Your 2022 Sharks Line Up

[bort]

The Squish Game

Well it definitely isn’t The Hunger Games

 

[Western Sharkie]

2022 Team prediction.

Wouldn’t necessarily agree with it all, but still a good read.

It’s a Fitz-given: why the Sharks are finals certainties in 2022

Are they back to their former glory?

www.zerotackle.com

It’s a Fitz-given: why the Sharks are finals certainties in 2022​

Are they back to their former glory?​

October 8, 2021

1. William Kennedy: It seems like just yesterday that Kennedy made his debut in 2019 deputising for the often injured duo Moylan and Dugan. Since then, he has cemented his place at the back for the Sharks, scoring 14 tries and 14 try assists in 24 games this season, helping him onto the shortlist for Fullback of the Year. His dangerous running and passing game will go to a new level partnering with Hynes in 2022.
2. Sione Katoa: The 24-year-old had a breakout season in 2020 where he scored 16 tries in 19 games. Despite falling victim to injuries numerous times in recent years, Katoa remains one of the league’s most athletic finishers and, as evidenced by his 32 tries in 48 games, scores tries for fun.
3. Jesse Ramien: The Sharks 2021 shining light, he looks at home in a Sharks jersey again after his failed Novocastrian experiment. Tackling consistently at 85% efficiency, Ramien is also one of the game’s best running centres, averaging 140 metres per game and recording 101 tackle breaks this season. A mainstay on the Sharks’ right edge.
4. Connor Tracey: Formerly a South Sydney five eighth and halfback, Tracey became 2021’s Mr Fix-It, playing as a bench utility, in the halves, as a winger or centre, scoring 14 tries. Similar to 2021 Dally M Centre of the Year Matt Burton, Tracey is primarily a five-eighth who can shine in the centres, with a lethal step, a running and passing game unlike most centres’ as well as the ability to shift to fullback, wing, hooker or the halves should injuries strike.
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo: Cruelled by the eligibility criteria, Ronaldo was due to make his debut for Queensland in the 2021 Origin series after Reece Walsh’s withdrawal. Possessing speed, aerial ability and a rate of 0.675 tries per game, Mulitalo is primed for a big try-scoring season for the Sharks and a potential appearance for Samoa in the World Cup later in 2022.
6. Nicho Hynes: Lifted an NRL premiership and the State of Origin trophy without playing a minute in either. A fringe utility until this year, Hynes was close to Melbourne’s best player during their mid-season win streak, slotting seamlessly in for Ryan Papenhuyzen as he battled concussion, and later playing both halfback and five-eighth as Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster were rested or suffered injuries. A natural ball player recording 17 try assists and 7 tries starting in 18 matches, Hynes also kicks goals at a career percentage of 76.54%.
7. Braydon Trindall: Just 22, Trindall started 2021 behind Townsend, Johnson and Moylan but kept a place on the interchange for most of the season. After injuries struck and the club released Townsend early, Trindall got the chance to start 10 straight games in the halves, scoring four tries, recording nine try assists and goal kicking at above 80%. While inexperienced, the kicking games of Hynes and Brailey will help Trindall ease into his first full season as a starting half, with Matt Moylan given a season’s extension to help develop Trindall’s game.
8. Dale Finucane: Being a Blues representative, former Storm co-captain and being Craig Bellamy’s favourite player to coach of all-time says something about Finucane, who will not only bring his own quality to the club but help Craig Fitzgibbon to raise the standards of the whole club. Likely to be announced as a co-captain for 2022, Finucane will lead the Sharks forward pack getting through plenty of work in the middle.
9. Blayke Brailey: Preferred by the club over his brother Jayden, Brailey’s skill out of dummy half will be invaluable for the Sharks in 2022. Averaged 40 tackles this season, he can be an effective one-two punch with Cameron McInnes running out of dummy-half.
10. Toby Rudolf: Starting at either lock or prop in every game in 2021, Rudolf has established himself as a powerful front row forward setting the tone early in the game, averaging 120 metres per game and 32 tackles per game. An integral part of the Sharks’ front row rotation.
11. Briton Nikora: Just 23 and already a New Zealand representative, Nikora burst onto the scene in 2019 and has established himself as a reliable back rower for the Sharks, recording 40 tackle breaks, 30 tackles per game and nearly 100 metres per game.
12. Wade Graham: The Sharks’ current captain, Graham has played 259 games of first grade as well as 8 Tests for Australia and 6 matches for NSW. Early in his career, Graham was a half and continues to bring a handy passing and kicking game to his game. A potent attacking and defensive weapon, if he can overcome his issues with concussion, Graham can have a fruitful 2022 and potentially hit the 300-game milestone in 2023.
13. Cameron McInnes: The forgotten man of rugby league after nearly playing for NSW in 2020. Signed for 2022 before the start of this season, McInnes fell victim to an ACL injury and was unable to play this season, but won back to back Dragons Player of the Year awards and was their 2020 and 2021 captain. Playing as a hooker and lock in the past (during Ben Hunt’s couple of months at hooker in 2020), McInnes brings the passing game of a hooker, averaged 120 run metres and 55 tackles a game at 98% efficiency in 2020. A huge acquisition for the Sharks.
14. Matt Moylan: The former Australia and NSW star probably won’t be able to consistently play 80 minutes in the spine anymore after being plagued by injuries throughout his Sharks career, but can
    offer plenty off the bench. Once captain of the Penrith Panthers, Moylan was a brilliant running fullback and five-eighth consistently racking up over 100 metres and recording try assists most games in his glory days. Can play 30 to 40 minutes a game off the bench injecting a valuable kicking, passing and running game as a strike weapon for the Sharks.
15. Siosifa Talakai: Had an outstanding game in Round 19, scoring a try, breaking 8 tackles and running 214 metres. In 2022, Talakai has the potential to be a tackle-busying bench weapon if he can cement his place in the 17 with consistent performances.
16. Braden Hamlin-Uele: Entertaining the NRL with his WWE celebration earlier this year, Hamlin-Uele has evolved into an effective small-minute impact forward in 2021, recording 132 tackle breaks in his past three seasons. Will bring energy and power to the Sharks’ 2022 campaign.
17. Jack Williams: The second Jack Williams at the club, Williams broke into the Sharks’ starting team late in 2021 as a big-minute backrower or lock. Averaging 120 run metres while completing 598 tackles at 93% efficiency in 2021, Williams is a dependable bench forward.

 

[Deleted member 3365]

I've changed my mind, would like Mulitalo at centre

1. Kennedy
2. Katoa
3. Ramien
4. Mulitalo
5. Iro/Jensen/Tracey/signing

 

[stormshark]

Exactly when would one say was our" Former Glory"", 1977/78/79,the late 80s was it with that really strong team and prelims, superleague year , or ''15/16/17? For mine its 77-79 ('78 in particular), "glorious"period and team.

 

[andrew's_sharks]

Honestly McInnes defence would be wasted on the edge.

 

[bort]

Honestly McInnes defence would be wasted on the edge.

Agree although not awful if just for like first 20ish and with Finucane in the middle. Would be right edge which I think makes it slightly more attractive as most teams prefer attacking down that way.
Also gives one of our halves a good bodyguard to start the game

 

[andrew's_sharks]

Agree although not awful if just for like first 20ish and with Finucane in the middle. Would be right edge which I think makes it slightly more attractive as most teams prefer attacking down that way.
Also gives one of our halves a good bodyguard to start the game

McInnes is a good middle defender as is Tolman and Finucane. Controlling the middle generally slows momentum and fast shifts to the edges. Having them in the middle will help our edges out.

 

[bort]

Having them in the middle will help our edges out.

also true
In general, seem having more good defenders will improve your defence

 

[Sparkles]

The question that makes the difference for mine is if our current front rowers would be better starting than Finucane? Things being equal I don't think they would be, which would put Finucane in the front row.

Hopefully they improve enough that W don't need Finucane in there

 

[Thresher]

The question that makes the difference for mine is if our current front rowers would be better starting than Finucane? Things being equal I don't think they would be, which would put Finucane in the front row.

Hopefully they improve enough that W don't need Finucane in there

Our best front rowers last year were Aaron Woods and Aiden Tolman. We only have one of those next season, the other boys are going to have to step up.

 

[Sparkles]

This is not the question at all. Finucane is going to be on the field to start. It’s only the jersey that would change.

... being a front row jersey or not (or role to be accurate). That's what we were talking about, and still what I was referring to in my post...

 

[Sparkles]

You can’t cover every angle though.

- Start him where he plays best = Finucane at lock.
- Start your best two props and worry about lock later = Finucane at prop
- Start with your best 6 forwards on the field = figure out the 6 guys and then work out their positions.

You are consider the first two scenarios and ignoring the 3rd. I’m not saying that is the right way to go. Just something to consider/discuss.

Our front row has been poor and we need some quality there, round 1. That's my angle.

Could come down to if Fitz is a 'get your best players on the park' or 'best positional players' type of coach. I think today's game is more the former, and our signings suggest we'll go that way (through plan or circumstance).

The style of lock favoured today should make that role Cam's, and I still like the idea of Blake 'resting' at lock for a spell. That helps solve the 14 Jersey issue too.

Knowing us, we'll sign Klemmer and it'll all be even more up in the air!

 

[stormshark]

Just don't think Dale is a Prop, no matter how the game has changed. He can play there at a pinch, if things go wrong. We need another proper BOPPA IMHO

 

[bort]

Just don't think Dale is a Prop, no matter how the game has changed. He can play there at a pinch, if things go wrong. We need another proper BOPPA IMHO

Hopefully Hunt can pick up where he left off before injury, never really got going this season.

 

[Walley_01]

I’d still have Tracey at centre to start the year, he deserves a shot and a few games in the same position

Ikuvalu in Newtown

 

[Sparkles]

Just don't think Dale is a Prop, no matter how the game has changed. He can play there at a pinch, if things go wrong. We need another proper BOPPA IMHO

Hopefully Hunt can pick up where he left off before injury, never really got going this season.

Really just hoping our forwards improve this offseason enough that they pick themselves

 

[samshark]

Kennedy
Katoa
Ramian
Tracey (if nothing better)
Ronaldo
Hynes
Trindall
Rudolf
McInnes
Hamlin-Ule
Graham
Wilton
Finucan

Hunt
Talaki
Williams
Moylan

 

[HaroldBishop]

Kennedy
Katoa
Ramian
Tracey (if nothing better)
Ronaldo
Hynes
Trindall
Rudolf
McInnes
Hamlin-Ule
Graham
Wilton
Finucan

Hunt
Talaki
Williams
Moylan

No Brailey anywhere?

 

[Tiger Shark]

Kennedy
Katoa
Ramian
Tracey (if nothing better)
Ronaldo
Hynes
Trindall
Rudolf
McInnes
Hamlin-Ule
Graham
Wilton
Finucan

Hunt
Talaki
Williams
Moylan

Zero chance Brailey isn’t in the 17 if fit

 

[HaroldBishop]

Zero chance Brailey isn’t in the 17 if fit

Agree but the thread is your 17.