LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In 2025, the Cronulla Sharks surpassed expectations, but coach Craig Fitzgibbon still found the outcome lacking.
Reflecting on the team's recent defeat in the preliminary finals against the Melbourne Storm, Fitzgibbon stated it "hurt more than any other" loss in his four-season coaching career. He stressed the importance for his squad to demonstrate their value ahead of significant roster changes expected in 2026.
During the announcement of the naming rights deal for the Sharks' new home ground, Ocean Protect Stadium, Fitzgibbon acknowledged that their late-season performance made the final loss even more disappointing.
"We showed what we were capable of at the back end of the year and it really stung not to go on with it," he remarked.
The Sharks plan to carry over nearly the same team into the next season, banking on stability to pursue another championship title.
However, with many players approaching the end of their contracts in 2026, Fitzgibbon emphasized the need for his team to secure their positions or risk being surpassed by emerging talents in the club.
Players such as Cameron McInnes, Billy Burns, Jesse Colquhoun, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Sione Katoa, Will Kennedy, and Jesse Ramien are among those unsigned beyond 2026.