NRL Profile: Cronulla Sharks

Cronulla Sharks were one game away from the grand final in 2024 and will be looking to go one better in the new NRL season.

The Sharks had another strong campaign when finishing the regular season in fourth spot on the ladder.

They made it to the Preliminary Final but went down 26-6 against a Penrith Panther side that went on to win their fourth premiership on the bounce.

Cronulla are expected to be in the mix once again and they have the potential to a step further and make the 2025 grand final.

Under the leadership of Craig Fitzgibbon, the Sharks have a very settled squad, which can only be a good thing.

Let’s take a look at the Cronulla Sharks ahead of the 2025 NRL campaign.

Fitzgibbon shines with Sharks

Craig Fitzgibbon has been a success during his time with the Sharks, but with success comes expectation and there is heaps of it heading into 2025.

In his first three years with the Sharks, Fitzgibbon has taken the club to second, sixth and fourth place on the ladder.

Three successive finals appearances and a Preliminary Final appearance last season has to be viewed as a positive.

However, it is now getting to the stage where Fitzgibbon and the Sharks really need to deliver and win a premiership.

It is easier said than done, but with a quality, settled roster and Fitzgibbon at the helm, they could have a great chance this season.

Sharks pull off Fonua-Blake coup

The Sharks have done minimal transfer business in the off-season, but it is a case of quality over quantity with the addition of Addin Fonua-Blake.

Fonua-Blake, who is regarded by many as the best front-rower in the game, has arrived from the New Zealand Warriors.

Cronulla hope he could be the final piece in the jigsaw and the player that helps move them to the next level in the season ahead.

The 29-year-old’s leadership skills will also be crucial and the Sharks will be desperate to keep him fit and on the park.

The Sharks will also need a big season from one of the NRL’s best playmakers, Nicho Hynes.

On his day Hynes is as good as it gets, but the Sharks will need him to put in consistent performances week in, week out.

Ronaldo Mulitalo will again be the try-machine for the Sharks on the wing, while Sione Katoa will be a huge threat on the opposite flank.

Cronulla Sharks odds

After Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos, the Sharks are seen as the side most likely to win the 2025 grand final.

They can be backed at 11.00 to go all the way and lift their first premiership since 2016, while they are 6.00 to reach the grand final and 2.75 to secure a top-four finish.

Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.