Trent Barrett Returns
I’ve spent the last few years living and working overseas during the Australian winter, and this often makes it tough to keep up to date with everything that happens on the domestic football scene – NRL, Super Rugby, AFL etc. Somehow in my time away the Cronulla Sharks have emerged as a top four team and it kind of took me back to the days of ET, Gavin Miller and Sparkles McGaw.
The thing about the Sharks over this period was that they had some great teams, but never managed to get their act together during the post-season. The perfect example of this was 1988 season where they finished as minor premiers but were bundled out with successive losses to Canterbury and Balmain.
And I was looking at the current Sharks team wondering if they’re going to experience the same problems. Personally, I think this may be the year they finally see some success. Now I’m not confident that they will win the tournament, but I think they have moved ahead of Melbourne, and should be installed as second favourites for the competition in behind Manly.
The thing is they could also crash and burn this season, having set their standards high after a third place finish on the ladder in 2008. The key to their results will be how the team adapts to losing Brett Kimmorley, and gaining Trent Barrett. Kimmorley tends to be a little underrated in the intangible aspects he brings to a side’s performance. Not only is he an excellent half back and playmaker, he is an exceptional leader and the kind of player that rallies others around him.
The good news for the Sharks is that they aren’t losing too much in this respect with the return of Barrett to the NRL. A good start to the season for Barrett may seem him rushed back in to the NSW team in an attempt to stop the QLD juggernaut. He was named Super League Player’s Player in ’07 so his game is obviously in good shape. It will all depend on how quickly he can re-adapt to the speed of the NRL.
Ricky Stuart has now been relieved of his Australian coaching duties, and you can guarantee that he will be striving to ensure his team perform well this season. They have made some good signings in Barret, Anthony Tupou and Reni Maitua – and I’m sure Stuart will be riding Maitua hard to make sure he has none of the off field incidents that have plagued his career so far.
The Sharks did cop a 40-16 thumping the other night in Darwin at the hands the Golf Coast Titans in wet, humid conditions. But that was a trial match…in Darwin. While the Titans may be a surprise package this season, I think you’ll see a different Sharks performance when they meet for their only match towards the end of the regular season.
The Sharks made the best possible start to their season in 2008 by beating both eventual grand finalists in the first two rounds of the competition. If they can emulate that start this year, they will set themselves up for a good season and a possible run at the title.
Current Odds To Win The Premiership – $9-11
