Home Ground: PointsBet Stadium (Shark Park)

Coach: Craig Fitzgibbon

TAB odds: Premiers: $11

There will be one big inclusion for Cronulla heading into next season, with star enforcer ADDIN FONUA-BLAKE joining the club. It will be business as usual otherwise, but expect to see NICHO HYNES and BRAYDON TRINDALL swap jersey numbers. There does seem to be a missing link from the flat-track bullies, but AFB could make a huge impact and and push them towards another Grand Final. CRONULLA finished inside the top-four for the second time in three years and progressed through to be within one game of the grand final. 

However, pressure will ramp up on Craig Fitzgibbon to keep pushing his talented outfit forward as they seek to claim the club's first premiership since 2016. 

NICHO HYNES had a challenging season, being selected for and then omitted from the State of Origin team for the second year in a row, experiencing a significant injury, and facing questions about his role on the team. The wet-haired prince is a sublime footballer at best and we expect him to have another great season for the SHARKS. Definitely some deficiencies when his team fail to go forward, however he can offer a brilliant game and control play very well when in dominant form.

The big boppers contain a number of consistently good players who perform admirably, week in and week out, but is hard to go past FONUA-BLAKE who was highly impressive in his time with the NZ WARRIORS. Now with the CRONULLA SHARKS after wanting to return to Sydney, he should play a major part in their future success. The Tongan powerhouse could elevate an already imposing pack to being arguably the best in the game. Can rack up big metres, has a great sidestep for such a big boy, and does know how to cross the try line at regular intervals. The bonus is he won't play Origin, with most of this side remaining intact through that challenging period.

With an all-star backline including prolific try-scorers MULITANO and SIONE KATOA, the Sharks have a roster that should contend for the premiership. Improving WILL KENNEDY's performance at fullback and refining the coordination between HYNES and TRINDALL are key offseason objectives. If their halves can link it all together then the SHARKS could be leaping out of the water looking for vulnerable victims to tear apart.

First five: Panthers (LV), Cowboys (A), Rabbitohs (H), Bulldogs (H), Raiders (A)

Last year's finish: 4th

Predicted 2025 finish: 3rd

PREDICTED STARTING SIDE

1. WILL KENNEDY

2. SIONE KATOA

3. Kayal IRO

4. JESSE RAMIEN

5. SIONE KATOA

6. NICHO HYNES

7. BRAYDON TRINDALL

8. ADDIN FONUA-BLAKE

9. BLAYKE BRAILEY

10. TOBY RUDOLF

11. BRITON NIKORA

12. TEIG WILTON  

13. CAMERON MCINNES

14. DANIEL ATKINSON

15. SIOSIFA TALAKAI

16. OREGON KAUFUSI

17. TOM HAZELTON

PRE SEASON: Friday 7 Feb

Sharks v Warriors at Sharks Stadium 7:30pm

Thu 13 Feb

Raiders v Sharks at GIO Stadium 7:50pm