t played much so they probably just assumed that given he hasn’t played that the Captaincy was realigned elsewhere.

 

[Shortfin Mako]

TBF, he hasn’t played much so they probably just assumed that given he hasn’t played that the Captaincy was realigned elsewhere.

Assumptions over investigative journalism.

 

[apezza]

So with 10 rounds to go we play 5 top 8 teams (including Souths and Dragons below us) with the rest towards the bottom.

Whilst we have some tricky ones (Manly at Brookvale etc) you would like to think we should be striving to notch up 6 out of 10 wins minimum. That gets us 32 points. I think that would put us hovering around 4 - 5th.

I think considering where we are now anything less than 32 points will be disappointing.

Mind you if we play like we did last week we will be lucky to win 3 out of 10.

 

[HaroldBishop]

So with 10 rounds to go we play 5 top 8 teams (including Souths and Dragons below us) with the rest towards the bottom.

Whilst we have some tricky ones (Manly at Brookvale etc) you would like to think we should be striving to notch up 6 out of 10 wins minimum. That gets us 32 points. I think that would put us hovering around 4 - 5th.

I think considering where we are now anything less than 32 points will be disappointing.

Mind you if we play like we did last week we will be lucky to win 3 out of 10.

It's a four horse race for the last two places in the 8. I reckon the Cows will grab one spot, so between us, Broncs and Parra for the last spot.

It Parra can get some consistency they'll get it.

We'll 100% make the 8, I reckon 5th or 6th most likely.

 

[bort]

NRL ladder
points 2022 - points 2021 both @ round 15
28 - 26
24 - 26
22 - 24
20 - 24
20 - 20
20 - 18
16 - 14
16 - 14
---
14 - 14
14 - 12
14 - 12
10 - 12
8 - 10
8 - 10
8 - 6
6 - 6

The top sides this year (except Penrith) aren't winning as consistently. However the bottom 4 (or 5) sides this year are losing a little more consistently, so in the middle it is a lot more congested.
Currently being on 24 to 14 points has you between 2nd and 11th, this time last year 24-14 had you 3rd to 9th.

I guess nice to be one of the best inconsistent teams...

6 of last years top 8 at this stage went on to finish top 8. Dragons (7th) and Sharks (8th) slid out to finish 11th and 9th.