Squad Breakdown: Cronulla Sharks 2023 SuperCoach analysis

1. Will Kennedy 2.&nbsp;Sione Katoa 3.&nbsp;Siosifa Talakai 4.&nbsp;Jesse Ramien 5.&nbsp;Ronaldo Mulitalo 6.&nbsp;Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8.&nbsp;Toby Rudolf 9.&nbsp;Blayke Brailey 10.&nbsp;Braden Hamlin-Uele 11.&nbsp;Briton Nikora 12.&nbsp;Teig Wilton 13.&nbsp;Dale Finucane



14. Cameron McInnes 15.&nbsp;Wade Graham 16.&nbsp;Royce Hunt 17.&nbsp;Jack Williams



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Team news:</h2>



This Sharks outfit pretty well picks itself.



I’m tipping Teig Wilton to start in place of Wade Graham, but it’s not locked in.



Jack Williams and Oregon Kaufusi are expected to battle for the final bench spot, while there’s also the option to go with Connor Tracey as the utility.



It’s a big bench, so coach Craig Fitzgibbon may opt for a bench utility, however the versatility of Cam McInnes, Wade Graham and Briton Nikora allow for the big boppers on the pine.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Draw</h2>



Rabbitohs (H), Eels (A), Raiders (A), Dragons (A), Warriors (H), bye, Roosters (H), Bulldogs (A), Cowboys (H), Dolphins (Suncorp Stadium, Magic Round).



First five round strength of schedule rating (1 toughest, 10 easiest)



6/10



2023 gains 



Squad changes, via NRL.com 



Oregon Kaufusi (Eels), Max Bradbury (Knights), Daniel Atkinson.



2023 losses



Luke Metcalf (Warriors), Andrew Fifita (retired), Aiden Tolman (retired), Lachlan Miller (Knights).



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GUNS</h2>



Nicho Hynes $902,600



The big question plaguing Supercoaches to start the season, to Nicho or not?



There’s no right or wrong answer, but I’m leaning towards not.



He had a career year that saw him average 86 points per game in 2022, so it’s hard to make a case that there’s any value in starting with him.



It’s vital we eye value in our starting players, likely ones that we think will make some cash to up squad value, but there can be an exception to the attacking guns who can hurt you with big scores.



If Hynes comes out and blasts a few tonnes, the 22% of owners (at the time of writing), will be off to a flyer.



I’m betting against him doing that early and hoping he can average around of even below his 86 from last season.



The Sharks have three tough games early on, followed by the Dragons and Warriors.



At this stage I’ll be eyeing an upgrade of my back up half to Hynes in Round 5, potentially round 4 if I’m wrong and he goes nuts early.



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Siosifa Talakai $635,000



I’m not sure I can see myself starting with Sifa, but gee I think there’s a genuine case to do so.



He started last season as a back-rower, before making the highly successful switch to centre early in the season.



He gets a full pre-season training at centre where he’ll be more equipped physically and with more experience to begin 2023.



The biggest factor though is his stats with Teig Wilton as his starting back-rower, rather than Wade Graham.



Essentially Wilton is a line-running back-rower, in brief, that creates space out wide for the outside men to do damage.



Graham is a gun, but he’s more of a creative player and uses his playmaking ability with ball in hand to create opportunities, which for a number of reasons I believe limits the scoring of the outside backs from a Supercoach point of view.



Statistics from last season with Wilton &nbsp;playing 80 on his edge back this up.



In five games where he played 80 minutes, Talakai averaged 100.4 points per game.



For now Sifa is probably not for me, but he’s a big watch early and one I can see myself trying to recruit at some stage.



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Ronaldo Mulitalo ($640k), Sione Katoa ($630k), Jesse Ramien ($618k)



Cronulla’s attack is so balanced across both sides of the field I find it hard to nail down which player is best suited in Supercoach.



There was a stat at one stage late last year that the Sharks were one of three teams to score more points down their right edge than the left.



For that reason I generally like the right edge winger outside Nicho Hynes, but Mulitalo also chopped and changed edges frequently last season.



That being said, it was generally when Sione Katoa was out.



As I write this, the Sharks are playing the Dogs in the pre-season, and Katoa has gone in for a try on the right edge outside Nicho&#8230; There you go, another switch of edges for the wingers!



I’m just going to monitor Cronulla’s attacking shapes early in the season and work out who I think the best targets are in the backline for when the draw softens up, but you could do far worse than starting with any of the above three in POD range.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">MID-RANGERS</h2>



Teig Wilton $493,600



Is it Teig time?



I’m tempted by the Narooma Devil, but I do think he needs 80 minutes.



He averaged 60 minutes last season for a Supercoach average of 47 points.



He was similar the year prior, which says to me he needs the full 80 to become relevant.



Graham likely on the bench is the concern to his minutes, so I’d like some confirmation before round one as to whether or not he’ll get the time.



Sure he scored plenty of tries last season, but I think he’s good enough to continue crossing the line.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CHEAPIES</h2>



Braden Hamlin-Uele ($373k), Jack Williams ($248k)



While there’s seemingly some genuine value in a few cheapie forwards at the Sharks, I’m concerned the minutes won’t be on offer if they run with a four forward bench.



Due to the versatility of players like Graham, Nikora, Hynes, McInnes among others, Fitzgibbon has the luxury of playing a four forward bench.



Hopefully Connor Tracey is picked as the bench utility, which may bring Hamlin-Uele, Williams or even Royce Hunt into more contention.

Squad Breakdown: Cronulla Sharks 2023 SuperCoach analysis

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