Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon has been given a massive vote of confidence by the Sharks board after inking a three-year contract extension.
The deal means Fitzgibbon will be the head coach until the end of 2027, guaranteeing his tenure for five more seasons.
The Sharks were one of the big improvers last year. Under Fitzgibbon’s tutelage in his first year as a head coach the side went from ninth in 2021 to finish second, before bowing out of the finals with consecutive losses.
Fitzgibbon was able to get five-eighth Matt Moylan playing his best football last year and oversaw the rapid development of young players like winger Ronaldo Mulitalo.
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The glowing terms former Melbourne players Dale Finucane and Nicho Hynes spoke about the smarts of their coach, after being mentored by Craig Bellamy, spoke volumes for his abilities.
Hynes was a very good player at the Storm but under Fitzgibbon won the Dally M medal as the best player in the NRL.
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Fitzgibbon was already under contract for 2023 and 2024 but his extension gives him and the club underlying stability to make long-term decisions in the best interests of the Sharks. It will also be a magnet for elite players, with the knowledge Fitzgibbon is on the books long term.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for us to build on what we started here at the Sharks last year,” Fitzgibbon said.
“We have outstanding playing talent, backed by a board led by Steve Mace who are supportive of what we are trying to achieve.
“We enjoyed our first season, but our journey has just begun and we are looking to create an even stronger environment going forward.”
Mace said several months ago he wanted to get Fitzgibbon wrapped up well into the future, and now he has his man.
“Craig managed to create an immediate impression when appointed to the role of head coach (and) his results then spoke for themselves,” Mace said.
“We believe … that the sky is the limit for our football program under his leadership.”
Fitzgibbon had a decorated career for Australia and NSW as a player and won the 2002 grand final with the Sydney Roosters, on a night when he was also Clive Churchill Medal winner.
As a coach he has done a quality and lengthy apprenticeship and was on Trent Robinson’s coaching staff for the 2013, 2018 and 2019 premiership wins at the Roosters.
Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta said Fitzgibbon’s extension went beyond what he has achieved, and might yet do, on the field.
“It is also about the culture he is attempting to instill, not only amongst the NRL playing group, but throughout the entire football program,” Mezzatesta said.
Sergeant Salt n Pepper
Guest
Yeah I dunno , I reckon Griffin, McGregor, Holbrook your old mate Kevvie and a few others would have consolidated a bottom 8 spot under the same circumstances.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
“It is also about the culture he is attempting to instill, not only amongst the NRL playing group, but throughout the entire football program,” Mezzatesta said. This is what grabs me. Cleary, Belly and Robbo have this, in combination with managerial skills and high football intelligence Fitzy, with the current contract should finish it as the greatest coach the club has ever had.
Chris
Guest
They will only play three teams out of last year's top eight in double up fixtures, and even then they avoid both grand finalists in the Panthers and Parramatta. Plus the Roosters just once. If that’s not an easy draw again? I bet the Panthers, Eels , Roosters wish that they had a similarly difficult draw.
Nat
Roar Guru
There is 16 other teams and only 27 rounds with 3 byes. It’s not like they are playing bottom 8 teams 3x.
Westie
Guest
Talking of rookies. See Kade Dykes from Cronulla, ruptured his ACL & is gone for the season.
Chris
Guest
One game against many of last years top 8. Much the same as last years draw. Should have been a more difficult draw this year, yet isn’t.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Most coaches get the sack and these long contracts often go all wobbly. The Sharks were mighty impressive last season but it's going to be tough this season and Fitz will have a chance to prove his worth. The theory of a long coaching contract always sounds good to me but the apparent stability it creates often has no positive effect at all. Might be as faulty as the ''mentor myth''. Having Joey Johns at the Knights sounded great in theory but how about the reality?
Nat
Roar Guru
I'm not sure about that. 4 of their first 6 are against last season's finalists and they finish the season with a similar run so that's half the season there. It's a little easier through the origin period but I wouldn't be counting Broncos or Manly as gimmes either.
Chris
Guest
The club was also given a very easy draw last season & again for 2023.
Nat
Roar Guru
I wonder why Buzz isn't all over this one? With all due respect to Fitzy it's not like he was given a team of rookies to develop, they only missed finals on +/- in the season before him with a raft of injuries then they added a couple of rep quality players for his first season. Most coaches would have given 2022 a fair rattle in that situation. The test is now Sept footy. Good luck to him.