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New Look Sharks Offer Fantasy Potential in 2018

Dermott Banks

The long wait is nearly over and we are just a few short weeks away from the 2018 NRL season. It’s been a busy summer for most clubs since Melbourne Storm claimed their third title back at the start of October and, for fantasy managers, there are a number of new faces to assess before picking their squads for the new campaign.

Among the busiest of those sides are the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks: Winners of the Grand Final in 2016, the club finished in a disappointing fifth last time out and, as many pundits predicted, there has been a near-overhaul of the playing roster going into 2018. So, who are the new boys and who should we be looking at as potential picks for the fantasy draft?

Outsiders

Despite claiming that title just two short seasons ago, few observers are giving the Sharks much chance of another crown in 2018. While Sydney Roosters start as favourites, bet365’s Rugby League betting markets show seven teams ahead of the 2016 champions in the race for this year’s NRL Trophy.

That’s not exactly a great endorsement but if the Sharks fail to get over the line, no-one could criticise them for a lack of off-season activity with no fewer than ten players being released from the 2017 roster. Of those, Adam Clydesdale has headed into a rather premature retirement at the age of 24 but the remaining nine have gone to pastures new, many to NRL rivals.

Tony Williams could be one player set to prove the Sharks wrong this season after playing just once and scoring one try in the whole of the 2017 season. Now with the Eels, if Williams can recapture the form that saw him land 35 tries in 73 games for the Manly Sea Eagles, he could also be a strong fantasy pick.

But, like his former teammates, Williams is now forgotten, so who are the new men lining up for the Sharks ahead of the new campaign

Incoming

Much will be expected of Matt Moylan in 2018 after his move from Penrith Panthers in the close season. Primarily used as a fullback, the 26-year-old landed 26 tries and 170 overall points for the Panthers in a four-year career and that’s the kind of tally that will alert Fantasy NRL Managers for the new season.
On a personal level, Moylan now has the opportunity to add to his solitary cap for the Kangaroos, earned against Scotland in 2016 and he definitely has the scoring potential to feature in Dream Teams throughout the season.

Also coming on board for 2018 is Josh Dugan from St George Illawarra Dragons. Also capable of slotting in at fullback, Dugan may well be used more at centre and he too has a scoring record that Fantasy Managers should take notice of.

146 points in 84 games for the Dragons, including 28 tries, makes the 27-year-old a potentially strong pick and he will also be hoping that the Sharks can help him become a regular player on the national stage.

Aaron Gray and Ava Seumanafagai also come on board for the new NRL season, which starts on 8 March 2018. It’s very much a transitional period for the Sharks but, while many will be wary of backing them for glory this year, new additions mean that there could be more potential for managers to scour this team in search of fantasy points.

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Dermott Banks