2024 review: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Embed from Getty Images

Luke Jobson looks at Cronulla's stellar 2024 NRL season.

It was yet again a season of being so close, yet so far away for Cronulla in 2024.

Having started so well over the first third of the season, the Sharks fell away during the middle part of the season before having a resurgence during the run into finals. A spanking at the hands of the Storm in week one had the Sharks on the edge before they took out the Cowboys in the second week of the finals - only to be annihilated by the Panthers in the preliminary finals. 

It was the definition of a topsy-turvy season, with the flat-track bully stigma floating around the Sharks. Taking down Melbourne, Penrith and a host of the other top eight sides helped quash that, but the noise turned to how the Sharks can get through the regular season to then falter when it really matters.

Injuries to star players, off-field dramas and inconsistent form meant that the Sharks were always in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. While there's plenty to look forward to in 2025, let's look back at the season just gone and how the Sharks got on in what seems to be Groundhog Day for all Cronulla fans.

Turning point

Nicho Hynes' axing after State of Origin 1 had a massive effect not only on the form of the star halfback, but also on the team itself. Having been on top of the ladder after Round 11, the Sharks halfback won the race to replace Nathan Cleary in game 1 of the season.

His axing saw Hynes return to the club side, but with his tail tucked between his legs. The next seven weeks saw the Sharks win just one game and drop to a tedious fourth spot on the table. Whilst the Sharks would end up staying there, Hynes was not able to find the form that won him an Origin jersey in 2024. What followed was a mix of amazing form with some games where Hynes played a disappearing act - something that happens throughout the finals series yet again. 

What worked

The next man up policy, which also leads me to the rookies. It works like a treat at both Melbourne and Easts, with the Sharks now finding the depth to be able to call upon anyone to confidently fill a gap. That, in turn, saw a bunch of rookies step up and thrive in the NRL

With Nicho Hynes out, Braydon Trindall stepped up to be the main playmaker. That, in turn, saw Dan Atkinson step up and have a brilliant first full rookie year in the NRL. Despite debuting for the Storm in 2021, it took a move to the Shire for Atkinson to thrive - having played all down the spine as well as on the wing at stages. A utility back, you'd struggle to see a Sharks team in 2025 that doesn't have Atkinson floating around in some capacity.

Sam Stonestreet only played a few games but turned every game into a tryfest, with multiple doubles in the back end of the season to go with plenty of experience for the upcoming years. While he won't be seeing game time to start in 2025, you just know that he will be ready to roll the second that he is called up.

What Caused Issues

Media noise - and boy oh boy, wasn't there plenty of it! No matter what the Sharks did, for better or worse, someone in the media was throwing trash at the Shire. Between the retirement of Dale Finucane, the signing and possible mid-season transfer of Addin Fonua-Blake, Nicho Hynes form and the struggles on the field during the season, there was always something buzzing in the papers.

Unfortunately, the club didn't do much to squash the noise surrounding the club, which in turn eventually took a toll on the players. When the club then held on to a top four spot, the noise turned to how the Sharks can't get the job done in the finals - which once again saw the players go 1-3 in the final series this year.

2024 week-by-week

Best Players 

Kayal Iro had his breakout year - he isn't the only one to have it but he was a shining light for the Cronulla Sharks. While the scoring stats don't necessarily flatter the Cook Islands international (six tries in 24 games) Iro solidified his spot in the centres with pure heart and effort. Ten line-breaks, 102 tackle busts and a average of 160 running metres meant that Iro was always involved in one way or another. Add on the 90% defensive efficiency and Iro has inevitably become the first player on the team sheet in 2025.

Braydon Trindall had a long start to the 2024 season. He struggled with his form over the first couple of weeks, to then be busted for DUI and failing a roadside drug test in late-April. Having then been cleared to play a few weeks after, we saw the best of Trindall in his career thus far. Scoring 12 tries in 2024, he would set up another 18 and slot conversions but basically everywhere bar the car park. By the end of the season, the questions weren't whether Trindall deserved to be in first grade, but whether Trindall better than NIcho Hynes in the Cronulla attack (surprise, the answer is yes).

2024 player record

Season snapshot

Coach: Craig Fitzgibbon
Captains: Cameron McInnes (26), Teig Wilton (1)

Biggest home crowd: 13,500 (vs. Penrith in round 12)
Average home crowd: 11,712

Top pointscorer: Nicho Hynes (131)
Top tryscorer: Ronaldo Mulitalo (18)

Club awards

Porter Gallen Medal-Pontifex Player of the Year - Blayke Brailey
Steve Rogers Rookie of the Year - Kayal Iro
Members' Player of the Year - Daniel Atkinson & Tiana Penitani
Tommy Bishop Players' Player - Jesse Ramien
Andrew Ettingshausen Club Person of the Year - Tony Grimaldi
Iron Man Award - Blayke Brailey

Looking ahead, breakout stars 

The Sharks have managed to keep the majority of their roster for next season - albeit with a couple of floating rumours about Trindall and Atkinson heading to Wollongong in 2025. The emergence of Kayal Iro and Trindall as game-breakers, along with the signing of perennial try-scoring prop Addin Fonua-Blake sees the Sharks reach what could be the prime of their premiership window.

A strong start almost seems to be likely next year, yet the questions remains as to whether the club can keep that start going all season… something that hasn't been done in a very long time. I will give the Sharks fans a little hope though -  can you the last time Cronulla had a prop with the aura of Fonua-Blake?

It was when they had Andrew Fifita in his prime - and that Fifita scored the premiership winning try in the 2016 grand final. Hang on to your hats Sharks fans, 2025 could get wild.

Round 1 2025 Predicted Line Up

based on current signings at the time of writing

1. William Kennedy
2. Ronaldo Mulitalo
3. Jesse Ramien
4. Kayal Iro
5. Sione Katoa
6. Braydon Trindall
7. Nicho Hynes
8. Toby Rudolf
9. Blayke Brailey
10. Addin Fonua-Blake
11. Briton Nikora
12. Teig Wilson
13. Cameron McInnes
    
14. Daniel Atkinson
15. Tom Hazelton
16. Siosifa Talakai
17. Oregon Kaufusi