Daniel Atkinson signs with Cronulla Sharks in the NRL

After stellar 2022 performances with the Sunshine Coast Falcons and the Italian national team, star halfback Daniel Atkinson is set to rejuvenate his NRL career.

Daniel Atkinson in action for the Sunshine Coast Falcons. Picture: Phil Bradeley Sports Photography.

Sunshine Coast Falcons and Italian national team star halfback Daniel Atkinson is set to revive his NRL career after a stellar 2022 including starring roles in the Rugby League World Cup.

Atkinson played 20 games for the Falcons in 2022 scoring three tries, nine try assists, making 361 tackles and an average of 68 running metres.

The 22-year-old has signed a one-year deal with the Sharks and has been named at fullback for their trial match against the Newcastle Knights on February 10.

“I had a zoom call with Craig Fitzgibbon and Darren Mooney at the end of the season last year and then the World Cup happened and things kind of went quiet,” he said.

“I was planning on being at the Falcons all year which I was content with but just came home one afternoon from work and got a call saying the Sharks had offered up a spot.”

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Atkinson, who played one NRL game for the Melbourne Storm in 2021, said he was excited for the coming months.

“Playing Queensland Cup footy is great and it prepares you in so many ways but just getting back into that full-time system like when I was with the Storm is amazing,” he said.

“For me leaving the Storm and coming to the Falcons last year was a realisation of you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone so everything’s all happened quite quickly now but I’m loving it and grabbing every opportunity with both hands.”

Dan Atkinson in action for the Sunshine Coast Falcons (left) and the Italian national team at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup. Picture: Nicola Anne Photography.

Atkinson said his relationship with current Sharks and former Storm players Dale Finucane and Nicho Hynes had helped his transition.

“Those boys have taken away the daunting factor a little bit although Nicho drove me to training on the first day and I was still sh---ing my pants,” he said.

“I’ve just been picking the brains of everyone at the club and just hope to make the most of the opportunity I’ve been given.

“I’d love to be able to pull on a Sharks jersey sometime this year but until then I hope to put forward some strong and consistent performances for the Newtown Jets and learn as much as I can.”

Falcons stars Blake Wilson (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Grant Anderson (Melbourne Storm) and Tyson Smoothy (Brisbane Broncos) also secured NRL contracts following their 2022 performances while Lazarus Vaalepu, Josh Patson and Scott Galeano have been named for the Melbourne Storm for their February 12 trial match.

Atkinson thanked the entire Falcons community from the supporters, players, coaches and volunteers for their support.

Originally published as Daniel Atkinson signs with Cronulla Sharks in the NRL