After turning off the porch light in 2016, the Cronulla Sharks couldn’t manage to repeat their heroics and become the first back-to-back champion since Brisbane in 1993.
With the retirement of Michael Ennis and the exit of star fullback Ben Barba, the Sharks were up against it for the start of the off-season, which included a trip to the UK to face Wigan in the World Club Challenge.
Coach Shane Flanagan joined me on my Talking with TK Podcast to review the season and offer some insights into 2018.
Jayden Brailey
The find of the season was young hooker Brailey. At only 21 years, the former U20s superstar played 20 games and scored four tries. He more than held his own in the middle of the park and made an impressive comeback from smashing his jaw against Manly.
They restricted his ability to play with the ball and in time we will see the coaching staff allow him to show more of his natural flair with the ball. Keeping James Segeyaro on the bench shows how much the Sharks rate the kid.
Cap space for further acquisitions
In the Flanagan era the Sharks are known for astute, late bargain buys. The Sharks are in a great place with salary cap management with Flanagan revealing the club is around $800,000 under the cap due to the new cap negotiations.
Matt Moylan’s name has been a constant rumour over the past month and it’s no secret Moylan and his coach Anthony Elliott do not see eye to eye. With Cronulla home to many of the Western Sururbs’ finest, it will be no surprise to see Moylan in the black, white and blue.
Squad experience
The team has been there and done that, with a 2016 grand final win and many finals appearances over the past six to seven years. The team is stacked with State of Origin and Australian representatives with many 150, 200 and 300-game players in the team. The Sharks are the most experienced team in the NRL, which shows with the team’s composure when they fall behind in games.
The junior nursery
One of the best U20s teams the Sharks have had since the famous President’s Cup team of 1994, which would have beat most first-grade teams on their day. They didn’t perform in the finals but they have an enormous amount of potential with Flanagan nominating Kyle Flanagan, Jesse Ramien, Briton Nikora, Isaac Lumelume and Will Kennedy as the players to watch in 2018.
The coach
Got to give credit where credit is due, when Flanagan took over late in the 2010 season from Ricky Stuart the Sharks were the laughing stock of the league. Even with the ASADA scandal, Flanagan brought the team out from those lows to achieving the possible and claiming the Sharks’ first ever title. Well respected by his players, Flanagan has a great ability to bring in quality players into the squad.
Flanagan on the positives from 2017
“We had three players make 300 games and you know that’s an amazing achievement by Chris Heighington, Luke Lewis and Paul Gallen. Then we had two boys make their debuts in Jayden Brailey and Jesse Ramien, we won the club championships, our 20s had a fantastic year. They got some injuries and suspensions of the back end of the year, but coming off a premiership, the World Club Challenge it’s been a big 18 months and it’s good for the players to have a break from me and come back in November.”
Away record
The saviour of the season was the team’s ability to win on the road, with a 10-2 win-loss record. Most teams struggle in this area, so if the Sharks can repeat something similar next year, no doubt they will again be pressing for the top four if the home record can improve.
Josh Dugan
Dugan will be the surprise shinning light for next season, he is an upgrade on Jack Bird as he is a better centre and fullback and that’s where the Sharks were always going to play Bird.
With respect to Canberra and St George, Dugan was always in their top three best players so there was always expectations and pressure for him to perform. At the Sharks, Dugan is not in the top three and will have less pressure of media duties, which is usually driven towards Gallen, Lewis, Maloney, Graham and Fifita.
Hooker rotation and bench use
Having two hookers is a waste of an interchange, even sitting Gerard Beale in 2016 was a waste particularly when you think it would be the perfect position for someone such as Kurt Capewell who can play wing, centre or back row. Even a Joseph Paulo would be better given his versatility.
Flanagan on the hooker battle
“I think they both have 80 minutes in them, but the way the game is at the moment you have to be smart with how you play your No.9s if they play 80 minutes. The one that does it at the moment is Cameron Smith. Defensively you can get found out and you have to do a lot of work. Jayden [Brailey]’s probably the closest to doing that right now and as he gets a little older that will become easier. James [Segeyaro] just needs a really good off-season and I think he can do it as well.”
Ageing roster
The Sharks are an old team particularly around their leaders Paul Gallen (36) and Luke Lewis (34), whose experience, influence and leadership will not be easy to replace when they decide to call it a day.
Poor starts to games
Another focus for the off-season is to fix the poor starts the team consistently had through the year. When the Sharks scored first, the chances of them losing a game was very slim. The experience in the team allowed them to claw back into games where others would fail.
Discipline and error rate
Silly penalties and poor completion rates were also a consistency among the team and also a major contributor to their poor starts. Even great defence can’t make up for continually turning over the ball and giving away good field position to your opposition. Adding two new players (Brailey and Holmes) to the spine probably did not help in this area either.
Prop and halves depth
With outstanding starters in Fifita and Prior, the Sharks lacked a killer from the bench in 2017. Jeremy Latimore was good without being outstanding while Chris Heighington and Sam Tagataese struggled with injury and consistency. A couple of young guys have been brought in with Ava Seumanufagai (Wests Tigers) and Braden Uele (Cowboys) both showing potential to fill the obvious team weakness.
When Maloney went down injured there was a clear lack of depth with Nu Brown filling his shoes without setting the world on fire. Both Maloney and Townsend lack back up to pressure them into feeling a threat to their starting spot. The emergence of Kyle Flanagan may change this but given his small frame he looks at least a year away from pressuring the first graders for a spot.
Contract distractions
The early season drama with Jack Bird was then followed by late season drama with James Maloney. Both clearly had an effect on the team, particularly with Maloney as chief playmaker. Given a season is left on Maloney’s contract, a return to form for him would not surprise in a contract year.
Home record
A home record of 5-7, with some of those wins coming right at the death against struggling clubs, is poor. Surely there is something going wrong with home game preparation because crowds looked better than ever so the support was there. Will make or break or chances of finishing top four next year.
It was a satisfactory finish in 2017 for the Cronulla Sharks. Given a long season with a trip to England, the retirement of Michael Ennis and the Ben Barba issues, the team did well to be one win from a top four finish. Over the season, the Sharks looked the only team capable of beating the Storm, who were likely glad to avoid another meeting with the Shire boys.
2018 is one of promise, with a priority to fix a dreadful home record and also sort out the contract dramas with James Maloney. Given a stable of promising youth and the cap room for 2018, a marquee buy in the form of someone with the ability of Matt Moylan will see the Sharks again pushing for a top four finish.
SewingMachine
Guest
NIce review.. I think the most telling statistics between the Sharks of 2016 and 2017 is the tries created by the 9 and 1..Between Ennis and Barba they created a whopping 30 tries (27%)..12 and 18 respectively..out of the 108 total season tries scored by Cronulla.. Bailey and Holmes created 6 (7.5%)between them..1 to Bailey and 5 to Holmes..out of 80 ..although Bailey did play less games/time then Ennis..however it’s a staggering difference..and certainly a big factor in the Sharks less successful season.. Stats courtesy of Nrl.com
Greg Ambrose
Guest
Probably a typical year for a team defending the title in some ways. I thought the sharks developed a mental edge over the Storm last year which seemed to carry on into this season for a while. Ill discipline often comes when teams don't quite believe they are up to it They lost this edge over the Storm and they looked like a different team to me. It seems likely to me that next year will be a real struggle for them. It looks like a pretty open year next year with a huge number of teams potential finalists.
Oto shark
Guest
Even being so reckless ,the sharks still came 5th in the NRL, one of the toughest competions there is. They blew it against the cowboys(like the hare vs the tortoise), they were focussed at the beginning , it reminded me of their first games against the storm and roosters ,and after easy points they just took it for granted and fell back to what they did all year . complacency and a bit of arrogance ,but don't think it'll happen next year ,as I already said the hunger will fix that.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
So much "dumb play" from the Sharks this year. Just look at the final 10 minutes of the elimination final against the cowboys. Up by a few points, not long to play, just don't give away a penalty in the Cowboys half (they give away a penalty), ok now in our half, don't give away a penalty to give them a shot on goal (they give away a penalty). Im sorry, but that is the coach's fault. The Storm don't do that, because they know the consequences. They will cop a bullocking. At the sharks, there are no consequences, the referee's cop the spray. Lets hope for better in 2018 (long time supporter)
Tristan Knell
Roar Rookie
Agree, some of the penalties were from the senior boys, Wade, Fifita & Jimmy were woeful in this area.
Tristan Knell
Roar Rookie
Agree, some of the penalties were from the senior boys, Wade, Fifita & Jimmy were woeful in this area. Thanks for the comment
Tristan Knell
Roar Rookie
100% agree, to back it up after winning the comp without arguably our best two players (Ennis & Barba) of 2016 was always going to be tough work. Cheers for comment
Tristan Knell
Roar Rookie
I think the Sharks will do well with him, less pressure on him to be a superstar and more guidance from guys like Gal and Lewie, cheers for the comment
Tristan Knell
Roar Rookie
Agree 100% mate, thanks for the comment
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
I don't think it's fair to say the club can only take credit for Gal. Not many players can make it to 300 games for one club, and the article is highlighting more the amount of experience, rather than the Sharks creating 300 game players. There are a lot of old warhorses running around in the shire at the moment. As for discipline, you are most correct sir. Way too many face slapping moments while watching the boys play this year. Not just the penalties to reset the line in the 20 that everyone gives away either. It's all the stupid ones given 40-50-60m out that march the opposition down the field and put us under pressure again. Yes James I am looking at you. Keep quiet Andrew, you don't have a leg to stand on either mate. If we can grip that it will help a lot next year as well.
Nat
Roar Guru
Discipline, Discipline, Discipline. When your main offenders are in key positions it is hard to establish a standard of quality. I don't think the 2 hookers thing is that much of a waste, most teams are doing it and Seg can add that spark at the right time. It is nice to acknowledge the 300 club but Gallen is the only one the club can take credit for.
Oto shark
Guest
You could be right about Dugan,but i reckon the hunger could be back next year. This sharks team is a very tough team, I just think the weight was off their shoulders and they relaxed that little bit. In the NRL that little bit can make a huge difference at the top.
Paul
Roar Guru
Duggan is the smoking gun at the Sharks. If they can manage his character, he should be a real addition to this side. If they can't, he could be a disaster for tem as he was in Canberra. Hopefully he does well.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Pretty good recap of our season. If anything discipline cost us the most, followed closely by the lack of direction in attack. It was always going to be a tough ask to back up losing two key players who got us to the big dance in the first place. Young Jayden Brailey had an outstanding debut season and hopefully he can build on that from here. Gal was a rock as always. Everyone was certainly putting in, but we lacked that spark that we had last year. Barba was a big part of that and Holmes has a bit of work to replicate that kind of input. I'm looking forward to next year. We should be pretty competitive again, and if Gal retires then it could be a good push to go deeper.
Tristan Knell
Roar Rookie
I think Valentine will have a better second season at Fullback, compare his first season at fullback against the likes of Billy Slater and Darius Boyd and he matches up pretty well. If Moylan joins though with the amount of cash we have you would think he would be fullback so we might not ever get the chance to see Val in that jersey.
Tristan Knell
Roar Rookie
Agree mate, think he needs to be harsher on the team particularly their lack of discipline at times
souvalis
Guest
Hopeful that ‘18 will be better..this was an average season at best considering the roster..potentially Aaron Gray is an excellent outside back,have always been a Dugan fan,and if Moylan joins the list will be better than last year..fullback is a problem..
Paul
Roar Guru
And hopefully one of Flanagan's New Year's resolutions will be to stop slagging off at referees at post game conferences. Does nothing for him, his side or the game.