LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The Cronulla Sharks enter the 2026 NRL season as one of the league's most stable teams but are also eager to overcome the barrier of preliminary finals, recognizing that this may be their last significant chance at a premiership.
This sentiment has not only been echoed by analysts and fans but also by the players themselves.
The Sharks acknowledge that their championship window is limited, and 2026 may present their final opportunity to achieve a breakthrough.
While they may still be in contention the following year, factors like players nearing the end of their contracts, a constraining salary cap, and the uncertain durability of Addin Fonua-Blake in the team's lineup indicate that the present moment is crucial for Craig Fitzgibbon's squad.
Having faced preliminary final losses in the last two seasons, the Sharks could feasibly make a deeper playoff run. However, whether they can outpace not only the competitors they encountered in 2025 but also other teams poised to improve outside the top eight remains uncertain.
Nevertheless, their stability should support a strong start to the 2026 season.
Here's the anticipated lineup for the Sharks:
Ins: None
Outs: Daniel Atkinson (St George Illawarra Dragons), Max Bradbury (Tweed Seagulls), Kade Dykes (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)