SHARK Attacks Out of Control
If someone had of told me at the start of the 2016 NRL season that the Cronulla Sharks would be sitting on top of the ladder, having lost only two games in the season and winning a record 15 games straight, I would have told you that you were dreaming.
But I have been proven wrong. Very, very wrong.
Impressive in attack and clinical in defence, the Sharks play an exciting brand of football, utilising players across the entire field. I am truly lost for words when watching them play, taking risks that most teams wouldn't dream of.
So, what is making this team extremely unstoppable?
One thing that I've noticed with the Sharks is they have an excellent combination of older, more experienced players, and younger players, who aren't afraid to effectively dance the ball around. This stems from their captain Paul Gallen, who has played 271 games for the club. Each week the ruthless leader guides his team mates around the park, averaging 30 tackles a game and playing around 60 minutes.
While the 34 year old's career is coming to an end following the 2016 season, there are plenty of other exciting forwards to put in the hard yards. None more impressive to me than Wade Graham, one of my absolute favourite players of this season. Graham, who has only played 170 NRL games, plays 80 minutes almost every week (which in itself, is an impressive achievement), carrying the Cronulla forward pack while in attack and defence. He is certainly a player to watch out for whenever the Sharks are playing.
Although Graham is a work horse, the Sharks do not solely rely on one man to get the job done, which is where the rest of their forwards come into play. Andrew Fafita, Luke Lewis, Chris Heighington, Joseph Paulo and Sam Tagataese, all combine brilliantly, creating spaces for the back line to score, with the help of hooker, Michael Ennis.
What I have noticed, is every player pulls their weight, both in attack and defence. While I keep breaking the game up into attack and defence, it is necessary to understand how well a team competes, particularly when talking about the Sharks.
The success of the Sharks stems from their halves James Maloney and Chad Townsend, who have turned their new, 2016 combination into one of the most compelling partnerships in the competition. Maloney’s experience on the field and Townsend’s creativity has proven to be the much needed guidance for the Sharks, bringing the forwards and backs together as one. The signing of these two players has certainly boosted the Sharks consistency on the field, and that’s why I think that they are the signing of the season. With time this combination will grow, to what I see becoming the next Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston.
Five of the best players of this season sit in the back line of the Cronulla Sharks. What makes them the best this year? You guessed it, both in defence and attack, these Sharks move as a pack preying on less-skilful players. Of these five players, centre Gerard Beale and fullback Ben Barba have the most experience, having played 139 and 159 games respectively. Barba, who's form has recently been questioned, showed critics that nothing has been lost, returning to his 2012 Dally M winning best.
Jack Bird, Valentine Holmes and Sosaia Feki make up the rest of the Cronulla backs. Individually, each player is impressive but together, they are unstoppable. Valentine Holmes is sitting second in the try scoring count, having crossed the white line 15 times in 20 rounds. At 21, the young winger from Townsville has a long way to go in his career. Another 21 year old creating waves is centre Jack Bird, who has played only 40 NRL games and in his second year of professional football, managed to gain a place in the NSW Blues team. That is a huge achievement, with most players not getting an Origin selection until later in their career.
Despite their incredible 2016 season, only three years ago the club was caught up in the Essendon Drug Saga, with sports scientist Stephen Dank linked to the club. Taking an early plea, the Sharks lost coach Shane Flanagan for the remainder of their 2013 season, and subsequently, some players faced short suspensions. Nothing in comparison to the damage that has been done at the Bombers.
The man that has made all of this possible is coach Shane Flanagan, who in six years has managed to turn the Sharks from wooden-spooners into a ladder leading force. What makes ‘Flanno’ (as he is called) a great leader, is the simple fact that the players respect is decisions and believe in the culture that he is making down in Cronulla.
Now, if we were to literally compare Cronulla to sharks, their forwards would be Great Whites, the havles Tiger sharks and the backs Short-fin Makos.
With five rounds left of the NRL season, I can’t see the Sharks slowing down anytime soon, most likely finishing the season as minor premiers, and they will definitely be running the show come September for finals.
My call, like almost everyone else, a Sharks versus Storm grand final.
*All photos courtesy of NRL.com