As they enter their 2025 season full of confidence and optimism, with a fresh side, new signings, and a premiership within their sights, could this be the year of the Shark!
Season Preview
Following a hard-fought 2024 season for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, they will look to this to guide their performance this season and identify the areas for improvement in 2025.
Last season highlighted how cohesive they could be as a team, despite the absence of key players such as Nicho Hynes, who was out for eight weeks due to injury. They were still able to retain a strong presence on the field and on the NRL ladder, which gave them the confidence they needed to stay ahead of the competition.
The Sharks won 16 games, including a seven-game winning streak between Round 4 to Round 11, finishing fourth on the league ladder. They advanced to the preliminary final with a win over the North Queensland Cowboys (26-18), ending a seven-match finals losing streak and proving they will be a force to be reckoned with in 2025.
It will be a thrilling season opener as they face the reigning champions Penrith Panthers in the first round in Las Vegas. The Panthers, who defeated the Sharks in the preliminary final, will be a formidable opponent and a challenge for them to overcome as they open their 2025 season. This season the Sharks have a solid, cohesive, and resilient bunch of old and new players, as proven by their outstanding pre-season performances against the New Zealand Warriors and the Canberra Raiders. They held the Warriors to a 12-12 tie and defeated the Raiders 40-10, giving them the opportunity to display their new youthful talent signed for the season.
In 2025, the Sharks will be without Dale Finucane, who has since retired, and Royce Hunt, who has joined the Wests Tigers. They also lose Jack Williams to the Parramatta Eels and Samuel Healey to the New Zealand Warriors, but with the introduction of new young talent and Hynes’ return, the team gains far more than it loses.
They are a club that proved last season that they can defy the odds. With a team song that denotes, “Now’s the time to see good football because the Sharks are here,” this might be the mantra they carry into making their 2025 season the best one yet.
Best Signing
Embed from Getty ImagesAddin Fonua Blake, also known as the Tongan Powerhouse, has joined the Sharks on a four-year contract. Blake, who has previously played for the Manly Sea Eagles and the New Zealand Warriors for four seasons, has an average of 191 meters in three Tests and has already demonstrated his ability to help lead the Sharks to victory in their pre-season match against the Raiders and will also be a player to watch this season.
Hohepa Puru will join his sibling at the Sharks and could also be one to watch. He comes from the Canberra Raiders and is an adaptable player who can play an array of positions, such as lock, hooker, and halves. He has prior NRL finals experience and understands what it takes to win.
His last season saw him play all 27 matches for the Canberra NSW Cup team, scoring seven tries, with three try assists, eight line breaks, and 41 tackle busts. He also led the competition with 1021 tackles (92.9 percent efficiency) and finished fifth in run metres (125 on average). He burst onto the scene for the Sharks, with notable plays and a try against the Warriors in their pre-season match.
Key Player
Embed from Getty ImagesA key player for the Sharks is Braydon Trindall: he had an outstanding season last year and did well to lead the team in the absence of Nicho Hynes.
Trindall provides strength in his kicking metres, he is another player who is quick on his feet, unpredictable and knows how to set up play.
In 2024, he scored 12 tries, kicked 29 goals, and averaged 338.03 kicking metres, 18 try assists, and 248 tackles. It was his skillful kicking game that helped advance his team to an impressive win against the Cowboys last season: three of the Sharks’ first-half tries came from his kicks.
Another key player is Thomas Hazelton. He is the Sharks’ hulk on the field, with solid running metres, impressive plays, try-scoring moments, and stealthy moves last season. He certainly knows how to advance his way through the field of play to get over the line. Hazelton displays ground-breaking stats with 36 tackle breaks, 799 post-contact metres, and 658 tackles made just last season.
Player to Watch
Embed from Getty ImagesChris Vea’ila is one of those fresh young players who stands out for the Sharks and will be one to watch: establishing impressive stats last season for the Newtown Jets with 10 tries, nine line breaks and 35 tackle breaks. He achieved a notable try for the Sharks against the Raiders in their pre-season match, demonstrating his capability to compete at a higher level.
