2022 Preview: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

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Our NRL club preview series today looks at the Cronulla outfit who - with a couple of key signings from their rivals - will be looking to surge up the table in 2022, writes Andrew Ferguson.

New-look Sharks on a new mission

For many many years now there had been an element of familiarity in the Sharks roster - a solid core group of players who the team was built around, which ultimately resulted in them winning their maiden Premiership in 2016. This structure remained in place for the ensuing seasons, but in 2022, just 2 players from that 2016 squad remain - captain Wade Graham and prop Andrew Fifita.

The spine is made up of players who have all made their debut after 2016. The reliance upon veterans in the forwards is also gone, with the side boasting a well-balanced and youthful squad across the park. And they will be coached by a rookie in Craig Fitzgibbon, who has served a solid apprenticeship under Trent Robinson at the Roosters.

The Sharks biggest hurdle this year then is set to be cohesion, mixed in with their recent trend of starting seasons slowly (2018 they won 2 of their opening 6 games; 2019 won half of their opening 8; 2020 won 1 of 5 and 2021 they won just 2 of their first 10).

A slow start is something they can ill-afford in 2022 as 7 of their last 13 games this year are against teams that finished in the top 8 in 2021.

The Sharks have been the big movers in the player market picking up two all-star signings from the Storm in young utility back Nicho Hynes and the rock solid Origin lock Dale Finucane, while moving on a number of highly paid players such as Chad Townsend, Aaron Woods, Shaun Johnson and Josh Dugan, laying a platform for a new direction and freeing up cap space for more quality signings.

Why they'll win it

Varied attack from the spine. Be it the superb line running, kick returns and link play by the ever-improving fullback William Kennedy, the snappy service and passing game from dummy half by Blayke Brailey, the offensively-focussed halfback Brayden Trindall and the all-round excellence of Nicho Hynes - the Sharks playmakers will ensure that they will always be bringing the game to the opposition defences, always probing and not relying on a small few pet plays.

The Sharks attack will be further enhanced by a number of powerful ball running forwards, the excellent ball skills of Connor Tracey at centre, the passing and short kicking game of back rower Wade Graham, the speed of Sione Katoa and the leap of Ronaldo Mulitalo - the Sharks are a side oozing in attacking prowess.

Why they won't

Cohesion. It's difficult to explain as it's not ultimately something you can see, but it is so vitally important. Brailey and Kennedy have started in 40 games together, Brailey and Trindall in 14 and Trindall and Kennedy in 13, while none of those 3 have played any games alongside Hynes. That lack of cohesion between the spine and moreso, between the halves, will mean a lot of the attack will need time to form combinations.

And given it's a young halves combination, they may have moments where form drops, which means they will fall back to Matt Moylan to assist, however the utility back has failed to nail down any position as his primary one, so he's a makeshift fix at best.

Throw in a first year coach to the mix and very few thoroughly experienced players and the Sharks could be in for a season with dramatic form swings.

The draw - how Cronulla's schedule stacks up

The Sharks have a very tricky start, against teams they should win against, but given the somewhat erratic nature of all clubs involved and the Sharks penchant for starting slowly, they could lose a few of them. The start with a trip to Canberra against the Raiders before taking on the Eels and Dragons before getting to play at home, with back-to-back games against Knights and the Tigers before a trip to Melbourne to take on recent rivals Melbourne, followed by a clash against long-term rivals Manly.

They then travel to Brisbane for back-to-back games at Suncorp against the Broncos and Raiders, before travelling to the Gold Coast to play the Titans in what is a very tricky Origin period and run home for the Sharks.

They play the Roosters before the bye, then a basically full-strength Warriors side, the Titans, a revamped Bulldogs outfit, Melbourne again, the Cowboys and then back-to-back games against the 2021 Grand Finalists, Penrith, then Souths.

Their run home sees them take on the Dragons, Tigers, Manly, Bulldogs and Knights in what should see them net more wins than losses.

They need to get on the same page quickly and bag some early wins, hang on through the mid-season and snare more wins than losses in the run home, which should be enough to see them claim a place in the 8.

Key Player

Captain Wade Graham has had his first full, injury-free off-season in what seems like an eternity. His ability to shut opposition playmakers with brutal defence, while also providing great ball-playing and a deft short kicking game on the left edge makes him a brilliant option to help in playmaking duties whenever the Sharks need it.

Graham suffered a series of heavy head-knocks in his last 2 seasons, which saw him evaluate whether he should carry on or not, ultimately deciding that he will be fine to continue and is keen to lead his side around for the foreseeable future. 

He will be able to provide that vital link between halves, edge forwards and outside backs, while also providing a strong running game of his own. His versatility and utility value on that side is a rare commodity and one which the Sharks are blessed to have.

Rookie to watch

Young halfback Luke Metcalf made his debut last season and could well get much more game time in 2022. He has explosive speed, making him an immediate threat through the middle of the field and allows him to get opposition defences on the back foot. Not afraid to take on the line either, while also possessing a good kicking game close to the line and has a clean passing game.

Player movements

Inbound: Cameron McInnes (St.George-Illawarra), Nicho Hynes (Melbourne), Dale Finucane (Melbourne), Matt Ikuvalu (Sydney), Lachlan Miller (Rugby Union), Jayden Berrell (Wynumn-Manly).

Outbound: Chad Townsend (Warriors/North Queensland), Shaun Johnson (Warriors), Aaron Woods (St.George-Illawarra), Josh Dugan (retired), Will Chambers (Rugby Union), Billy Magoulias (Warrington), Nene Macdonald (Leigh)

Best 17

1. William Kennedy
2. Sione Katoa
3. Jesse Ramien
4. Connor Tracey
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo
6. Nicho Hynes
7. Brayden Trindall
8. Braden Hamlin-Uele
9. Blayke Brailey
10. Toby Rudolf
11. Wade Graham
12. Briton Nikora
13. Dale Finucane

14. Cameron McInnes
15. Siosifa Talakai
16. Royce Hunt
17. Aiden Tolman

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