Sharks under Flannagan

[Huge]

not worked up Rocky and I take your point. Mind you Coxy probably needs no help defending himself. He after all can simply ban me if he is offended but it seems as though he is not so quick these days to remove opinions he disagrees with, more credit to him. You may be right too Browny, the wheels could fall off but that is something that only time will reveal.

Rocky,I also agree the written word does not always convey our thoughts perfectly. An example is in your own post where you write 'I 100% guarantee you that if we all had this conversation in the real world, it would come across differently'. Another reader could take that to imply a threat !!!! along the lines of....'you wouldn't say that to me in real life if I was standing in front of you'....of course I know that is NOT what was meant.....but no matter how well something is written people can always misconstrue a meaning...

 

[Coxy]

I'm merely making an observation. Apart from their pack and Carney, the Sharks are pretty low on strike power. They have enough to get over the top of more than half the teams in the comp most of the time, but I think they'll struggle against the genuine contenders, being the Broncos, Storm, Manly and on their day, the Warriors. That's not to say they can't beat them, I just think it's unlikely.

And so when it comes to the finals, if they finish top 3 like they did in 2008, I think they'd struggle to beat the other top 4 team they'd play. However, I'd give them a real shot at winning in week 2 against a team from 5-8. But beating say, Storm in a preliminary final? Can't see it.

It's a prediction. Nothing more. It's only May, a LOT can happen between now and then. Storm and Broncos might suffer injury crises and fall in a heap. Souths might finally get their act together and string wins together and charge into the top 4. De Gois and Robson might improve in leaps and bounds and give the Sharks a real attacking spine. Who knows. Time will tell.

At the moment that's how I see the Sharks though.

Is that a more palatable way to communicate my thoughts to you? I'm really unclear why my opinion seems to matter so much to you that it gets you so heated. I'm just another league fan, nothing more.

 

[Huge]

Good post. Agreed with 98% of it. De Gois does not need to improve (although nice )...He has been playing enormous football when on the field...just come back I think. Robson reminds me of a half we had years ago....basic and unlikely to play like a genius anytime soon. That said ,being good enough to play even at that level draws admiration from me. We managed a premiership with that basic style halfback.

So, Cronulla fans should dare to dream, it's what it's all about..the best chance for years and years and a much better chance than 2008 I believe..times the judge

 

[Big Pete]

The thing that kills Cronulla this year is the loss of Gardner.

If he had of stuck around the Sharks would have had a genuine strike player who could convert half chances into tries. With him gone, I can see them fading just like they did in 2005.

Comparing 2008 to 2012 would be interesting...

Brett Kearney vs. Matthew Wright - Kearney was an underrated strike player who really came to his own at the back. Wright is merely a fill in.
Luke Covell vs. Stewart Mills - I like the look of Mills but he's still really green. Covell was one of the form wingers of the competition that year and his boot was very handy.
Ben Pomeroy - Same player basically playing as well now as he did back then.
David Simmons vs. Colin Best - Practically as average as each other
Misi Taulapapa vs. John Williams - Sort of tough but Taulapapa's work from dummy half was far more noticeable than Williams who's merely ok.
Brett Seymour vs. Todd Carney - Got to give it to Carney at this stage although I have to say Seymour wasn't really that far behind in that particular season. We've yet to see the best of TC which is what I'm banking on here because at this stage, it's a lot closer than what most would probably think.
Brett Kimmorley vs. Jeff Robson - Another that's much closer than most would presume but Kimmorley's leadership & kicking game gives him the edge here.
Ben Ross - Similar story as Pomeroy. Despite suffering a serious neck injury Ross has been playing just as well now as he did back then.
Isaac De Gois - And again really.
Luke Douglas vs. Bryce Gibbs - Gibbs is underrated but Douglas' tireless work in both departments just shades him.
Fraser Anderson vs. Jeremy Smith - Smith really brings the intimidation factor which really makes the Sharks pack formidable. Ando was a handy fringe runner, nothing more, nothing less.
Greg Bird vs. Jayson Bukuya - Bird was one of the best backrows in the game before it went downhill for him. Bukuya is a top prospect but he's a few steps behind where Bird was here.
Paul Gallen 08 vs. Paul Gallen '12 - Definitely a difference there despite being the same player. Gallen right now is playing as well as any forward has in the history of the game. Gallen was a very good player in '08, but not that good.

Kade Snowden vs. Andrew Fifita - Snowden was handy enough but Fifita has been a game changer off the bench.
Bryan Norrie vs. Wade Graham - Wade's been a revelation since being moved to the backrow and I'm excited to see the return of the old school lock. Norrie was a journeyman nothing more.
Danny Nutley vs. Sam Tagataese - This could be a bit controversial but I thought Nutley brought more to the Sharks of '08 than Tagataese who really doesn't stay on the field long enough to make much of an impact.
Terrance Seu Seu vs. John Morris - Similar story as before. Morris received more time than Seu Seu who was a mixed player at best. Morris isn't an impact player but defensively he's stable & he's not entirely terrible out of dummy half either.

Just a bit of a fun excercise but from my count...

Sharks '08: 7
Sharks '12: 6
Draws: 4

 

[Huge]

Totally agree. Gardner had it all and Cronulla were getting the best out of him...huge loss early in the season but on the bright side, the time you'd rather have it happen at, if you had to that is. You still feel Cronullas got improvement in them yet. Like to see them run second this year...mmm

 

[Huge]

Everyone has waited for Cronullas bubble to burst but still they wait !..Flannagans got them believing and the close contests are being won this year. I wrote earlier(much) that De Gois and Robson are going very well and nothings changed my mind about that. Last nights win was epic considering they were playing wet weather specialists. To come from 11 down was even more meritorious. This team is a genuine threat this year, the best chance in a long time. When the win over Melbourne is taken into account any person who dismisses the Sharks chances is imo, a fool. Perfectly entitled to that opinion of course !!!

 

[Ari Gold]

Everyone has waited for Cronullas bubble to burst but still they wait !..Flannagans got them believing and the close contests are being won this year. I wrote earlier(much) that De Gois and Robson are going very well and nothings changed my mind about that. Last nights win was epic considering they were playing wet weather specialists. To come from 11 down was even more meritorious. This team is a genuine threat this year, the best chance in a long time. When the win over Melbourne is taken into account any person who dismisses the Sharks chances is imo, a fool. Perfectly entitled to that opinion of course !!!

I'm waiting for the bubble burst, but don't expect it to til September. That they are now winning the close games is really no different to the successful Sharks team under Ricky Stuart. In fact, it's almost an exact replica of that team. Defensive minded, strong in close games, not enough of a spine to actually win.