TK's simple guide to the Cronulla Sharks fantasy prospects for 2025.
With the addition of Addin Fonua-Blake there is no doubt that following a prelim finish in 2024 that the Cronulla Sharks will be one of the big contenders for the title in 2025. Given the major knock on the team was an X-Factor middle, the signing of a top 3 prop in AFB will be a major piece to the puzzle. The teams fortunes will rest in the form and health of the star halves Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall.
Prediction - Will challenge for the title
Sharks 2025 Player Movements
2025 Gains |
Addin Fonua-Blake (New Zealand Warriors, 2028), Hohepa Puru (Canberra Raiders, 2025) |
2025 Losses |
Dale Finucane (retired), Samuel Healey (New Zealand Warriors), Royce Hunt (Wests Tigers), Jack Williams (Parramatta Eels) |
The Sharks best line up looks pretty settled. The only uncertainty is around whether coach Craig Fitzgibbon will go for a four forward bench or carry a utility like Dan Atkinson. The minutes he plays both McInnes and AFB in the early rounds will likely dictate this decision.
The Draw and Game Day Squad
Byes - round 13, 18, 25
Game Day Squad allows a true focus on weekly match ups. The premium games to load up on the Sharkies like Hynes, including an outside back like Ramien or Multalo and a hole busting Nikora include the following stretches.
NRL Fantasy perspective
A deep first bye in round 13 makes Sharks players an option to begin the year. During the major bye rounds they will also play 16 and 19 and the Sharks generally do not have many Origin players and this could be a great time to line up AFB and Nikora but be careful of the bye In round 25.
NRL Fantasy relevant players for round 1 - Nicho Hynes, Teig Wilton
2025 Fantasy Fortunes (slide across to view the notes)
Player | Price | NRL Fantasy Av | GameDay Squad Av | Notes |
Nicholas Hynes | $825K | 61 | 58.1 | After Magic round he was on fire averaging 73 before Origin broke him. Add a Syndesmosis rupture, plus a tibia fracture and there’s a pretty good reason for the decline. I think the Tricky narrative is overstated and I would have no hesitation in going Nicho if Cleary doesn’t make it in time for round 1. I think Nicho can average 65. |
Addin Fonua-Blake | $780K | 57.8 | 58.7 | Big question marks on how coach Craig Fitzgibbon wiill destribute his middle minutes. AFB averaged 60.2 mins (2024), 59.8 (2023) and 54.5 (2022). His quality isn't the question, more if he will get enough mins to do his best work, particularly early in the seaon. Avoid for round1 |
Cameron McInnes | $700K | 52.3 | 51.3 | Given his style of play will likely average in the 50-55 range. More interesting is how Fitzgibbon sets out his middle rotation minutes. |
Briton Nikora | $692K | 51.8 | 48.9 | Very consistent 3 year stretch of averages (51.8, 52.5, 49.2). Will be fully priced for round 1 but will be underconsideration around the Origin period and run home. |
Kayal Iro | $619K | 46.4 | 48.4 | One of the best rookie seasons with his fantasy relevant style of play. Fully priced and unlikely to be an option given his position. |
Teig Wilton | $598K | 44.8 | 44.2 | Could be some value for round 1. Settled left edge with Trindall, Iro and Mulitalo. Starting av 52.4 (2022), 49.3. (2023), 47.4 (2024) in games over 70 minutes. Consider, Sharks best option for rd 1. |
Jesse Ramien | $585K | 43.8 | 40.1 | His highest average season since 2021, hit great attacking output despite on averaging 0.3T, Too expensive for a round 1 purchase. |
Blayke Brailey | $582K | 43.6 | 41.3 | With the arrival of AFB could be the biggest beneficiary of the Sharks players. Despite his running average being similar we did see a Brailey would inclined to take on the defensive line and did show case a great running game which could see a lift on the back of a more dominant middle in the team. Durablity is another advantage over peers in this position. Keep on watchlist |
Liam Ison | $350K | 42 | 49.2 | Starts the season as back up to Will Kennedy. Good out put on debut and averaged 41.1 in NSW with average RM 139, 6.47 TB and 10 tries, 11 TA in 17 games. Watchlist |
Ronaldo Mulitalo | $555K | 41.6 | 45.3 | Career fantasy season with his stats up across the board. Likely average similar given the Sharks attacking strengths however too expensive for round 1. |
Tom Hazelton | $545K | 40.8 | 41.7 | Great season from the fan favourite. Arrival of AFB likely means less minutes for the cult hero so will be an avoid across the season. |
Sam Stonestreet | $450K | 40 | 45.5 | Back up to Katoa and Ronaldo. Found the try line and had decent fantasy production. Too pricey as a winger |
Toby Rudolf | $525K | 38.7 | 37.5 | Given his injuries, age and average production would be an avoid |
Braydon Trindall | $510K | 38.2 | 40.7 | Always has great numbers when Hynes is not in the team. Stepped up to an elite level style of play in the NRL finals. However with the fully fit Hynes to partner in round 1, there is too much uncertainty to take a punt for round 1. His defensive output also is very poor. Avoid |
Oregon Kaufusi | $493K | 37 | 35.1 | Career year in the NRL, locking down a starting role. Likely to continue to improve with AFB as his starting partner, however will unlikely see any fantasy improvement. Avoid. |
Sione Katoa | $491K | 36.8 | 43.2 | Will be too expensive for round 1 given he is not a rookie, basement price or has had any outstanding fantasy output. Avoid |
Mawene Hiroti | $350K | 34 | 37.3 | Back up centere or winger who would need a stack of injuries to start. Averaged 38.2 in NSW cup. Avoid |
Daniel Atkinson | $449K | 33.6 | 33.5 | With Hynes and Trindall first choice, he will likely be on the Sharks interchange. Could sink his price to basement level where he could become a play if an injury in the spine occurs. |
Siosifa Talakai | $403K | 30.2 | 28.8 | With his role now in the middle rotation there is no need to consider for round 1. His value is if a long term injury to Ramien & Iro forces him back to CTR. Averages at CTR - 43.3 (2024), 37 (2023), 44 (2022) |
Will Kennedy | $385K | 28.9 | 32.7 | Contract year and under pressure to retain his starting role. A safe full back with limited attacking output, means his an avoid round round 1. |
Braden Hamlin-Uele | $303K | 22.7 | 22.8 | Injury plagued season playing limited games off the interchage. A bit of value if he could get back into a starting role. Avoid round 1 |
Billy Burns | $300K | 20.3 | 19.7 | Limited NRL apperarance as a back up edge. Averaged 38.9 fantasy in NSW Cup. Avoid round 1. Great season in the NSW cup where he averaged 47.1 points. |
Tuku Hau Tapuha | $250K | 18.2 | 18.4 | Would be in the running for a bench role for round 1. Would be a limited minutes role so avoid. |
Jayden Berrell | $250K | 10.3 | 7.9 | Finally made his NRL debut with a couple of limited minute cameos. Averaged 33.5 fantasy points in NSW Cup. |
Jesse Colquhuoun | $250K | 10 | 11.2 | Coming back from an ACL injury suffered mid season. Unlikely to be an option in 2025. |
Kayde Dykes | $250K | 0 | 0 | Another injury plagued season. In 6 games in NSW cup averaged 29.8 fantasy points. Unlikely to be an option. |
Niwhai Puru | $230K | 0 | 0 | Would be well behind on the depth cart. Decent NSW Cup numbers averaging 41.1 fantasy points |
Siteni Taukamo | TBA | 0 | 0 | Yet to make his NRL debut and also well behind on the winger depth cart. Averaged 26.7 fantasy points in NSW cup. |
Michael Gabrael | $230K | 0 | 0 | Well regarded rookie. Yet to debut in NSW cup. |
Hohepa Puru | $250K | 0 | 0 | Decent debuit in the last round of 2023 with the Raiders. Could jag a bench spot given his versality but not a fantasy option in 2025. |
Blake Hosking | TBA | 0 | 0 | Back rower yet to make his debut in the NRL and would need a stack of injuries to make that happen. Averaged 39 Fantasy points in NSW cup. |
Chris Vea'ila | TBA | 0 | 0 | Very highly regarded centre who could make his debut if an injury was to occur to one of the starters. Not a huge fantasy game, only averaged 25.7 fantasy points in NSW cup. |
Tom Rodwell | TBA | 0 | 0 | Back up to the back up wingers. Unlikely to play NRL in 2025. Averaged 24.8 fantasy points in 2024. |
CLICK HERE for player projections from the Talking League team
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