Cronulla Sharks
Coach: Shane Flanagan
Pre-season: Auckland Nines February 4th and 5th, v Broncos February 4th, v Wigan World Club Challenge February 19th
What they’ll get right: I don’t think they’re going to have any problem scoring points but it’s been proven almost impossible to go back-to-back in the NRL. They’ll start strongly and I wouldn’t put it passed them to win the Auckland Nines/World Club Challenge double.

What they’ll get wrong: The second they won the premiership is the second they came back to the chasing pack. They will impress but the NRL season is a long and nasty beast – they’ll burn out before they get near the top four. Questions will be raised about the weary legs of Gallen, Lewis and company.

It’s a big year for: Ben Barba surely never thought he had a mortgage on the fullback role did he? Now he’s out of the game and that allows Valentine Holmes and Jack Bird a crack at cementing the custodian’s role. Let’s see if he can bounce back again. Special mention also for Cronulla legend Paul Gallen who goes around one last time.

It was another big morning for our boys on the training paddock 👊🏼#SharksForever pic.twitter.com/tjgFxSlNrH

— Cronulla Sharks (@cronullasharks) January 17, 2017

Most improved: Jack Bird
MVP: Wade Graham
Most consistent: Matt Prior

Monday.

Back on the grind ☀️👊🏽#SharksForever pic.twitter.com/Z7qtsUNN9j

— Cronulla Sharks (@cronullasharks) January 15, 2017

Prediction – 6th
They will be good but they won’t be as good as they were in 2016. Let’s not use the term ‘premiership hangover’ but they’ll struggle to stay up week-to-week.

 
Possible team:
1 Valentine Holmes
2 Sosaia Feki
3 Jack Bird

4 Ricky Leutele
5 Gerard Beale
6 James Maloney
7 Chad Townsend
8 Andrew Fifita
9 Fa’amanu Brown
10 Matt Prior
11 Wade Graham
12 Luke Lewis
13 Paul Gallen

14 Sam Tagataese
15 Chris Heighington
16 Jayson Bukuya
17 Tony Williams
@woodward_curtis