For the past two years, Cronulla has been labeled as pretenders rather than contenders. However, this could change in 2025 with the arrival of star prop Addin Fonua-Blake.
The 28-year-old signed a multi-year contract with the Sharks earlier this week, turning down a hefty offer from the Dragons in favour of teaming up with Nicho Hynes and Craig Fitzgibbon in the Shire.
Fonua-Blake has established himself as one of the NRL’s premier front-rowers in recent years, guiding the Warriors to an unthinkable top-four finish and earning Dally M accolades in the process during the Auckland club’s most recent season.
But, despite the buzz surrounding his arrival at the Sharks, the team will only return to the mountaintop if Fitzgibbon and colleagues can agree on a long-term spine, with plenty of uncertainty hanging over the club heading into next year and beyond.
Hynes holds a berth in the halves and is signed until the end of 2029. Blayke Brailey is the dummy-half and has a three-year contract.
Cronulla’s five-eighth and fullback positions lack confidence due to competition for slots, which is not always a bad thing.
Will Kennedy has been the first-choice quarterback for the previous several seasons, but he will face stiff competition from youngster Kade Dykes, who enters the preseason with a lot to prove after suffering a terrible ACL injury at the beginning of 2023.
The 21-year-old local junior has also emerged as a potential partner for Hynes, which could alleviate some pressure on Kennedy in the short-term, while also placing playmaker Braydon Trindall in the hot seat coming into a crucial season for his career.
At this stage, Trindall has the inside running to partner Hynes in round one, but the next two months of pre-season and trial fixtures could always change Fitzgibbon’s approach.
The depth in the halves also extends to former Penrith product Niwhai Puru, who played the majority of the NSW Cup season for the Newtown Jets last season, registering 11 try assists and 15 linebreak assists, but comes off-contract at the end of 2024 and appears to be down the pecking order at the Sharks.
As it stands, Cronulla has one of the most balanced rosters in the NRL and have almost every base covered from a depth perspective, while also extending the majority of their regular starting lineup – aside from Braden Hamlin-Uele – signed beyond next year.
The wing duo of Sione Katoa and Ronaldo Mulitalo is one of the best in the competition, Briton Nikora and Teig Wilton make up an exciting back-row combination, while their front-row rotation with Fonua-Blake, Toby Rudolf, Royce Hunt and Oregon Kaufusi will put plenty of teams on the back-foot in the middle of the park.
Cronulla also have quality leadership experience in their pack in the form of Dale Finucane and Cameron McInnes, while on the opposite end of the spectrum being boosted by the fresh young talent of Kayal Iro, Sam Stonestreet and Jesse Colquhuon.
But it will be the decision around the spine for Fitzgibbon and his coaching staff that will ultimately prove to be the major difference between the Sharks remaining as a top-eight side prone to criticism and the ‘pretenders’ tag, or whether they become a genuine powerhouse along with the Panthers, Broncos, Storm and Roosters.
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