🎧 Audio Summary – The ET Stand Podcast: “How Do You Fix the Sharks?”

In this jam-packed 90-minute episode of The ET Stand, the panel grapples with the Cronulla Sharks' current plight following their fourth loss in five games — this time a 30–6 defeat to the Storm in Melbourne. Host Boldo is joined by Chris Kelly, Franco, Matty Williams, and special guest commentary from the fans as they ask the big question: Do the Sharks need fixing — and if so, how?

🔧 Fixing the Sharks Debate

• Franco, watching on delay and free from emotion, thinks the performance was better than fans and media suggest — especially defensively until the last 15 minutes.
• The panel unpacks key effort errors: a poor challenge, a disastrous tap-on, and more misreads.
• Chris argues the team lacks physical intimidation and urgency.
• Kelly makes a passionate case for holding the course: “We’re battered, flat, and fatigued, but it’s not broken. This bye is coming at the perfect time.”
• Matty and Boldo raise concerns over systemic prep issues, fitness, and player management. Boldo provides a detailed list of six “actual fixes” including smarter challenge use, better injury return decisions, and simplifying the bench rotation strategy.

📊 Boldo’s Melbourne-Themed Player Tiers

Boldo rolls out his signature segment with a tourism spin:

• Players compared to Melbourne icons like Docklands (Nicho & Nikora – expensive but underwhelming), St Kilda Beach (Atkinson – doesn’t deliver what it promises), and Luna Park (Ronaldo – flashy and solo).
• Blayke Brailey earns top billing, while injured Kade Dykes is likened to Qantas – sorely missed but still flying high in fans’ minds.
• Reactions range from Matty calling it Boldo’s “most accurate tiering yet” to Franco gently critiquing player placement for theme consistency over form.

💬 Fan Fixes & Comment Chaos

• Listeners submit their solutions: Talakai to lock, Ronaldo to centre, four-forward bench, Stone Street call-ups, and more.
• Debate erupts over Will Kennedy’s future, Trindall’s inconsistency, and whether Jesse Ramien and Oregon Kaufusi should be flicked.
• Assistant coaching changes are floated, with Nathan Brown and Mick Potter getting support.
• Paul in the comments triggers a podcast first — getting booted for defending Jack Williams as an Origin pick. “We’re not copping that!” shouts Boldo.

🎞 History Corner

Matty takes us back to past seasons where Sharks fell off a cliff post-finals — especially 2003, 2009, and the strange 2019 transition.

🎭 Around the League & NRLW Preview

• Chris runs through Origin III team news, Vanessa Foliaki’s retirement, and the start of the NRLW season.
• The Sharks NRLW team kicks off Thursday night with 13 returning grand final players.
• Big praise for coach Tony Herman and excitement about the season ahead.

🔗 Join the discussion in our Discord: https://discord.gg/nXEC9QNfmK

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