Alarm bells always ring in my head when a club enters a new season without a single signing – and that’s exactly the case with Cronulla in 2026.
I believe you always need to bring in new talent to plug weaknesses and move forward – especially as your squad gets a year older and you lose players.
Admittedly, the Sharks have retained the nucleus of their 2025 squad that came close to a grand final berth but have lost two very handy utility backs in Daniel Atkinson (Dragons) and Kade Dykes (Bulldogs).
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There has been a sameness about Cronulla in recent seasons, with coach Craig Fitzgibbon sticking to more or less the same roster.
Nicho Hynes. Getty
Addin Fonua-Blake was a very handy signing last year and he will again lead a forward pack that is solid, without striking too much fear into opponents.
Two key players – skipper Cameron McInnes and dangerous winger Ronaldo Mulitalo – will miss the early rounds as they recover from ACL surgery.
Jesse Colquhoun should fill McInnes’ boots in the pack, while the Sharks won’t miss much with Sam Stonestreet on the flank for Mulitalo.
Cronulla will again live or die on the performances of enigmatic halves Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall and with main back-up Atkinson no longer around, the decision not to enter the marketplace could bite the Sharks should either of the pair get injured.
Cronulla Sharks best 17
1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo* 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes* 14. Billy Burns 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Toby Rudolf