What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Rumoured / Confirmed Signings

Messages
15,190
No official word on Nikora yet, but here's Riccio's report. I had him down for 3 years, not the 2 Riccio is suggesting.

The Sharks are on the verge of snaring a second major recruitment scalp with Test backrower Briton Nikora poised to extend his future at the club.
Off-contract at the end of 2025, Nikora has agreed to terms on a new two-year deal at Cronulla that will keep the Kiwi International in the Shire until the end of 2027.
Nikora’s impending re-signing emerged just 24-hours after this masthead revealed Braydon Trindall had committed his future to the club (see below).
Nikora’s retention at the Sharks will have significant ramifications on the open market where he was considered one the most-prized backrow signatures from a list of 2025 off-contract edge-forwards which includes Kenny Bromwich, Bryce Cartwright, Tallis Duncan, Felise Kaufusi, Connelly Lemuelu, Trent Loiero, Kai Pearce-Paul and Teig Wilton
The Sharks 2024 Player of the Year nominee is one of 12 players from Cronulla whose contracts expire at the end of 2025.
The outstanding edge-forward had the option of testing his worth on the open market, but has virtually ignored the opportunity of playing elsewhere to remain loyal to the club he made his NRL debut with in 2019.

The fact that Nikora invited a large contingent of his teammates, plus head coach Craig Fitzgibbon and chairman Steve Mace, to his wedding in Bali last month, is an indication of the 26-year-old’s connection to the club.
It’s anticipated Nikora will officially put pen to paper once he returns to Australia this week from his honeymoon.
A mainstay of the Sharks pack, Nikora is one of the most durable and consistent forwards in the game with the powerful hole-runner averaging 22-games each season since his debut.
A try-scoring threat, Nikora scored 10-tries in 2024 - the most of any Sharks forward.
Nikora’s re-signing is a major win for the Sharks, with the club facing a major challenge to retain a huge contingent of off-contract stars.
The Sharks have Cameron McInnes, Daniel Atkinson, Kade Dykes, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Sam Stonestreet, Teig Wilton, Tom Hazelton, Tuku Hau Tapuha and William Kennedy off-contract at the end of 2025.
Rising prop Oregon Kaufusi has also committed to the Sharks for the 2025 season.
Cronulla are hopeful that Kaufusi, 25, can form a formidable combination with high-profile prop recruit Addin Fonua-Blake in 2025 and choose to extend his future beyond next season.
The Samoan International and former Eels prop missed just one match in Cronulla’s 2024 preliminary final season.

Market Watch: Sharks lock down another star in re-signing spree
 

Frenzy.

Post Whore
Messages
51,308
Anyone else have the thought that holding back announcements until after Nov 1 is a strategic move by the club?
Especially the Tricky one as it is quite clear that he had already agreed to terms.

Holding back the announcements means that other clubs looking at our players have to keep shuffling their decks, after we have sorted ours.
Just a thought.
Absolutely this has been strategic.
 

Frenzy.

Post Whore
Messages
51,308
Has Herb and the club taken up the mutual option? I never really trust 0tackle site but they have him listed as contracted for 2025.
 

Cheese sandwich

First Grade
Messages
5,030
Has Herb and the club taken up the mutual option? I never really trust 0tackle site but they have him listed as contracted for 2025.
Pretty sure he has.

Nikora especially and Trindall with the progression he made last year were the 2 must keeps for me. Any of the others off contract now I'm not overly concerned with if they chase a bigger deal and leave.
 

Inferno

Coach
Messages
18,328
I would love to know how the sharks prioritise who they sign. By the best player? Best value? position we need most? Most likely to sign? hardest to replace?

Of the ones off contract I feel the ones we have the best ready made replacements for are Teig and Ronnie.

I am a huge Teig fan and I would like to see him lockdown the left second row position for the next 8-10 years.

But it would make an interesting change to our side if he was replaced by Sifa and our pack and bench became.

8. AFB
10. Herb
11. Nikora
12. Sifa.
13. McInnes

14. Toby
15. BHU
16. Hazleton
17. Atko/Tooks/Billy Burns/JC
 

2012....Sharks Year

First Grade
Messages
5,775
I think the AFB signing and particularly the big minutes he plays allows us to play DA as a specialist 14 when he's not filling in as a starter. I like that flexibility of not having to reshuffle several players to accommodate a head knock or injury in the backs.
 

Tiger Shark

Bench
Messages
3,151
I think the AFB signing and particularly the big minutes he plays allows us to play DA as a specialist 14 when he's not filling in as a starter. I like that flexibility of not having to reshuffle several players to accommodate a head knock or injury in the backs.
Might allow us but still like us to play 4 forwards and bash teams.
 

Chimp

Bench
Messages
2,859
I would love to know how the sharks prioritise who they sign. By the best player? Best value? position we need most? Most likely to sign? hardest to replace?

Of the ones off contract I feel the ones we have the best ready made replacements for are Teig and Ronnie.

I am a huge Teig fan and I would like to see him lockdown the left second row position for the next 8-10 years.

But it would make an interesting change to our side if he was replaced by Sifa and our pack and bench became.

8. AFB
10. Herb
11. Nikora
12. Sifa.
13. McInnes

14. Toby
15. BHU
16. Hazleton
17. Atko/Tooks/Billy Burns/JC
To be honest, I think that’s our best starting pack - but we lose so much versatility and punch not having Sifa on the bench.
I’m hoping Tooks takes another step next year and becomes the beast impact player that I think he can be.
 

Latest posts

Top