With the pre-season well and truly underway, the battle begins for positions in the NRL 17-man squad, with competition for spots set to go to new levels in 2018.
There are a bunch of new recruits, while the old stagers Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis and Matt Prior (with apologies to Matt!!) are putting in the hard yards, alongside the young guns who are learning all about what it takes to play at the highest level.
The depth of talent is impressive, with the Sharks coaching and training staff encouraged by what they have seen so far.
And that’s without the appearance of World Cup stars such as Valentine Holmes, Wade Graham, Josh Dugan, Andrew Fifita, Ricky Leutele, Joseph Paulo and James Segeyaro, all who are set to return are recharging their batteries and taking a well-earned break.
Some of the World Cuppers will be back before Christmas, others just following the break, with all hands soon to be on deck in those crucial weeks leading into the new season.
Below is a list of those training with the fulltime NRL squad, their positions, time of Sharks debut and where they have come from to arrive at the Cronulla club ahead of the 2018 season.
It won’t be long now, with less than 100 days to go until the 2018 season kicks off!
The 2018 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Squad (alphabetical order by surname)
Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga – Centre/wing - Part of the 2017 NYC Sharks squad
Blayke Brailey – Hooker – Local junior, brother of Jayden. Part of the 2017 NYC Sharks squad. Still eligible for the Jersey Flegg under 20’s
Jayden Brailey – Hooker – Local junior, debuted for the Sharks in Round 1, 2017.
Jayson Bukuya – Backrower - Debuted for the Sharks in Round 11, 2008
Kurt Capewell – Backrow/centre - Debuted for the Sharks in Round 18, 2016
Josh Carr – Backrow/prop - Part of the 2017 NYC Sharks squad. Still eligible for Jersey Flegg under 20’s in 2018.
Kurt Dillon – Prop - Local junior yet to make his NRL debut
Josh Dugan – Centre/fullback - New recruit arriving from the Dragons
Eddie Faalua – Prop - Part of the 2017 NYC Sharks squad
Sosaia Feki – Wing - Debuted for the Sharks in Round 8, 2014
Andrew Fifita – Prop - Debuted for the Sharks in Round 1, 2012. Underwent ankle surgery early December, due back round 1
Kyle Flanagan – Half back – Local junior, part of the 2017 NYC Sharks squad
Paul Gallen – Lock - Debuted for the Sharks in Round 15, 2001
Wade Graham – Second row - Debuted for the Sharks in Round 1, 2011
Aaron Gray – Centre/wing - New recruit arriving from the Rabbitohs
Valentine Holmes – Fullback/wing - Debuted for the Sharks in Round 18, 2014
Brock Ilett – Prop - Part of the 2017 NYC Sharks squad
Sione Katoa – Wing - Part of the 2017 NYC Sharks squad
William Kennedy – Fullback - Part of the 2017 NYC Sharks squad
Ryan King – Prop/lock - Part of the 2017 NYC Sharks squad
Edrick Lee – Wing/centre - Debuted for the Sharks in Round 1, 2017
Ricky Leutele – Centre - Debuted for the Sharks in Round 24, 2010
Luke Lewis – Second row - Debuted for the Sharks in Round 1, 2013
Isaac Lumelume – Wing/centre - Part of the 2017 NYC Sharks squad. Underwent knee surgery. Time for return tbc
Billy Magoulias – Lock - Part of the 2017 NYC Sharks squad
Matt Moylan – Five eighth/fullback - New recruit arriving from the Panthers
Briton Nikora – Second row - Part of the 2017 NYC Sharks squad
Joseph Paulo – Lock/Backrow/five eighth - Debuted for the Sharks in Round 2, 2016
Matt Prior – Prop - Debuted for the Sharks in Round 1, 2014
Jesse Ramien – Centre/wing - Debuted for the Sharks in Round 26, 2017
James Segeyaro - Hooker - Debuted for the Sharks in Round 4, 2017
Ava Seumanufagai – Prop - New recruit arriving from the Tigers
Scott Sorensen – Lock/back row - Local Junior returns after a stint at the Raiders
Cruz Topai-Aveai – Prop/second row - New recruit in 2017 for the NYC Sharks, training NRL squad. Arrived from the Rabbitohs. Still NYC eligible.
Jordan Topai-Aveai – Wing – Brother of Cruz - New recruit arriving from the Rabbitohs
Chad Townsend – Half back - Debuted for the Sharks in Round 13, 2011
Josh Tuilagi – Wing - Part of the 2017 NYC Sharks squad
Braden Uele – Prop - New recruit arriving from the Cowboys
Daniel Vasquez – Prop - Part of the 2017 NYC Sharks squad
Jack J Williams – Halfback – Local junior, part of the 2017 NYC Sharks squad
Jack Williams – Backrow/lock - Arrived from Canberra in 2017 yet to debut for the Sharks
Bronson Xerri – Centre/wing – Local junior, part of the 2017 SG Ball Sharks squad. Still eligible for SG Ball under 18’s in 2018
Note: See today the first instalment in our Young Guns series, where we talk to and profile some of the emerging stars in the Sharks ranks. Stay tuned, later today Sharks TV talks to Billy Magoulias.
