Waiting for Cronulla to win a premiership is like leaving the porch lamp on for Harold Holt.
To use Jack Gibson’s words, 2011 is not looking like the year when the Sharks – at long last – break their infamous premiership drought. The porch light may still be on for the Sharks’ die-hard fans, but Harold Holt isn’t coming home any time soon.
The Shire boys have made some wise buys recently, especially with five-eighth Wade Graham. Right from his first NRL match for the Panthers, alongside equally baby-faced Lachlan Coote, Graham showed the kind of promise that suggest he could be a brilliant captain and playmaker to rival former Shark Trent Barrett. But at only 20, that could still be a way off.
As a teenager John Williams was always viewed as the better player from the Williams clan – his brother, Dave, is Manly’s notorious Wolfman – but has been languishing on the end of the North Queensland Cowboy’s underused back line of late. Along with veteran Colin Best, he’s a classy replacement for speedy backs like Blake Ferguson, and a superior defensive option.
With back-rower Jeremy Smith coming from a Dragons premiership, the second row down in the Shire is becoming one of the more impressive in the NRL: Australian representative Paul Gallen, alongside New Zealand representative Jeremy Smith and former Aussie rep Anthony Tupou.
The danger is that Smith suffers the same fate as Anthony Tupou, digging in every week, but unable to compensate for an overall absence of direction.
Coach Shane Flanagan will see a lift from his players early in the season – call it a carryover from last year’s ‘new coach’ factor – but as a new head coach he has massive hurdles to deal with. Five-eighth and Captain Trent Barrett is gone, the club is in possible financial difficulties, and gossip continues to swirl about poaching raids by the Knights (Kade Snowden) and players choosing to follow Blake Ferguson’s leave and follow Ricky Stuart out of the club.
A new $300 million, eight year retail and residential development next to the Sharks’ home ground is intended to ultimately rid the club of debt, but like on-field success, it won’t be immediate.
To speak diplomatically, it1’s a “building” year for the Sharks, but look out for young guns Wade Graham and Albert Kelly further down the track, and forwards Kade Snowden and Luke Douglas to be stand-out performers.
Team: Cronulla Sharks
Homeground : Toyota Stadium (22,000)
Coach: Shane Flanagan
Season 2010: 14th (P 24, W 7, L 17, -255 pts)
2011 squad: Paul Aiton, Colin Best, Jason Bukuya, Andrew Clayton, Dean Collis, Josh Cordoba, Luke Douglas, Stuart Flanagan, Paul Gallen, Nathan Gardener, Isaac Gordon, Wade Graham, Trent Grubb, Albert Kelly, Kose Lelei, Ricky Leutele, Johnny Mannah, Stewart Mills, John Morris, Matt Parata, Ben Pomeroy, Scott Porter, Jeremy Smith, Tim Smith, Kade Snowden, Nathan Stapleton, Taulima Tautai, Ryan Tongia, Anthony Tupou, Siosaia Vave, John Williams, Broderick Wright, Matthew Wright.
Ins: Andrew Clayton, Colin Best, Jeremy Smith, John Williams, Kose Lelei, Ryan Tongia, Wade Graham.
Outs: Kyle O’Donnell, Grant Millington, Blake Ferguson, Adam Cuthbertson, Trent Barrett, Luke Covell, Reece Williams, Josh Lewis, Lancen Joudo, Luke Harlen.
X-Factor: Nathan Gardener was a revelation in 2010, not to mention a persistent menace to the Sydney Roosters, who seem completely unable to shut him down. His speed, his step on both feet and his seemingly effortless zig-zag runs are a bright spark in a team that isn’t blessed with many experienced or creative playmakers. Opposition teams will target him in defence, and rightly so.
With Ryan Tongia threatening for the first-grade fullback berth he’ll have to improve to hold on to his jersey and the result should be some beautiful football.
Main man: Paul Gallen has been called the heart of the Sharks. He’s the man the fans of every other team love to hate. His leadership, battering ball-runs and brutal defence are a cornerstone of Cronulla’s game.
Predicted 2011 finish: 16th
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