NRL 2024 scouting report: Cronulla Sharks’ recruitment issue, halves puzzle, positional battles

Cronulla have more unanswered questions than most NRL teams: A halves battle, a forwards rotation issue and lack of recruitment. PAMELA WHALEY looks at the Sharks’ potential solutions.

Pamela Whaley

@pamelawhaley

3 min read

December 26, 2023 - 6:00AM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

NRL 2024 Cronulla Sharks scouting report.

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Cronulla are in a really crucial period coming into 2024. They had reasonable success in Craig Fitzgibbon’s first year as an NRL head coach but were knocked out of the finals in straight sets. Last season they scraped into the top eight and fizzled out quickly.

They have to be careful not to go backwards again, but with no real recruitment of which to speak, they have to find a way to do it with the same squad.

2024 squad

Daniel Atkinson, Jayden Berrell, Blayke Brailey, Jesse Colquhoun, Kade Dykes, Dale Finucane, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Tuku Hau Tapuha, Thomas Hazelton, Mawene Hiroti, Royce Hunt, Nicho Hynes, Kayal Iro, Sione Katoa, Oregon Kaufusi, William Kennedy, Cameron McInnes, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Briton Nikora, Niwhai Puru, Jesse Ramien, Toby Rudolf, Sam Stonestreet, Siosifa Talakai, Siteni Taukamo, Braydon Trindall, Jack Williams, Teig Wilton

Ins: Michael Gabrael (Bulldogs)

Outs: Wade Graham (retired), Matt Moylan (Leigh), Connor Tracey (Bulldogs)

Nicho Hynes needs a new full-time halves partner. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Best 17

1 Will Kennedy

2 Sione Katoa

3 Jesse Ramien

4 Siosifa Talakai

5 Ronaldo Mulitalo

6 Braydon Trindall

7 Nicho Hynes

8 Toby Rudolf

9 Blayke Brailey

10 Braden Hamlin Uele

11 Briton Niukore

12 Teig Wilton

13 Cameron McInnes

14 Jack Williams

15 Royce Hunt

16 Thomas Hazleton

17 Dale Finucane

2023 Rich 100 reps: 7

Dale Finucane (40, $760,000), Nicho Hynes (78, $620,000), Briton Nikora (89, $600,000), Jesse Ramien (90, $600,000), Cameron McInnes (96, $560,000), Blayke Brailey (97, $550,000), Toby Rudolf (102, $550,000)

Rising centre Michael Gabrael is the Sharks’ only free agency pick up. Picture: NRL Images

Free agency wrap and rating

There has been very little movement in the Sharks’ roster. Connor Tracey has departed for Canterbury in a swap deal with young centre Michael Gabrael, while veteran Wade Graham has retired and Matt Moylan has departed for England.

Like a host of clubs, the Sharks have money to spend but they did so on a marquee 2025 signing in gun prop Addin Fonua-Blake. They desperately need to find a permanent halves partner for Nicho Hynes to get improvement out of a young and talented squad that needs a better season than their last.

Rating: F

Craig Fitzgibbon enters his third season as Sharks coach. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Coach status and safety rating: Craig Fitzgibbon (2027)

After his debut season at the club in 2022 the ex-NSW and Australia legend was handed a three-year contract extension, meaning he’s locked in at the Sharks for the next four years.

However, the Sharks had a mixed season this year through injuries and other issues, and they haven’t yet won a finals game under Fitzgibbon’s rule. There’s still a lot of improvement in the squad and that rests on his shoulders.

Safety rating: A

Likely debutants

Samuel Stonestreet is a hulking young 21-year-old who is next in line for a spot on the wing when needed. In 2023 he scored 13 tries in 16 games for Newtown last season, while fellow winger Siteni Taukamo is also biding his time for an opportunity.

The Sharks have a number of rookies on the horizon.

Samuel Stonestreet is waiting for an NRL opportunity. Picture: NRL Images

Who takes the next step: Kade Dykes

Dykes came into the game in 2022 with great promise, but an ACL injury kept him sidelined throughout all of last year after he played just two games.

The son of club legend Adam Dykes wants to play fullback, but he also played five-eighth through the junior grades and could be an option to partner Nicho Hynes if need be, especially if Will Kennedy has a good start to the year.

Either way, there’s plenty of excitement around the 23-year-old to finally see what he’s capable of producing.

Burnings issues

The halves conundrum

Star halfback Nicho Hynes had a mixed season but it’s up to the club to get the right support around him to help him succeed.

Braydon Trindall spent time next to him at five-eighth in 2023, and is one of few options now Matt Moylan has left. But Trindall is yet to stamp himself as a first-choice selection.

The Sharks need the best out of Hynes, but how they go about getting it will be the big puzzle.

Braydon Trindall will get first crack at partnering Nicho Hynes in the halves. Picture: NRL Images/Brett Costello

Source of improvement is a mystery

In his first year in charge Craig Fitzgibbon had the Sharks finishing second but then bounced out of the finals in straight sets. This year they limped into the finals and were bundled out week one. Aside from the week-to-week consistency they need to climb the ladder, their execution in big games needs an overhaul.

Two many cooks

Dale Finucane and Cameron McInnes are very similar players – durable workhorses who play big minutes. Neither are ideal for a bench position, but there’s only one No. 13 jersey.

They alternated throughout 2023 but it didn’t entirely work for either player, or the team.

McInnes could play dummy half if Blayke Brailey wasn’t far and away the best option behind the ruck, and it seems a waste to have a player of Finucane’s salary on the bench.

The issue needs sorting for the balance of the salary cap and the team.

Crystal ball

Another season under Fitzgibbon could be just what the Sharks need to get flying again. There’s no change in the roster and they’re missing another star playmaker, but overall improvement takes time. Expect them to make finals again in 2024 without setting the world alight.