As part of a series profiling the expected Round 1 sides for all 17 NRL clubs in 2023, the Sharks are looking to continue their rise from top-four surprise packets to title contenders.
When your team finishes second, you shouldn’t need to do much tinkering with your roster.
But when they get bounced in back-to-back finals defeats, the team is still a long way from being assured of premiership contention.
Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon has kept the faith with the squad from last season as the club looks to add a second premiership to its trophy cabinet.
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Banking on the continued rise of their young core of players led by Dally M Medal winning halfback Nicho Hynes, the Sharks should be one of the teams to beat in 2023.
Nicho Hynes, Dally M Winner. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Who’s new?
Not a lot. They identified Eels forward Oregon Kaufusi early in the recruitment process before last season started and haven’t felt the need to import any other new talent. They already have a stacked list of forwards for their pack and bench so Kaufusi is no guarantee to be a certain starter each week.
Who’s gone?
Young halfback Luke Metcalf was offered a better deal at the Warriors so with Hynes, Matt Moylan and Braydon Trindall blocking his chances at Cronulla, it was no surprise that he opted for a change.
Apart from the retirements of veteran props Andrew Fifita and Aiden Tolman, the roster is unchanged, perhaps the most stable squad in the NRL.
Lachlan Miller was a late departure in the pre-season, inking a three-year deal with Newcastle after getting a release.
Young gun Kade Dykes will also be gone for 2023 after suffering a serious knee injury at training but is under contract for next season and will be back then.
The 21-year-old local junior ruptured his ACL during a field session while in camp with the NRL squad in Wollongong on Tuesday and will now meet with surgeons in the coming days to determine the next course of action.
After making two NRL appearances last year, the son of club legend Adam Dykes was in line to be Will Kennedy’s back-up at fullback, particularly after Lachlan Miller was granted a release by the club to take up a three-year deal with Newcastle on the day Kade suffered his injury.
It was also Dykes’ 21st birthday so not one he will remember fondly.
Utility back Connor Tracey and winger Ronaldo Mulitalo are other options for the No.1 jersey if Kennedy is out while halves duo Matt Moylan and Nicho Hynes have experience in the positition, which would open the door for Brayden Trindall to slot into the starting side as a playmaker.
Key spots to unlock
Fitzgibbon will have few issues when coming up with his Round 1 teamsheet with Kaufusi likely to slot in as a bench forward, an impact role he filled regularly at Parramatta.
Samoan prop Royce Hunt, one of the most improved players in the NRL, could be squeezed out of the middle-forward rotation when the Sharks are at full strength.
With the likes of Hunt, Connor Tracey, Jack Williams and Matt Ikuvalu likely to be outside the game-day squad, the Sharks are swimming in depth.
Round 1 predicted team
1 Will Kennedy
2 Ronaldo Mulitalo
3 Siosifa Talakai
4 Jesse Ramien
5 Sione Katoa
6 Matt Moylan
7 Nicho Hynes
8 Braden Hamlin-Uele
9 Blayke Brailey
10 Toby Rudolf
11 Briton Nikora
12 Wade Graham
13 Dale Finucane
Interchange
14 Braydon Trindall
15 Cameron McInnes
16 Teig Wilton
17 Oregon Kaufusi
Other squad members: Kade Dykes (injured), Connor Tracey, Jack Williams, Royce Hunt, Jayden Berrell, Jesse Colquhoun, Kayal Iro, Matt Ikuvalu, Mawene Hiroti, Siteni Taukamo, Tom Hazelton.
Justin
Guest
What’s your take on Kade Dykes out for the season. After he ruptured his ACL. Thats a big deal ….
jammel
Roar Rookie
yeah Sharkies looking strong! Maybe need a little more bench strength in the 8 10 13 department - but definitely should make the 8
peeeko
Roar Guru
it seems every young player these days is descirbed in the media as a " young gun" . even if they have only played a few games and done nothing of note
Craig
Guest
I saw that Talakai was named as one of the top 10 centres on this site. If he’s a top 10 centre, then the competition must be severely lacking in decent centres. Second rower he is & that’s where he should have stayed. He was another huge weakness in defence in the finals last season.
Westie
Guest
Mr. Slow isn’t going to get any faster with more age. Teams in the finals identified a weakness. Don’t need to name him , as you already have. :thumbup:
Chris
Guest
Well they should be ready for that game by then, with another ridiculously easy draw. The NRL sure likes the Sharks. However, tell us when you wake up . As with the 40-0 , you’re dreaming!
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Solid side, do they have enough strike? I think they'll slot in the top 4 or 5, Moylan is the key for me, needs to play 20 plus :thumbup:
Ferret
Roar Rookie
Will be interesting to see how Talaki goes in the centres now other teams have had a look at him. Very strong runner but somewhat one-dimensional. And I wonder how well he can defend laterally and also if his turn and chase speed is up to NRL standard. Good luck to him but will be interesting to watch.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
OK. Fair enough.
RedcliffeFan
Roar Rookie
PS. Nothing I have written isn't true - sadly.
RedcliffeFan
Roar Rookie
I've been supporting them since 1975. I have earnt the right to call it like is - it was disgraceful defence. Shameful. Pathetic. And if they make the finals who is to say they don't serve up the same. There is a weakness there.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
James Graham interviews Fitzy on his podcast about all things Sharks particularly the early exit. But if you're looking for more insight on the club's GF you have to watch the Ennis interview.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
The rugby league perfect world.
Bonza
Roar Rookie
God bless you for saying that, but let's face it - Cowboys are sneaky favorites.
Bonza
Roar Rookie
If Fitzy keeps giving him the angry pills, this could be Royce's breakout year. We need a big, mad forward. Toby is mad but not big, at least not big enough. 2 of the best wingers in the game, and you'd like to think a big chip on the shoulder after straight sets exit could be some motivation. We don't play Penrith until Rd 22, and looking forward to flogging them 40 - 0.
Bonza
Roar Rookie
Ole Kadey boy could be anything in the backline. Excited to see how he comes along. We lacked a genuine Alpha Male prop last year - Toby tried his guts out but not big enough and Fifita past his best. Royce Hunt could potentially be that guy, certainly aggressive enough. We looked overawed in the finals last year, so keen to rectify that.
Ed Gein
Roar Rookie
If they can keep Wade Graham out of the side, they're a chance to go further than 2022. They were on fire in attack while he was out injured and when he returned, he stifled them. Should be coming off the bench and this needs to be his last season. Good player but certainly well past his best.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
RCG did the same thing to the Cows a week later…twice. They reproduce ‘22 it’s finals time for both of us. Lighten up RF.
RedcliffeFan
Roar Rookie
They need a big, mean, class prop. Was hoping they might try to get Klemmer. The forward pack lacks intimidation. Kaufusi will be reliable but not a signing to get excited about. Hopefully Hunt's WC experience will make him a better player. Not sold on Trindall - some good games and moments and a fair bit of crap. If Nicho gets injured it's a worry with Trindall replacing him. Wado, who is one of my favourite Sharkies of all time, is sadly a shadow of his former self. At his best he was a hitman with a superb short kicking game that terrorised defences and he could ball play on the edge like the former 5/8 he was. Love the guy though - hope he has a cracker year. Lastly, the defence. They embarrassed themselves, the club and me by how their defence folded in the finals. Pathetic. The try they let in against the Cows through the middle was appalling and was in a damned finals match at home! They should have been booed long and loud for that. On the basis of that capitulation I refuse to get excited about 2023. Any side that has that in them has problems. Souths beat them easily in second gear. It was embarrassing and shameful. I can only hope that Fitzbibbon tore them to shreds afterwards and promised them a pre-season of tackling, tackling and more tackling. If not - bottom half of the eight.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Yes a good squad and top 4 material. Hope Moylan has a big year, he’s due for one!