2026 preview: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

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Andrew Ferguson looks at Cronulla's season ahead after they fell just short of a Grand Final appearance in 2025.

The Sharks are the most successful unsuccessful team currently in the NRL. They've appeared in 8 of the last 9 Finals campaigns (Only Sydney and Melbourne have appeared in all of the last 9), yet they have not returned to Grand Final day since their maiden Premiership in 2016. In the period 2017-2025 the Sharks have won 126 of their 212 regular season games (59.43%) - Only Sydney (137 wins @ 64.62), Penrith (146 wins @ 68.87) and Melbourne (160 wins @ 75.47) have won more.

But in finals footy, the Sharks have been more like plankton. Of all the teams that haven't appeared in a Grand Final since 2017, the Sharks are clearly the most successful team, with a win rate of 57.27% - the next best in this group is Manly with a win rate of 48.18%.

2025 saw them deal a heavy blow to their wonky finals performances, when they played great footy til the end, finishing up in the penultimate week of the season. Some hoodoo's got a shake up last year and with their roster again remaining largely intact, the Sharks have incredible cohesion, great combinations and will be keen to get their season off to a great start.

The Sharks continue to be a consistently solid defensive unit and with hooker Blayke Brailey having a stand-out season last year, which culminated in him earning a long extension with the club, the club captaincy and a place in the Kangaroo's Ashes squad at the end of the year, he is going to be on a high and hungry to go to that next level, which he is definitely capable of.

Why They'll Win It

Cohesion. Pure and simple, this Sharks side has been intact and barely changed over their last 4 seasons - Blayke Brailey has played all of Cronulla's 105 games, while Briton Nikora (97), Cameron McInnes, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Jesse Ramien (96), Nicho Hynes, William Kennedy and Siosifa Talakai (91) are 8 players who have missed a combined total of just 77 games between them in that time. When you consider that two of their recruits in that time - Addin Fonua-Blake and Oregon Kaufusi have played 97 and 94 games respectively in the last 4 years combined between their former clubs and the Sharks shows that the club has a lot of players in peak fitness, durability and form.

Why They Won't

Finals hurdle. The Sharks have struggled consistently when it comes to big matches, particularly finals matches, to get the job done. They've played in 8 of the last 9 finals campaigns but won just 4 of 15 finals games (26.67% success).

2026 fixture list

Key Players

The Sharks have a spine that are all similarly aged and closing in on 30 years of age, which means they have plenty of experience without being encumbered by age, and they've been fortunate to have avoided any long stints on the sideline due to injuries. Blayke Brailey had a stellar year in 2025 and he can take his game to the next level if he just runs the ball more often, especially from dummy half, he's nippy off the mark and has surprisingly good leg drive which allows him to get post contact metres but also a quick play-the-ball. He revealed this strength in his game late last season and he immediately became the form rake of the competition. More of that and he could get himself an Origin jumper and a few games in the World Cup.

Braydon Trindall also had a great year, especially the second half of the season. He is a real ‘eyes-up' type of player with great skill and variation in his kicking, passing and running game. The more involved he gets, the less pressure there is on Nicho Hynes. Hynes found great form last year when Brailey was running more and Trindall was doing more ball-playing. Hynes is an exceptional talent but has in the past had a tendency to overplay his hand. He was vastly better in this regard last year, showing a lot more patience which benefitted the team iommensely. Addin Fonua-Blake was an absolute beast up front all year for the Sharks and they'll be looking for him to continue that form in 2026. He will benefit immensely from Brailey running more too.

William Kennedy is set for an important season. With new teams on the horizon looking for players and the Sharks possessing one of the brightest young fullback prospects in Liam Ison, Kennedy needs a big year to fend off Ison but to also get himself a new contract, be it at the Sharks or elsewhere. He started 2025 in superb fashion and was the leader of the Dally M count just prior to the middle of the year, even being talked about as potentially earning an Origin call-up.

Rookie to watch

Liam Ison. The exciting 21-year-old fullback is set for a big season. He made his debut for the Sharks in 2024, playing one match and was expected to fight with Kennedy for the custodian role last year, but Ison suffered a season-ending knee injury early in the year. He's now fully recovered, fully fit and eager to contest for that fullback jumper. Nimble on his feet, great ball runner, especially in the broken field and a great passing and support game, he will be a great addition to the Sharks spine when he gets his opportunity.

Player Movement

Gains: None

COACH: Craig Fitzgibbon
CAPTAIN: Cameron McInnes

Contracted for 2026: Addin Fonua-Blake, Billy Burns, Blayke Brailey, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Braydon Trindall, Briton Nikora, Cameron McInnes, Hohepa Puru, Jayden Berrell, Jesse Colquhoun, Jesse Ramien, KL Iro, Mawene Hiroti, Nicho Hynes, Niwhai Puru, Oregon Kaufusi, Riley Jones, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Sam Stonestreet, Sione Katoa, Siosifa Talakai, Teig Wilton, Tom Hazelton, Toby Rudolf, Tuku Hau Tapuha, William Kennedy

Losses from 2025: Daniel Atkinson (St Geo Illa), Kade Dykes (Canterbury)

Best 17

1 - Will Kennedy
2 - Ronaldo Mulitalo
3 - Jesse Ramien
4 - KL Iro
5 - Sione Katoa
6 - Nicho Hynes
7 - Braydon Trindall
8 - Addin Fonua-Blake
9 - Blayke Brailey
10 - Toby Rudolf
11 - Briton Nikora
12 - Teig Wilton
13 - Jesse Colquhoun

14 - Siosifa Talakai
15 - Billy Burns
16 - Braden Hamlin-Uele
17 - Thomas Hazelton