The 2026 Cronulla Sharks season is over, and in what is probably our final regular show of the year, Boldo and Franco sit down for a proper review of where it all went wrong and what needs to change in 2027.

Boldo leads off with his feedback for Craig Fitzgibbon. Was Fitzy too loyal to some senior players? Should the Sharks have been more willing to blood the youngsters? Did we get enough out of Siosifa Talakai? Was the finals centre selection the wrong call? And after another season where the attack struggled for consistency, does Cronulla need to become a little less predictable?

We also crown the 2026 BALLY M winner, with Mrs Boldo making her ET Stand debut to help reveal the final leaderboard. Will Kennedy takes out the award ahead of Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall after an incredibly tight finish.

Franco counts down his top bright spots from 2026, while Jay Owen provides the numbers behind the season, including Cronulla's best winning run, Nicho's scoring records and some revealing defensive statistics.

Then it's the final edition of Boldo's Player Tiers for 2026 before attention turns to next season.

Who makes our predicted Round 1 Sharks team for 2027? Who replaces the departing players? Is Jesse Colquhoun the new lock? Which of the young centres gets first crack? And what do we make of the early Nicho Hynes to Perth rumours?

Finally, we say thank you to the sponsors, contributors, guests and especially the ET Stand community who have watched, listened, commented, argued and talked Sharks with us throughout 2026.

Another season done.

Up Up Cronulla.

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Hi all, Sorry about the audio. Boldo here. We last second decided to record in the podcast studio and after a loss and we got one of the settings wrong. Like the Sharks... we just didn't fire :(

If we do more in the studio we'll be better next time.

... and then I never checked it because quite frankly it's always an episode I'd rather forget... but I think I might have fixed it now.

The Sharks’ 2026 season is over after a brutal 46–10 loss to the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.

In the final debrief of the season, the ET Stand crew picks apart where it all went wrong — from Nicho Hynes leaving the game early following a HIA, to the disrupted bench rotation, missed tackles, defensive breakdowns and a Roosters side that simply looked faster, stronger and more physical.

We discuss whether losing Hynes changed the game, why Cronulla looked immediately more dangerous when Siosifa Talakai was introduced, whether Braydon Trindall needed to take greater control, and why the Sharks stopped going to what was working.

There’s also the bigger question: was 2026 a failure?

After reaching consecutive preliminary finals, Cronulla went backwards this year — and a worrying final six weeks ultimately caught up with them when it mattered most.

We look at Craig Fitzgibbon, the future of this playing group, some big roster decisions ahead of 2027 and where the Sharks need to improve if they’re going to take the next step.

Plus our final 3-2-1 votes, the ET Stand Player of the Year race and plenty of reaction from Sharks fans after a disappointing end to the season.

FINAL SCORE: SYDNEY ROOSTERS 46 – CRONULLA SHARKS 10

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It’s Finals Week 2, the Sharks are still alive, and the ET Stand panel is fired up.

Boldo, Franko, Chris Kelly and Peter from Mortgage Choice unpack the reaction to Cronulla’s crowd against the Cowboys, the constant criticism of Shark Park and the way the Sharks seem to be treated by sections of the NRL media.

The boys read a letter from Ad20161, take aim at the double standards around finals crowds and discuss whether Cronulla is genuinely judged differently to other clubs.

Then it’s into the football:

• Chris Kelly’s key takeaways from the Cowboys win
• the latest Bally M 3–2–1 scores
• the 10 recurring themes that keep coming up on the ET Stand — including bench management, Talakai’s minutes and taking the two
• a full Roosters v Sharks Week 2 Finals preview
• the big stats, match-ups and historical angles
• Boldo ranks the Sharks’ best Week 2 finals wins
• Franko wraps up the latest from Newtown and the lower grades

A bumper episode ahead of another sudden-death final.

Can Cronulla send the Roosters out in straight sets?

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THE SHARKS ARE THROUGH TO WEEK TWO.

Cronulla beat the North Queensland Cowboys 26-16 at Allianz Stadium to keep their 2026 premiership campaign alive — and Boldo and Franko are back straight after the game to break it all down.

On this episode:

• SIOSIFA TALAKAI’S enormous impact off the bench and why he dominated the 3-2-1 voting.
• BRAYDON TRINDALL’S return, the extra cohesion he brought to the Sharks attack and the toughness he showed playing through shoulder trouble.
• NICO HYNES stepping up when it mattered and scoring the try that effectively iced the game.
• SIONE KATOA crossing twice in another strong finals performance.
• WILL KENNEDY’S contribution at the back.
• Cronulla dominating possession early and controlling large parts of the contest.
• The controversial offside decision and another discussion about NRL officiating.
• Whether Trindall’s shoulder becomes a target for Cronulla’s Week Two opponent.
• Plenty of listener 3-2-1 votes as the ET Stand Player of the Year race continues.
• And what the Sharks now need to improve as they head into WEEK TWO OF THE FINALS.

It wasn’t perfect — but in September, winning is all that matters.

CRONULLA 26

NORTH QUEENSLAND 16

THE SHARKS ARE STILL ALIVE.

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It’s OPPOSITION FAN PREVIEW time as Boldo is joined by Rob from the On The Ranch Cowboys Fans Podcast ahead of another huge SHARKS v COWBOYS finals clash.

Rob gives us the North Queensland view on where the Cowboys are at, their biggest strength, their biggest weakness and why their defence could decide their season.

We chat Tom Dearden, Jaxon Purdue, Jake Clifford, Reuben Cotter and Jason Taumalolo, plus which Sharks players worry Cowboys fans most — including Braydon Trindall, Will Kennedy, Sione Katoa and Siosifa Talakai.

There’s also plenty on the growing Sharks-Cowboys finals rivalry, some painful memories from previous clashes, the best players to have represented both clubs and Rob’s prediction for Saturday night.

Can the Sharks end the Cowboys’ season — or does North Queensland have another finals upset in them?

UP UP CRONULLA!

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The Sharks have earned a home final — but once again, they won’t actually get to play it at home.

On this episode of The ET Stand Podcast, Boldo and the crew go big on the decision to move Cronulla’s Week 1 final away from Ocean Protect Stadium, why it feels so unfair on the club, the fans and the local community, and why the NRL’s handling of the situation has left Sharks supporters furious.

Then attention turns to the football as we break down the fallout from the Storm loss and look ahead to Cronulla’s massive finals clash with the North Queensland Cowboys. We revisit the Cowboys’ 46–34 win over the Sharks earlier this season, the defensive issues that hurt Cronulla that night, and what needs to change with the season now on the line.

Plus, we take a trip through Sharks history and rank Cronulla’s Top 10 Week 1 finals victories, counting down from some famous September wins all the way to the greatest Week 1 finals victory in club history.

Finals footy is here.

UP UP CRONULLA!

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It’s a late-night ET Stand debrief, and after this one there was plenty to unpack.

Cronulla went down 24-20 to Melbourne at Ocean Protect Stadium, but with a heavily changed Sharks side, two men in the sin bin at one stage and a stack of controversy around the officiating, Boldo and Franko were far from disappointed with the performance.

• The refereeing and bunker decisions that had the ET Stand absolutely filthy

• The missed forward pass and the confusion around grounding the ball on the line

• Michael Gabrael’s sin bin and the debate over what actually constitutes a shoulder charge

• Ronaldo Mulitalo’s brain explosion after running in to protect Riley Pollard

• How the Sharks fought back from 12-0 down despite being two players short

• Sifa Talakai changing the game after coming off the bench

• Why his impact has to raise the question of whether he needs more minutes

• An impressive NRL debut from Riley Pollard

• Strong performances from the Puru brothers and plenty to like from the Sharks’ young players

• The errors that nearly proved costly, including a very unfortunately timed Toby Rudolf drop after Boldo declared Cronulla were going to win

• Fitzgibbon’s frustration with the consistency of the officiating

• What this performance actually means with the Sharks finishing fifth and finals football beginning next week

• Plus Jimmy, 2.0, Rob and plenty of late-night listener comments joining the conversation

Despite the loss, there was a lot to like from a Cronulla side missing several regulars. Was this actually the ideal finals tune-up?

And most importantly… can we please work out what the rules are before next week?

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After a disappointing loss to Parramatta, the Sharks head into the final round of the regular season with plenty of questions to answer.

On this episode of The ET Stand, the boys look ahead to Cronulla’s clash with the Melbourne Storm and ask whether recent form really matters once the finals begin.

CK gets the floor for his Eels rant, we run through the latest Bally M standings, break down the Sharks’ remarkable recent home record against Melbourne, and look at teams from the past who managed to turn poor late-season form into successful finals campaigns.

Boldo also unveils his 5½-point plan to get the Sharks back on track — including the importance of Braydon Trindall’s fitness, creating a siege mentality, better bench management, getting more from the supporting cast, Nicho Hynes taking ownership and finding a way to unleash Siosifa Talakai.

Plus:

• Boldo’s latest Player Tiers
• Why the NRL should completely rethink Round 27
• And a bigger question for the club: has constantly celebrating the 2016 premiership actually started holding the Sharks back?

Are the Sharks cooked — or is there still every reason to believe?

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One of the more infuriating Sharks performances of the season.

Boldo and Franko jump on after Cronulla’s 38-18 loss to Parramatta to work through a disastrous opening, another missed opportunity and what it means with the finals now just around the corner.

The Sharks were blown away early, fought their way back into the contest in the second half, but repeatedly failed to turn possession and field position into points.

• How did Cronulla allow the game to get away from them so quickly?
• The Sharks’ attack and a frustrating lack of variety from the halves
• Why Cronulla looked far more dangerous when they shifted the football
• Sione Katoa’s strong performance in a beaten side
• Will Kennedy, Blayke Brailey and the best performers from the loss
• The defensive problems on Cronulla’s edges
• The controversial Addin Fonua-Blake no-try
• Siosifa Talakai’s impact and whether the Sharks should have used him earlier
• Braydon Trindall’s frustration on the sideline
• Tom Hazelton and the potential changes to the forward pack
• The missed opportunity to push for the top four
• Are the Sharks simply waiting for the finals, or is their form now a genuine concern?
• Should Craig Fitzgibbon rest players against Melbourne?
• And are we heading towards yet another Sharks v Cowboys finals showdown?

Plus we get through plenty of your comments and hand out the ET Stand 3-2-1 votes.

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Your support helps us keep producing independent Sharks content every week throughout the season.

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UP UP CRONULLA.

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With the top four still in reach and the finals fast approaching, Boldo, Franko and Francis are back to work through the big issues facing Cronulla.

Francis takes us inside Braydon Trindall’s shoulder dislocation — what actually happens when a shoulder comes out, what “minor structural damage” could mean, how it is rehabilitated and the risks involved in getting Trindall back on the field for September.

Franko then answers five questions coming out of the Titans win, including what we learned from another patchy Sharks performance and which players are putting their hands up heading into the finals.

We also update the Bally M Player of the Year race, where Nicho Hynes has moved ahead of the injured Trindall, before turning our attention to Sharks v Eels at CommBank Stadium.

Is this a danger game? Why have the Sharks struggled on Parramatta’s home deck? And who needs to step up and make sure Cronulla gets the job done with a top-four finish on the line?

Plus, we swing around the rest of the NRL and the developing finals picture.

• Braydon Trindall’s shoulder injury explained
• Can Trindall safely return for the finals?
• Franko answers five questions from Sharks v Titans
• Bally M Player of the Year update
• Nicho Hynes takes the lead
• Sharks v Eels preview
• Cronulla’s poor recent record at Parramatta
• The Eels danger signs
• Who steps up for the Sharks?
• The race for the top four
• Around the NRL

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