In the third part of our 2024 NRL depth analysis, sharks.com.au runs through the squad's playmaking stocks.
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Nicho Hynes
With his status as one of the game's elite playmakers underlined by NSW and Kangaroos debuts last year, the 2022 Dally M medallist has a mortgage on the No.7 jumper.
Heading into his third NRL season as a full-time halfback, Hynes could scarily get even better.
Braydon Trindall
Trindall forced his way into the team as the first-choice five-eighth by the end of 2023 and looks set to continue his blossoming partnership with Hynes come round one.
A gifted playmaker with strong kicking and running abilities, the 24-year-old seemingly has a golden opportunity to make the No.6 his own following the departure of veteran Matt Moylan.
Niwhai Puru
A former junior Panthers star, 21-year-old Puru joined the Sharks last season and showed his wares for feeder team Newtown in the NSW Cup as he notched up 11 try assists and 15 line-break assists in 21 games.
Possessing great sleight of hand and a pinpoint left boot, he'll keep the pressure on the incumbents.
Kade Dykes
While Dykes' two first-grade appearances have come at fullback, he is more than comfortable in the halves. The 21-year-old began as a five-eighth and, prior to an ACL injury, was splitting his time between the front line and the No.1 jumper for Newtown in 2022.
Daniel Atkinson
Boasting a strong kicking game and handy versatility, Atkinson debuted for the Sharks in a cameo off the bench last year after earning a contract extension until 2025.
The former Storm player boasts plenty of skill and certainly wouldn't look out of place if called upon at NRL level in the halves.
