Well here it is;
UPDATE - February 24, 2004
SHARKS NAME TOP 25 FOR 2004
Coach Stuart Raper and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks have announced their full-time squad for the upcoming NRL season.
The 25 players named include a blend of the experienced stars along with some exciting newcomers. Teenage five-eighth Russell Aitken has been included in the squad, as have young forwards Dale Newton, Jon Green and Keith Galloway.
Green was discovered playing junior football in the unlikely rugby league outpost of Perth. A front rower with an impressive work ethic, Green is still just 18 years of age, with a number of good judges predicting a long and bright future in the game. Newton and Galloway both tasted first grade in 2003, with Galloway, a local Sharks junior from the Yarrawarrah club, playing in the NRL as a 17-year-old.
Former St George-Illawarra winger Hassan Saleh has also
been selected in the top 25 after impressive performances
both in the trials and on the training paddock since coming to
the Sharks club about a month ago.
In other news, Internationals Phil Bailey and Jason Stevens, two of the Sharks
who are expected to lead the way in 2004, have almost fully recovered from off
season injuries and are likely to be selected this week for the Sharks final trial
match.
The Sharks travel north this weekend to take on local teams Port Macquarie,
Coffs Harbour and Wingham. The match will kick off at 7pm at the Regional Sports
Stadium, Boundary Road, Port Macquarie. The trial will wind up the Sharks pre season
preparations before their season opener against the Wests Tigers on March 13.
The round one match is a part of the NRL Double Header at Telstra Stadium.
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Top 25:
David Peachey
Matt Rieck
Nathan Merritt
Hassan Saleh
Nigel Vagana
Ryan McGoldrick
Paul Franze
Greg Bird
Russell Aitken
Brett Kimmorley
Michael Sullivan
Dean Bosnich
Jason Stevens
Danny Nutley
Chris Beattie
Dale Newton
Andrew Lomu
Phil Bailey
Matt Hilder
Paul Gallen
Keith Galloway
Sam Isemonger
Matt Bickerstaff
Michael Russo
Jon Green
