To build a squad like the Sharks (Penrith set the Gold standard) relies on having a crop of juniors to bring through the system that are good NRL quality. That takes time and investment into pathways over years.
My friend this rings in my head often.
I think back to 2016. I had a seat in the Peter Burns Stand (ok great he helped us get a team apparently but I have NFI who he is) and I saw James Fisher Harris. He was 20 and running off the back fence. I came on here saying we should sign him. He was so impressive as a kid. Yeo was in the second row that day with like 30 or so games under his belt. In 2018 we knocked them out of the finals and their team had Cleary, Kikau, Fisher-Harris, Yeo, Leota. There is no way in 2018 could tell me that in 2022 Leota and Fisher-Harris would be the two best props in the game. But they were. 2019 they blooded a ton and 2020 onwards have been the standard. 2023 they are feeling the cap but could still f**ken win it for a third year in a row if not they will retool for 2024 through jnrs.
Our squad minus Nicho, Dale and Cam have been together for the bulk since 2020. They are all basically signed until 2025. WK, Katoa, Raimen, Talakai, Ronnie, Toby, Brailey, BHU, Nikora, Wilton, Wade, Williams, Trindall and I can keep going on either made their name after a game or two (Sifa/BHU) or debuted for us. Throw in Culture from 2016 in Wade. It is a unique mix. Wade bows out this year in comes Col/Hazelton. Moyza end of next year in comes Tricky or Puru works in. Bit players like Iku are replaced by jnrs in Stonestreet etc.
Pretty crazy. You also have to think a guy like Nicho as great as he is has landed in the best possible spot from the options he originally had in front of him when he joined us. Compare his career vs joining the Warriors, Broncos(ok maybe as good), Dragons or Raiders etc he named that were interested.
