With flair, grit, and plenty of experience, the Sharks are one of the elite sides in the Telstra Premiership but their premiership window may be starting to close with Valentine Holmes chasing an NFL dream and retirement looming for Paul Gallen.
That should be all the motivation they need to pile on the wins (and Fantasy points) in 2019.
Here are three players to keep an eye on this season, featuring a mix of experience and youth, plus the starting Fantasy prices of all Cronulla's players this season.
Andrew Fifita
Look past the big personality and what you get from Fifita is an even bigger set of numbers: first in the NRL in offloads, first among forwards for tackle breaks, first among forwards for run metres and first among all players for ... penalties conceded.
So it's not all great but the good easily outweighs the bad for Fifita, who has averaged Fantasy scores in the mid-50s and occasionally the low 60s in each of the past five seasons.
He's not cheap, but you want some genuine keepers in your side at the start of the year and with Fifita no longer an Origin player he's one of the most reliable Fantasy superstars you can get.
Kurt Capewell
The retirement of Luke Lewis has opened up a role in the second row, and Capewell could be the front-runner to slot into a big-minute role after playing several 80-minute games on the edge in 2018.
He'll be very affordable with a starting price based on his 30-point average from 2018 – which was weighed down heavily by appearances either off the bench or in the centres.
Capewell could see a 10-point bump if he becomes a regular 80-minute player in the second row, where he scored 40 points a game last season.
Kyle Flanagan
Could emerge as the big winner from Val Holmes's exit. He has been impressing in the halves in the lower grades. He scored 25 points in his one NRL appearance in 2018 but could become a first-choice half if Matt Moylan switches to fullback.
Off-season signing Shaun Johnson and veteran half Chad Townsend will provide the opposition in the battle for those spots.
If he can match his Intrust Super Premiership stats in the top grade he'd be a 40-point player, so he looks good value if he does get a prolonged run in the side.
Sharks player prices & positions
Andrew Fifita $864,000, FRF
Shaun Johnson $773,000, HLF
Paul Gallen $682,000, 2RF
Chad Townsend $611,000, HLF
Aaron Woods $554,000, FRF
Josh Dugan $543,000, WFB, CTR
Matt Prior $543,000, FRF
Wade Graham $519,000, 2RF
Matt Moylan $496,000, WFB, HLF
Jayden Brailey $473,000, HOK
Jayson Bukuya $454,000, 2RF
Scott Sorensen $437,000, 2RF
Kurt Capewell $428,000, 2RF, CTR
Josh Morris $424,000, CTR
Sosaia Feki $418,000, WFB
Sione Katoa $370,000, WFB
Jack Williams $359,000, 2RF
Ava Seumanufagai $289,000, FRF
Kyle Flanagan $259,000, HLF
Blayke Brailey $228,000, HOK
Aaron Gray $228,000, WFB, CTR
Braden Uele $228,000, FRF
Bronson Xerri $212,000, CTR
Cruz Topai-Aveai $212,000, 2RF
Isaac Lumelume $212,000, CTR
William Kennedy $212,000, WFB
Billy Magoulias $212,000, 2RF
Briton Nikora $212,000, 2RF, CTR
Five key matchups of the Sharks' 2019 draw
kicks off on January 30. Make sure you are prepared by creating an official NRL account (if you haven't already).
