NRL Round 1 predicted teams: Cronulla Sharks - Fitzgibbon puts faith in familiar faces in fight to break finals jinx

That was a poor swap deal for Newcastle.

It's simple. The defence fell apart in the finals in 2022. The defence was worse in 2023. End.

There is a whole lot of science, experience and historical data that goes into preseason, which also flows into the season proper. Teams can roll in with the same squad and same coaching staff from the previous year, but performance can be chalk and cheese. There is quite a bit of Voodoo magic that might add the extra 2% between winning a final and being bounced, but my experience is with all things equal, happy players make successful teams. If your playmaker is going through a messy breakup, or your fullback is struggling with legal issues for a brother that ran off the rails, or your ball-playing lock is caring for his sick mum, these are all unforeseeable issues that the general public are often unaware, but can completely kill a season.

My reason for having no faith in team or coach is that after the embarrassing finals fadeout in 2022 I expected the defence to be fixed in a very tough pre-season. It didn't happen. They went backwards in 2023 and every week we heard more tough talk that was never accompanied by a tough defensive approach. Talk is cheap. I hope to be proven wrong.

I'm not sure I'd want them to see the wooden spoon as an appropriate award, certainly not the playing staff and coaches. They're the end pieces in a system that's been broken IMO for at least 8 - 10 years. If the Dragons did come last, itt might be the sort of wake up call to do something about those in charge of recruitment & player management, as well as dumping a totally ineffective Board.

Like you, I used to like the Dragons and had a lot of respect for them but certain appointments in the last few years culminating in the current coach has seen them plummet in my esteem. If they won the wooden spoon this year, I would consider that at appropriate award.

Probs a bit early on the coach, but it does raise the question, how many times can they keep getting bounced out in straight sets before the spotlight falls on Fitzy?

Sharks have a similar feel to the North Sydney Bearsrr during the 90’s. Decent squad always around the 4-8 ladder team. The. bears might have had more Rep players?

I have no trust in their defence or grit. Or in their coach.

There’s a stat out there showing the Sharks had a 100% record in ‘23 when they played on a Thursday or Friday. This year they have 8 games on those days. Dig up just 5 more and it’s enough for Finals football.

They swapped Millar for Max Bradbury , NSW U19 prop in 2022. If the young bloke was at the Broncs, Dolphins or Cowboys he would have been given a taste of 1st grade by now.

Dale Finucane should have pulled the pin last season. Persisting with straight running no vision centers, Kennedy could crack open any team like Walsh does if his centers turned him under into space. Can not see the Panthers, Storm, Broncos, Knights, Cowboys, Dolphins, Warriors, Titans or even the lowly ranked Raiders packs quivering in their boots at the thoughts of facing the sharks forwards. Miss the 8 this year as others get their act together

I agree the Sharks should make the 8 but haven't yet shown they have what's need to take them further. But I'm not seeing defence as their issue - they are in the 5 best teams for points conceded and run metres conceded. But they are among the worst teams for errors and incomplete sets, and their kick return metres are poor, meaning they start sets badly, and their kicking stats - both long and short are among the worst in the league. Better ball control, better kicking and some help for Kennedy bringing the ball back would help their prospects more IMHO.

My concern for the Sharks is stopping the better teams running up cricket scores in matches. I don't think there's anything wrong with losing games, but losing by lots is really disheartening to both players and supporters, especially when those same supporters have such high expectations. I'm not sure I support one team strongly these days. For decades I was a staunch Dragons man, but find myself hoping teams like the Doggies, Eels and even Manly (who I used to hate), all come good. I must be getting old!!

I find Cronulla almost impossible to predict. When they’re on, usually against plodders, they look like world beaters. When they aren’t, they can be abysmal. I can’t help feel that they are improving overall but are over reliant on Nicho for inspiration. Connor Tracy is also a really handy back up that I think will be missed. Very underrated player

Again this year it’s a decent draw particularly with facing the gun sides over Origin, unless some young blokes like those mentioned unfold into something far better than expected, it would be miraculous if they beat Penrith, Brisbane or that ‘23 Warriors side…. So, right now, no.. but as long as Fitz cleans up the defence on the left, around the middle and there’s evidence of a cultured commitment to stopping the ball runner, it’s solid for ‘25 which will be the year aimed at. How do you see them and who is your side btw ?

I think there's some smoke & mirrors happening down in the Shire. The bloke brought in to fix their coaching woes managed a winning second season on paper, but they only once managed to beat a team that finished above them on the ladder (a round 12 game against the Knights). In the other 6 games, defeats included the Storm putting 50 on them, the Panthers winning 28 nil and losses to the Knights & Warriors, who scored a combined 80 points and conceded 18. I have no idea how Fitzgibbon is going to make them competitive against the strong Clubs. They'll likely continue to belt the bottom 3 or 4 teams but in turn cop at least one 50 point hiding every year and as we know, that's the kiss of death for a premiership contender.

Are they good enough to seriously challenge for a premiership though? I'm genuinely interested in your thoughts.

The club's middles need to get meaner and that'll take a leap forward if Dale Finucane does something he hasn't done for the last 4 years and plays more than half a season. Ditto main collider Toby who is still carrying last year's injury. Hopefully Fitzy tries experimenting more in the trials. Stonestreet for Katoa, Iro to center Talakai to bench. Despite who the club gave player of the year to, Nikora was the club's best player in '23 narrowly in front of Nicho. Expecting big follow up years from these two as well as 23 game seasons for Kennedy and Wilton.. which should be enough for a Top 6 finish.

I have the Sharkies scraping into the 8, but with no a lot of confidence.