What is the biggest problem currently with the Cronulla Sharks?

[Chimp]

Just on the coaching, maybe some fresh eyes in assistant roles is needed. It looks a bit stale.

But the spine for me, we had plenty of field position despite the bulldogs dominance on the weekend for example but played the same sideways predictable stuff after a couple of non threatening settlers. @Chimp is right about Brailey, he's neat and tidy, good passing and great defender but doesn't offer any questions when we're camped on the opposition try line. Hynes, well no need to expand on that - we can all see it. Kennedy is kennedy, tries hard, nice bloke but comes up short of most fullbacks. Trindall is the one that has the most upside but needs to really work on his decision making, he can look rushed and come up with the wrong play a fair bit.

I’m going a mix of coaching and spine. As Cheese mentioned, I think our biggest issue in the spine is actually Brailey - though as I always acknowledge, he does the basics pretty much better than anyone - very few mistakes, his passing is ultra consistent and boy can he defend - he is one super tough, resilient little fekker, and all of that should absolutely be admired. BUT…… he offers pretty much zero threat, and that means he creates no time or space for anyone else, and that is most noticeable when we’re in good attacking field position. He just does not make the markers or A & B defenders have to worry about what he’s going to do - he’s not going to dart over from dummy half himself, he’s not going to put on a trick shot that will get one of our plodders or AFB over the line, he’s not going to put a deft kick in - all he’s going to do is shovel the ball (very efficiently) to the first receiver - they might barge over if they’re good enough, but it won’t be because of any craft of Brailey, or it will go out the back to Nicho/Trindall, but the lack of threat from dummy half means that the defence can simply drift with the ball, which creates no space for runner cutting back in, and means we just go side to side, as there’s no gaps.
Every elite spine player HAS to be a threat with the ball in their hand first and foremost, otherwise the defence can focus on what else is likely to be coming their way.
On the coaching front, it’s a mix of what everyone else is saying, lack of different approaches, same mistakes/issues not being rectified, mental fragility, bench rotation…. And the Brailey issue - Fitz should be forcing that element of his game to be better. Off a good threatening 9, Nicho, Tricky and Will are good enough to get us over the line.
That being said, I still don’t think we’re a million miles off - this year really is a soft comp, and we can win it. But they’ve all got to be better, starting from the top down.

 

[Since 73]

Hynes, well no need to expand on that - we can all see it.

Yep.
Waste of bandwidth trumpeting on about him.
Ima say this situation never improves.
Guy is pumped to be finally given the keys at a club after years of 2nd fiddle to Paps and has the element of surprise in his first year and plays out of his skin.
This is his strength - fly under the radar and play with no pressure.
At Storm Paps is always coming back so he knows he's getting dropped again anyway. Munster and the boys do all the steering so he just has to catch and run. His strength.

He wins Dally M. Now pressure applied every minute of every game. Media. Club and fans.
No more under the radar now he's in the headlights.
This is his weakness.

Blowtorch gets applied and he folds.
You're a jumper on a bridge?..he's your guy.
You need a big moment in a big game?..notta so much.

How's it end?
Well pressures not going away.
He asks for a release sometime next year after we fall short again in '25 and its granted for his mental health and its a win win for all.

He goes to a lesser light..maybe PNG/Perth/Titans/Cowboys - gets out of Sydney, as their fullback and rediscovers his game.

 

[2012....Sharks Year]

Maybe I’m on my own but I think it’s too soon for this sort of analysis based on one poor showing. I’ll keep my powder dry for the next 4-6 weeks. Personally I don’t think it’s a soft comp. Probably the most even comp in many years given every team has dropped a game bar the Dogs after only 4 rounds. I like the unpredictability. Pennies who have won the last 4 comps are 1 and 3. Yeah the Dogs outplayed us across the park but I don’t think it’s season defining at this stage.

 

[Stake Removed]

So now after I go on a rant and get howled down, about giving players a go, or saying move some on.

First up I don't care if the players are mates, this is a work place if you don't perform you get sacked.

The club should make a play for DCE see if we can move Hynes to manly, DCE has a go, he maybe old but is better then Hynes, and Pollard can learn.

Give some young players a run I will say now Galvin at Tigers he was 18 when given debut he goes ok, we seem to wait and wait before Fitz gives a player a go.

Even Roosters took a punt a couple a years ago on two 18 year Olds and they worked out.

Brailey is not the problem, he does enough as a 9, he is better then Kenny at Panthers.

Kennedy needs to be moved on end of year, Uele as well.

They need some fire in them, have a look end of game against Dogs, Tracey just goes to ground someone should have dropped there weight fully on him, it's legal and it would have a got a reaction, and it would have been to a player who wanted out of the sharks.
Atkinson waste on bench, Fitz won't see that all year.
We will regress on last year, if Dogs win a comp with Ciraldo, before Fitz it will show we got recruitment and coach all screwed up.
And still no naming rights for ground.
I am out of here, I have more important things to worry about in my life.

 

[Surely]

All the one out kick on the last maybe safe but it's not really threatening the defence , they can compress because they know exactly what we are going to serve up until we get to the 20

 

[Griffoshark66]

Would any coach get the current crop of players to a premiership?

 

[SirPies&Beers]

sharkies fan here and i think sharks have the same issue under fitzy as eels did under arthur. both can develop a squad and for the most part make them competitive (when they have full squad) make top 4's play finals etc. but they lack next steps in their game to win it all.

i dont see sharkies under fitz doing any better than eels under arthur as far as top achievements are concerned and atm arthur did make a gf and fitzy has only made prelim.

 

[shadowboxer]

Would any coach get the current crop of players to a premiership?

It’s a fair point - happy clappy group of young men. If they had Mad Monday at the Christian camp in the Royal National Park it wouldn’t have surprised me.

 

[DJDL]

Just on the coaching, maybe some fresh eyes in assistant roles is needed. It looks a bit stale.

I've been thinking this as well.
Having said that, it was reportedly the assistants who came up with the "Brails to play 7" against the Storm last year.

Which reminds me, that's another negative on coaching.
The tactic worked once, then Fitz rolled it out again. And again.

The second time most knew what was coming.
The third was basically gift-wrapping the game plan and handing it to the opposition on a silver platter.

 

[glenmoresharkie]

The halfback and the fullback

 

[Frailty]

The team's biggest weakness is that is has one style of play, and if that doesn't work then they'll keep trying anyway.
Even with a full set inside the opposition 20, they'll try 4 plays of forward crash ball or two passes off the ruck. Then there will be the one backline movement. If that doesn't work, then it's a kick.

Any well coached team will have their side prepared for this game and they'll be able to neutralise it relatively easy. It's like the Broncos last season where they were easy to defend because they kept trying what worked in 2023, but teams learnt how to defend it.

What has changed by adding AFB? They haven't adapted the game plan to support his strengths. It's been pointed out how Kennedy is never around the ruck looking to capitalise on offloads - but I don't blame Kennedy for this. He knows he needs to be ready for the same backline movement.

There is also a big lack of accountability in the side. No one is ever really held to account for underperforming and the only changes to the side are a result of injury. This also applies to recruitment. How the hell is Oregon Kaufusi prioritised to bed re-signed? He offers very little, but Sharks extended him because he's already there.

I used to praise Fitzgibbon for being very stoic and not reactionary. Never getting too high or too low - but it turns out he doesn't react at all.

 

[shaggs]

Pappy and even Bula support around the rucks and then still get outside their playmaker for the sweep play or whatever.
Tedesco has been everywhere for years as well.
Does WK not have the wheels? Elite fullbacks do both in the same set.

Nicho needs to run once every set. Pass once every set and kick now and then.

Brailey needs to add some craft and scheme. He is a good runner on fast play the balls.

Iverall the team always looks like it’s waiting for the next play. The push-up for a late offload and fall into shape has disappeared.

 

[Cheese sandwich]

Pappy and even Bula support around the rucks and then still get outside their playmaker for the sweep play or whatever.
Tedesco has been everywhere for years as well.
Does WK not have the wheels? Elite fullbacks do both in the same set.

Nicho needs to run once every set. Pass once every set and kick now and then.

Brailey needs to add some craft and scheme. He is a good runner on fast play the balls.

Iverall the team always looks like it’s waiting for the next play. The push-up for a late offload and fall into shape has disappeared.

How often do you see a late offload just hit the deck or a player get his arms free and just have to hold on because the closest players have their backs turned worrying about the next play. Shits me to tears

 

[Matt reeked]

Coaching - But it’s not far off . Last Saturday was down to effort , it’s hard to get up for every week especially with the travel the first few rounds . Storm were diabolical and I doubt there throwing the toys out of the cot . Yes in past seasons we have been a fair way of the top teams but this year all the top teams having issues. We’ll be ok .

 

[Frenzy.]

So now after I go on a rant and get howled down, about giving players a go, or saying move some on.

First up I don't care if the players are mates, this is a work place if you don't perform you get sacked.

The club should make a play for DCE see if we can move Hynes to manly, DCE has a go, he maybe old but is better then Hynes, and Pollard can learn.

Give some young players a run I will say now Galvin at Tigers he was 18 when given debut he goes ok, we seem to wait and wait before Fitz gives a player a go.

Even Roosters took a punt a couple a years ago on two 18 year Olds and they worked out.

Brailey is not the problem, he does enough as a 9, he is better then Kenny at Panthers.

Kennedy needs to be moved on end of year, Uele as well.

They need some fire in them, have a look end of game against Dogs, Tracey just goes to ground someone should have dropped there weight fully on him, it's legal and it would have a got a reaction, and it would have been to a player who wanted out of the sharks.
Atkinson waste on bench, Fitz won't see that all year.
We will regress on last year, if Dogs win a comp with Ciraldo, before Fitz it will show we got recruitment and coach all screwed up.
And still no naming rights for ground.
I am out of here, I have more important things to worry about in my life.

Can I call bullshit on this?

 

[blue bags]

Take a look at the rabbits vs Panthers game

 

[bad boy bubby]

Can I call bullshit on this?

A couple of weeks ago the posts apparently wanted to attract "heat".
Then when actual heat gets applied the sprinklers come on.

Posting like it's shit in a blender is not something that people feel the need to drink.
Move on or move out.

 

[Quigs]

Problem: Too many programmed robots or would be programmed robots and missing a couple of X factor stars. Oh yeah, and a couple of real mongrels who want to get down and dirty. We need those.

The fun has gone out of Rugby League it is all so serious now.

But it is being part of the Sharkie Roller Coaster ride and I have a seat for another year (at Pensioner Concession Rate of course)