Sharks Captain Discusses Perth Bears Challenge and Pursues Origin Aspirations
Cronulla Sharks skipper Blayke Brailey has acknowledged that the 2026 season is poised to be quite different, both for him personally and for his team.
The impending addition of the Perth Bears to the competition next year poses a considerable challenge, as they continue to recruit top talent from other clubs, including the Sharks.
Though they already secured Siosifa Talakai, the uncertainty surrounding several players' contracts could lead to more departures from Cronulla than initially anticipated.
Despite recognizing the potential threat posed by the Bears, Brailey insists that the atmosphere within the playing group remains undisturbed.
"It's obviously a different time for the club, we haven't been in this position before," Brailey expressed during a media briefing.
"But for the team, you're all focused on playing well, the chat around leaving and contracts isn't spoken about too much."
"We're all focused on playing well this year, and for the meantime, we're all together, we all want to produce something special this year as a team and I know everyone is focused for that, and they're not focused on anything outside of that."
While the new team's entry certainly disrupts the landscape, Brailey made it clear that his priority remains with the Sharks, alongside his significant ambition to earn a spot in the NSW Blues for the State of Origin.
Following an impressive 2025 season that marked his debut in the green and gold, he received an invitation to the NSW Origin planning camp in January, underscoring his strong candidacy for this season's debut.