What the hell is happening with Cronulla's halves in 2016?

[Albert Rosenfeld]

Cronulla in 2015 already have Jack Bird, who is a good but not a great five eighth. But now they have signed the number 1 five eighth in the NRL, James Maloney, and also the NZ Warriors five eighth Chad Townsend.

So in 2016 they will have three quality five eighths plus an aging Jeff Robson at scrum half. Does that make any sense?

 

[Vic Mackey]

Isn't robson retiring? Maloney is a great buy, no idea why they bought Townsend though. I'm guessing they'll play Bird in the centers next year, pushing Beale to the wing and Holmes taking Gordon's spot at the back. Seems like a waste with bird though, you'd want him touching the ball as much as possible IMO

 

[lafai]

6. Maloney
7. Townsend

Bird maybe in the centres for Leutele. Idk Sharks have options in the backline

 

[Hutty1986]

They need a French bloke I reckon.

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

They need a French bloke I reckon.

They had their chance with Tony Gigot a few years ago, but they muffed it.

Now Tony is going gang busters with Catalans Dragons, and is likely to partner Vincent Duport in the centres in the French national team, if Big Vinny is recovered from injury.

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

Jack Bird will be wasted in the centres.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

have they managed to find Barba a home yet (either in or out of the club)?

 

[Abz]

bird is capable of playing second rower as well and in my opinion should be given a crack and move the aging lewis to the bench

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

have they managed to find Barba a home yet (either in or out of the club)?

Hey, I forgot about him. He will be their fourth possible five eighth, as well as full back and hooker.

Unfortunately Barba, a former Dally M, is now damaged goods.

 

[lockyno1]

Jack Bird will be wasted in the centres.

Rubbish, if anything it would play to his hands. His is a pretty average kick of the ball, running is where he is potentially elite.

 

[carcharias]

haha

dead set.
Bird was a last resort at 5/8 and it has worked.
He wants to play centre....and he will.

 

[POPEYE]

Rubbish, if anything it would play to his hands. His is a pretty average kick of the ball, running is where he is potentially elite.

Yes

 

[Frank Discussion]

Cronulla look likely to finish in the top 4 and are a title smokey.
They have achieved this with the shittest halves and kicking game in the comp.
They have recruited extremely well in these positions for next year.
Bad luck people.

 

[Tinkler]

Cronulla look likely to finish in the top 4 and are a title smokey.
They have achieved this with the shittest halves and kicking game in the comp.
They have recruited extremely well in these positions for next year.
Bad luck people.

stop bashing cronulla

 

[Frank Discussion]

stop bashing cronulla

f**k off you colossal loser.

I can't believe the mods continually allow posters like this to spam up threads with their trolling rubbish.

 

[DiegoNT]

It's pretty good recruiting.
Sharks biggest weakness is creativity, they've got a decent no frills halfback in Robson and a makeshift 5-8 in bird and are still in the hunt for a top 4 spot.
Next year they've adressed their problems and have brought one of the best halves in the game in maloney and he'll be ably assisted by Townsend. Bird will go to a positioned more suited to him probably centre or lock. Sharks already have a great pack and decent backline, if you think buying maloney and Townsend is a mistake then you a troll that knows nothing about league

 

[Frailty]

Townsend and Maloney will be the halves next year. They are an improvement on what we have this year and should compliment each other.

Bird will be competing for a centre spot with Beale and Leutele.

Robson will either retire, or he will be given a contract with his role being in NSW Cup.

 

[betcats]

Sharks have done well. Bird looks like he would do very well at centre for mine.

 

[Danish]

haha

dead set.
Bird was a last resort at 5/8 and it has worked.
He wants to play centre....and he will.

Yep.

To me Bird has never looked like a 5/8 while in the 6. He just has enough ability and skill to make it work while there. Similar to when Inglis has been moved into the halves or that other Bird fella.

IMO he'll make a brilliant ball playing backrower eventually after a few years in the backs.

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

Firstly, shirley Barba will be playing for the London Broncos or some shit next year. The guy is clearly damaged goods, whether it be his off field issues or this ankle problem he has that refuses to go away. He offers nothing to the Sharks off the bench and doesn't as a starter either. If Sandow deserved to be shooed off, Barba certainly does.

Robson isn't a halves asshole either. Cronulla really should start shopping around for a decent young prospect who isn't some overrated dick like Norman. Letting Carney go so suddenly without a backup plan was always gonna have repercussions