After the season from hell in 2014, Cronulla Sharks supporters will be hoping that season 2015 brings the club better luck and a climb back up the ladder following their first wooden spoon in 45 years.
With the club having already secured the services of former Bulldogs captain Michael Ennis, Sharks fans will be excited at the prospect of the club signing fallen Dally M Medallist Ben Barba.
He has been released from the Brisbane Broncos after just one season.
Barba’s departure comes after incoming coach Wayne Bennett refused to guarantee his position in the club’s starting line-up in 2015. The supercoach has made it clear that he wants Darius Boyd and Anthony Milford to play at fullback and five-eighth, respectively.
Barba is one of four players who have fallen victim to the Bennett cleanout at the Broncos, the other three are Josh Hoffman (Gold Coast Titans), Martin Kennedy (Sydney Roosters) and Ben Hannant (North Queensland Cowboys).
While his departure from the Broncos will be a blow, it’s long-awaited good news for long-suffering Sharks supporters who, like the players and coaching staff, were forced to endure a horrific 2014 season that is likely to never be repeated.
Head coach Shane Flanagan was suspended for the season for his role in the ASADA scandal, caretaker coach Peter Sharp left his post midway through the campaign and playmaker Todd Carney was sacked by the club in a knee-jerk reaction to a lewd photo which found its way onto Twitter.
On the field, the Sharks crashed to their first wooden spoon since 1969, winning just five matches, possessing the worst attack in the competition and having a points differential of minus 279.
As if that wasn’t enough, several players from the club’s 2011 squad, including captain Paul Gallen, accepted backdated suspensions which saw them sit out the final two rounds of the regular season.
The horror didn’t stop there. Chief executive Steve Noyce was sacked last month after his role was made redundant, prompting Gallen to attack the NRL via Twitter, which then fined him $50,000 for his offensive tweet.
Lost in all this, though, were consecutive comeback victories against the Brisbane Broncos and Sydney Roosters midway through the season, with the latter rating as the season’s greatest boil over, especially considering the circumstances.
Carney had been sacked, Gallen was in camp for the State of Origin dead rubber in Brisbane and James Shepherd was in charge of his first match after Peter Sharp stepped down from the interim head coaching role.
Oh, and not to mention the Roosters were defending premiers and eventually went on to capture their second consecutive minor premiership.
Looking back at what has happened at the Sharks over the last twelve months, it’s fair to say that they were an impediment to the competition this year.
While league fans will want to remember season 2014 as being the year the South Sydney Rabbitohs won their first premiership in 43 years, sadly it must be said that the ASADA scandal which clouded the Sharks was the major headline.
But as the saying goes, the only way is up. The signing of Ennis could be the first step towards the Sharks regaining the respect of the National Rugby League and its fans.
And it could get better with the club now very close to signing Barba, who has struggled to replicate the form that saw him win the Dally M Medal in 2012.
Despite his on-field struggles in 2014, Barba is anything but a spent force in the NRL and he shapes as the much-needed replacement for Todd Carney. At 25, there are still at least five or six good years left in him, and he remains one of the best players out there never to have played Origin.
Other than Barba, the Sharks will also welcome Mitch Brown (from the Bulldogs) and Jack Bird (Dragons) to the club in 2015. On top of that, head coach Shane Flanagan will also return after he was cleared by the NRL to resume his duties.
In the two years prior to 2014, the Sharks assembled what many believed was the club’s strongest roster for years, signing, among others, Andrew Fifita, Carney, Isaac de Gois, Chris Heighington, Beau Ryan and Bryce Gibbs.
This was all thanks to Flanagan, who wanted to rebuild the team his own way after inheriting a basket case from Ricky Stuart midway through the 2010 season. This impressive recruiting rampage saw the club reach the finals in two consecutive seasons prior to all hell breaking loose with the ASADA scandal.
Additionally, Carney came very close to winning his second Dally M Medal in 2013, finishing just two votes behind Cooper Cronk after missing the final round of the season due to a hamstring injury.
With Flanagan’s return to the team and the signings of Ennis and (potentially) Barba, Sharks fans should be optimistic about their club’s chances in 2015.
However, they must also remember that not even these three men alone will help them bury the demons of their horror 2014 season.
While one chapter closes, arguably the darkest in the club’s history, another one opens. Here’s hoping that the Sharks will be making headlines for all the right reasons and that the team can at least regain some credibility and respect in 2015.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Its starting within a fortnight Arnold.In fact due to it being built,parking will be limited for game day.The first two stages of the residential development sold out off the plan ,in record time.Stage 3 is now open for sale. Your comment the potential supporter base is going nowhere.Based on what criteria? In fact the shire continues to grow with new housing suburbs at Green Hills and Shearwater Landing at Wanda.The 600 plus unit development at Woolooware Shores next to the club.The huge residential development astride the old brick tip site at Kirrawee. Developers wanting to build 2,000 housing lots on the Kurnell Peninsula,which will take time to eventually get the go ahead.Huge area of land near Menai where owners want to develop . High density units at Sutherland.Gymea,Miranda,Cronulla.Villas and townhouses springing up everywhere in the area.. The notion the area being a small suburban base is far from the truth,as 10,000 units/houses required in the next 10 years.One of the reasons the club residential development got the go ahead. Pro rata attendees at Shark's home games as a percentage of population,is greater than quite a few Sydney clubs.13,000 whilst coming dead last. Of course the old SL mantra ditch the suburban clubs,that'll help the game as it did in 1996/7.Almost bringing the code to its knees. Brumby Jack stating the club was a very shaky financial entity.Based on what .Lack of a major sponsor? The club would have broken even this year ,despite coming last,onl;y for ASADA ongoing costs. The club within the next 3-4 will make an est $45-50m profit on unit sales.Plus rental income of retail development est $1m pa.Plus owning their own ground:no rent. The former Broncos CEO Cullen who spent a few months at the club after the ASADA fiasco,stated based on his review of the club's financials and the development,will be among the top 4 clubs in the NRL .If that is considered shaky good luck.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Ben Barba has officially become a shark today. Announcement earlier today that Jason Bukuya is also set to return in the black, white and blue for 2015. With these two signings along with Ennis and Flanno back, no ASADA and hopefully a full strength fit and firing squad..... expect the Sharks to surge back into the top 8.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
I've been hearing Sharks are rich once the development comes through for ages now. I have nothing against the Sharks, but look at the supported base, and the potential growth of that supporter base - it's going nowhere. If the NRL is serious about growth of the game, my view is that having small suburban based clubs is pointless.
fishes
Guest
Soon we will be the richest suburban club (except for Bulldogs), so deal with that !
fishes
Guest
You still don't get it. Why do I bother.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
Can't get any lower. Bottom of the heap suburban club.
Pat Malone
Guest
You might want to check fifitasdefence stats
Pat Malone
Guest
He was injured the rest of the year. Fifita has blossomed as a shark
BrumbyJack
Guest
Nathan who? Please any player who is on the Sharks roster will never be a "better player"!!!
AdelaideWill
Guest
I always thought Nathen Gardner could have been a better player if given a chance
AdelaideWill
Guest
At 800K a season you would think Fifita might have done a little bit more. I seem to remember that the Bulldogs didn't think he was worth as much as he was telling everyone
BrumbyJack
Guest
Mastermind I respect your optimism. The only way is up for this tragic club, and I hope they do go a lot better next year as well. You have to remember a few things though before any Cronulla fan gets his hopes up about season 2015: Ben Barba is a risky signing, looking at his performances last season one would hope the club don't go crazy offering him money they don't have. The club is still without a major sponsor and is a very shaky financial entity. Paul Gallen will either come out fighting this year and put rugby league behind him when the NSWRL strip him of the Blues captaincy, or want to appoint himself as captain/coach! Let's hope they can regather some respect on the field next year.
Matth
Guest
It will be all about injuries again. The sharks top 17 is competitive, particularly the forwards, but they really struggle with a few injuries as the depth is not there. I think them could sneak into the 8 with some luck or finish in the 9-12 range
speedy2460
Guest
Poor old Cronulla. They go from one crisis to another, and what are they doing about it? Making things worse. Firstly they sign the architect of the Asada scandal to another term. They sacked a perpetual trouble maker in Carney. They have a fair ratio of admitted drug cheats.Now they want to sign a player who is Non Compus Mentis with all other clubs. This club really needs to start afresh. It needs to build on what has been trashed. Implement a "no dickheads" policy would be a good start.
fishes
Guest
You lost all credibility when you said Fifita's career went downhill when he joined the Sharks.
daniel p
Guest
I was really liking what I saw from barba towards the end of the season in the number 6 so I think he has the potential to play well for the sharks. My only concern is him returning to Sydney.
Linedropout
Roar Pro
The same can be said for Luke Lewis. He has never gone close to putting his feet up.
ferret
Guest
Actually, looking at their playing roster and they have a lot of old forwards. Gallen is getting on and the way he plays, so physical, it's clear his best days are behind him. Same for Luke Lewis and Chris H. A. Fifita is great in attack but doesn't like the "D" side of the game so much. Mick Ennis' best is behind him as well. Couple the old pack with a very suspect / unproven halves combo, and the Sharkies will be bottom four again this year.
The eye
Guest
The only forward who hasn't reached the expectations his salary demanded is Anthony Tupou..but like the rest of the pack has had more than his fair share of injuries..just need 1 more centre,Jono isn't up to it,hopefully a Dragon Beale or Farrell,and top 6 ..all other things being equal..
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Lewis injured his shoulder in the RLWC and it severely hampered his work this year.The guy puts in more than I can say about a few others. Ayshford got the flick from the Tigers,his performances this year indicates why. Heighington up and down player but give hhis all every game,at times overdoes it. I notice who was the first responder to this thread,apparently finds it difficult to hold back.We are now approaching 2025 will it ever end?