The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are circling and it seems almost certain that Beau Ryan and Chris Heighington will head to the Shire in 2013. But how is coach Stuart Flanagan going to fit everybody in?
With Michael Gordon guaranteed the fullback role, incumbent and rising star Nathan Gardner is now on the outer. So too is former Australian schoolboy representative Matthew Wright.
While Gardner was injured for most of 2012, Wright filled in amicably at the back and would be dirty to go from a starter back to NSW Cup in such a short amount of time.
Gardner’s position in the side is a funny one. The enigmatic fullback has been a regular starter for the Sharks since debuting in 2010. Pushing him to the wing may not be an option either with Beau Ryan set to snare one spot and Nathan Stapleton the other.
The club is still trying to offload backrowers Jeremy Smith and Anthony Tupou to free up room in the salary cap.
With Smith and Tupou gone, the Sharks could start moving forward for 2013. The sky is the limit for a new-look Sharks outfit that boasts Luke Lewis, Todd Carney, Paul Gallen and Michael Gordon.
Ryan’s signing has come as a shock to many with The Footy Show favourite having a breakout year for the Wests Tigers.
“There was never a contract put in front of us,” Ryan’s agent Wayne Beavis told The Daily Telegraph on Monday.
“I don’t know whose fault it is. Beau might have thought he was going to stay but we never signed anything.
“That’s just the way it has happened.”
After a wonderful season for Cronulla, Wade Graham should still be able to keep Heighington out of the starting side. The former Penrith Panther has been a revelation for the Sharks in 2012 and could quite possibly be a future State of Origin player.
It certainly is a fantastic looking side on paper.
But reality and perception are two completely different things. We are still talking about the Cronulla Sharks and there is plenty of water to flow under Tom Ugly’s bridge before next year’s finals.
Possible 2013 Sharks side:
1. Michael Gordon
2. Beau Ryan
3. Ben Pomeroy
4. Jonathan Wright
5. Nathan Stapleton
6. Todd Carney
7. Jeff Robson
8. Bryce Gibbs
9. Isaac De Gois
10. Ben Ross
11. Luke Lewis
12. Wade Graham
13. Paul Gallen
14. Chris Heighington
15. Andrew Fifita
16. Jayson Bukuya
17. John Morris
Doug
Guest
1- N Gardener 2- B Ryan 3- W Tonga ( Sign Him) 4- M Gordon 5- M Wright 6- L Lewis 7- T Carney 8- B Gibbs 9- I Degois 10- P Gallen 11- A Toupou 12- C Heightington 13- W Graham Reserves Hooker under 20,s, J Bukuya,Fifitha,Taufau
jason s
Guest
lets give the boys a chance and see what happens we've got a good team 2013 is a new year all we need is every one to keep cheering for the sharkies the future is looking better our time well come Up Up CRONULLA
Matt
Guest
I agree with Rob9, why do we need 2 specialized hookers, I don't get this at all. I like Morris but he is a reserve grade hooker if Isaac gets injured. Having 2 specialized hookers makes as much sense to me as having 2 halfbacks,2 five eighths, 2 Fullbacks in the starting line up. Could someone please explain this to me cause I just don't get it, ta Matt
sharksrock
Guest
What about putting gardner in the centres?
josho
Guest
1. N.Gardner 2. B.Ryan 3. B.Pomeroy 4. M.Gordon 5. M.Wright with Leutele, Wright and Mills providing depth.
Jeff
Guest
Robson is a boring and horrible player. HE SHOULD NOT BE IN THE TEAM NEXT YEAR! townsend should come in or with the depth at backrow graham could slide back into the halves as long as robson is sacked. Robson added nothing in the back end of the season last year, as he has no creatvity and is not a very good kicker. PLEASE FLANAGAN GET RID OFF HIM!!!!!
anon
Guest
Not sure why everyone thinks J wright is a certainty in the team, saw him a few times when the Bulldogs played and by far their worst player. Gordon's no where near as fast as he used to be with old age and injury, still think he could play a Pomeroy type role in the centers as hes pretty big for an outside back, and still seems to have decent footwork 1.Gardner 2.Ryan 3. Gordon 4. Pomeroy 5. Stapleton 6. Carney 7. Robson/Townsend 8-13 pretty hard to get wrong no matter who they pick
Jona
Guest
I believe that Gordan and Pomeroy in the centres is a great option. I like Ryan and Wright on the wings, however poor form or injury could easily see stapleton or Matty Wright fill in thier. I would much prefer Tupou to stay and Heinington to never have been signed, as i believe tupou is a great player who has simply been unlucky the last couple of years. Jeremy Smith is tough and a good player but i dont think he is needed. Gardener at FB for beginning but depending on how things go this could be changed. GO THE SHARKS!
Paul
Guest
It's not a good long term strategy. But if we win 1 premiership and 5 wooden spoons, it's still worth it. I'm hoping for lucky '13
Chris
Guest
The $1 billion deal was an absolute sellout by the nrl. Ch9 and fox made the nrl their bitch. If they were really interested in expanding the game and fan bases they would have brokered a better deal for the fans than 1 live free to air game a week. They think that deal puts them on par with the afl??? Not even close. The afl brokers those deals largely on their terms. I live in nsw which is supposed to be the home of rugby league yet I can watch more live games of afl every week! It's a step backwards
Rabby
Guest
Jimbo, last time I looked, the Storm had a larger membership and higher average gates than Cronulla despite the fact that they don't benefit from the local derbies like Cronulla do.In March 2012, membership at the storm was 11,851 verses just 6,400 for the sharkies. In fact in 2011 the storm had the 7th highest membership in the comp. Sounds like theres a lot to clear out before its Melbourne's turn. As for RL only being popular in 2 states well that is a bit chicken and eggish isn't it. Demand comes from availability which has been sadly lacking outside the 2 states. CH9 is a big culprit here but so is the very inward looking NRL. Its expand or die in my view.
sledgeross
Guest
I kind of agree that Heighington signing is a bit mysterious. Hes an 80 minute backrower who works hard, but does plenty of hitups to little effect. He struggles to get through the advantage line. The issue is that most of the Sharks backrowers are 80 minute players. I would run with: Gardner Ryan Pomeroy Gordon J.Wright Carney Robson Ross DeGois Gibbs Lewis Bukuya Gallen Bench: (from)Graham, Fifita, Morris, Tupou, Heighington, Taufua, M.Wright I would give Gardner a chance at FB, because thats the only position he can play. Mick Gordon will be good no matter where he is, and deserves to be closer to the action. I hope he ends up at FB because I dont trust Gardners decision making.
NF
Guest
Jimbo Quite frankly it be a stupid move to drop the Storm considering there presence helped the NRL seal the $1 billion dollar deal. WA will come in time it's for the best to make it as truly national and not QLD/NSW/WA that's you're implying. As far as I'm concerned with the Sydney clubs they put themselves into this situation by being lazy and incompetent in growing there fanbases through memberships & attendance. When you consider the history of the clubs they should be in a better state financially and crowd-wide but it's the incompetence the has held everyone back since the admin has to keep on bailing out Sydney clubs all the time.
Jimbo
Guest
Expand the comp by all means ... but not at the expense of established clubs. People seem to overlook the fact that league is still only popular in a mere 2 states of Australia. And all the anti-Cronulla sentiment is unfair, regardless of them buying some Tigers players. Junior Rugby League is thriving in the Shire, & will only get stronger with Sharks success. AFL would be laughing at the prospect of Sutherland losing their NRL team. Personally, I am not a fan of the Storm's presence in the comp. Poor crowds at semi-final games, & I believe they've developed only one first-grader in nearly 20 years. Not good enough, I reckon. Relocate that franchise to Perth, & you could open an avenue for taking games to Sth Africa & Adelaide.
Rob9
Guest
Your argument based on business fundamentals is a valid one Rabby. Thing is though, the same argument could be made quite legitimately for the 8 other Sydney based teams. None of them are making money. Cronulla deserve their spot in the NRL just as much as the Tigers, Roosters, Eels, Rabbitohs etc. Regardless, I agree with Curt’s point above about relocation. Perth deserves their own shiny new team that’s been created for the people of Western Australia, not an existing team from another part of the country dropped into their city.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Agreed. Heighington is done.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Rugby League relocation doesnt work.
Rabby
Guest
One problem I see with cronulla and their new found wealth is that they are now running round buying up every half decent player seeming without any co-ordinaited strategy. Sure they are trying to buy success, the one thing they have never had but if they don't get their act together they won't get the success they desire and will have spent an awful lot of money in the process. What do they say about a Fool and his money ?
Rabby
Guest
Bet the storm would have him back for the right money. Trouble is the tigers over paid for him, expected miracles and he is lost without proper support.
Rabby
Guest
Could have been more than $300m if they had done the deal, sold the middle bit for extra housing, moved to Perth and taken the NRL's incentive plus have had a sustainable business model as a pure RL club which is more than they have in the shire. Basic underlying fact is that the business fundamentals for having a team in Cronulla are simply not there. Don is right.