Official William Kennedy

[MrDravid]

For next season we have Kennedy/Dykes off contract, plus Atkinson leaving. I'd be expecting we either re-sign both, or recruit two. 3 is the absolute minimum to take into 2026 given Ison's ACL. I'd also probably be happier taking in 4 with Dykes being able to play halves also. I also think we need one at least who is NRL established.

2025	2026
Kennedy	Kennedy/Laurie
Atkinson	Dykes/new signing if he can't stay fit this year
Ison	Ison
Dykes	New prospect?

The other one to keep an eye on will be Fa'alogo. If Paps has a strong season, the Storm will no doubt be looking to lock him up longer-term before he's available again.

Given neither will break the bank. I'd be way more comfortable if we had Kennedy/Laurie on a deal including 26 sooner rather than later. One year would be perfect.

Had a look at the potential off contract options for 26... and there's not too many (based on my quick glance in the top 30 squads).

Cobbo - would cost a packet and doesn't normally play fullback
Faulalo - unproven, but highly rated, stuck behind Turbo and Hopoate
Laurie

 

[Gards]

Kennedy ate it up in attack a few seasons back when we were playing Nicho ball

 

[Wizard]

Kennedy ate it up in attack a few seasons back when we were playing Nicho ball

There’s a reason Nicho ball turned to down fall when we played good teams

 

[G.H Shark]

There’s a reason Nicho ball turned to down fall when we played good teams

Half way through 2022 we got found out.

 

[SF]

Had a look at the potential off contract options for 26... and there's not too many (based on my quick glance in the top 30 squads).

Cobbo - would cost a packet and doesn't normally play fullback
Faulalo - unproven, but highly rated, stuck behind Turbo and Hopoate
Laurie

Faulalo certainly knows how to score a try, doesn’t look freakishly athletic to me though. More right place, right time - which is certainly a skill in itself, but don’t know if it will translate in regular NRL

 

[Gards]

There’s a reason Nicho ball turned to down fall when we played good teams

Yea but we still struggle against the good teams although we are starting to bridge the gap

Nicho ball in attack could still possibly work if we have the defense and discipline to back it up (which we did not back then)

We play a more conservative crash play / plonk it up in the air on the 5th style of attack these days and that ain't gunna always work either
We still put together plays on the edge and spread it wide ofcourse but it's flatter and more clunky than it used to be

Ultimately though if we are winning against good teams does it really matter how involved Kennedy is on sweep plays or how many TA's Nicho is racking up.

Fitz seems to be trying to turn us into a whole unit that plays the percentages and everyone is a cog in that

 

[Wizard]

Yea but we still struggle against the good teams although we are starting to bridge the gap

Nicho ball in attack could still possibly work if we have the defense and discipline to back it up (which we did not back then)

We play a more conservative crash play / plonk it up in the air on the 5th style of attack these days and that ain't gunna always work either
We still put together plays on the edge and spread it wide ofcourse but it's flatter and more clunky than it used to be

Ultimately though if we are winning against good teams does it really matter how involved Kennedy is on sweep plays or how many TA's Nicho is racking up.

Fitz seems to be trying to turn us into a whole unit that plays the percentages and everyone is a cog in that

Most good teams are good because they play conservative/basic until you break

Nichoball was amateur hour, we had no defence or discipline we just played eyes up - no structure.
All teams had to do was rush up on Nicho and he’d crumble.

One man teams with SJ & Hynes never worked out

We’re a much more balanced, smarter, harder team to beat.. last year was our best attacking season ever and we didn’t need Nichoball for it

 

[SF]

“But I think the time away will only help us connect as a team,” fullback Will Kennedy said on Tuesday.

“It’s always good to get away with your mates. We’re lucky we all have that bond away from the field. When we’re away there will be games of poker or euchre, or guys heading out to get coffees. It’s good to get away with your mates.”

Kennedy’s Sharks future remains up in the air beyond this season, but the 27-year-old is desperate to remain at the club he has been at since playing SG Ball. “If something came up I’d love to take it,” Kennedy said. “Nobody wants to leave here because it’s so good.”

MSN

 

[Ryan McGoldrick #1 Fan]

“Nobody wants to leave here because it’s so good.”

Yeah, you have it real good with all your competition dying!

 

[SF]

Interesting watching this video from Rd 1 last year, the things he gets through in one game:

 

[MrDravid]

NRL Analysis: Breaking down fullback positioning in defence

With one having his effort questioned in Round 1, I'm looking into a few different ways fullbacks might defend the line in Round 2.

www.rugbyleaguewriters.com

 

[The Punisher]

I didnt mind the suggestion Alex McInnon made about Sharks bringing Chevy Stewart home in 2026.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I didnt mind the suggestion Alex McInnon made about Sharks bringing Chevy Stewart home in 2026.

To play lock?

 

[Flanno]

Two try savers in two weeks

 

[sharkstragic]

Probably been our best so far today

 

[Western Sharkie]

How many try assists now?

 

[MrDravid]

Best on ground for me

 

[Wilson]

Outplays his pay packet.

 

[Chopper]

Very good tonight. Try saver in the much bigger Tuilagi was all determination.

 

[Tiger Shark]

Very good tonight