The Sharks just missed the finals last year but have some significant roster changes this year which create some interesting options for NRL Fantasy coaches.
How Fantasy gun Cameron McInnes is used will be of particular interest while the final make-up of the playmakers will also determine a few coaches' decisions.
Big Guns
McInnes ($780k) starts as Cronulla's most expensive player but it's still a big discount on his potential value is he produces anything like his pre-injury 2020 output when a constant reshuffling between hooker and lock did nothing to dampen his thirst for hard work in the middle.
Rule changes: Offloads and tackle breaks
Aiden Tolman ($625k) and former Storm fullback Nicho Hynes ($602k) are the only other Sharks over $600k. Tolman is very much 'what you see is what you get' and if anything could drop off this year with McInnes and Dale Finucane inbound while Hynes is unlikely to get the same attacking output after leaving the Storm, although he will make more tackles in the front line.
Bargain Hunter
Braydon Trindall ($478k) really hit his straps at the end of last year after some very low scores to start off with and as a result is good value to start 2022. He just needs to nail that starting halves spot alongside Hynes, but he should be a big chance with Matt Moylan, Luke Metcalf and Connor Tracey all more in the running five-eighth mould.
Dale Finucane ($476k) had an injury-interrupted 2021 but as someone who gets very few attacking numbers he would really need to play close to 80 minutes per game to move his price much from where it is now.
Rule changes: Kick metres scoring change
Cheapies
There are no obvious cash-cows in a best-17 for Cronulla but put Metcalf ($240k) on the watch-list because if he earns a starting spot through the season he has the attacking chops to make some fast cash.
Be Wary
No doubt the injury-reduced price of skipper Wade Graham ($461k) will entice a few coaches but the former representative back-rower has never really been a Fantasy factor and has increasingly had to endure injury lay-offs in recent times. One to avoid.
Sharks 2022 NRL Fantasy prices
Cameron McInnes: MID, $780,000
Aiden Tolman: MID, $625,000
Nicho Hynes: HLF/WFB, $602,000
Matt Ikuvalu: WFB, $586,000
Jesse Ramien: CTR, $578,000
Blayke Brailey: HOK, $570,000
Toby Rudolf: MID, $551,000
Briton Nikora: EDG, $550,000
Jack Williams: MID, $504,000
William Kennedy: WFB, $499,000
Teig Wilton: EDG, $484,000
Sione Katoa: WFB, $484,000
Braydon Trindall: HLF, $478,000
Dale Finucane: MID, $476,000
Wade Graham: EDG, $461,000
Ronaldo Mulitalo: WFB, $445,000
Connor Tracey: HLF/WFB, $407,000
Matt Moylan: HLF/WFB, $379,000
Braden Hamlin-Uele: MID, $362,000
Siosifa Talakai: EDG, $337,000
Mawene Hiroti: WFB, $329,000
Luke Metcalf: HLF, $240,000
Andrew Fifita: MID, $240,000
Royce Hunt: MID, $240,000
Franklin Pele: MID, $240,000
Jenson Taumoepeau: CTR, $220,000
Jayden Berrell: HOK, $220,000
Locky Miller: HLF, $220,000
