The Cronulla Sharks have been a consistent picture of almost, but not quite good enough in recent seasons.
That trend continued in 2023 when the side found themselves falling short in Week 1 of the finals despite playing against a horrendously undermanned Sydney Roosters outfit.
That came after the year before where they finished in the top four on the back of Nicho Hynes' brilliance, but were still bounced out of the finals in straight sets.
The side clearly needs things to change if they want to hit the next level, and free agency ahead of 2025 could give them the opportunity to do just that.
In this series, Zero Tackle will run the rule over where each team currently stands for 2025, and what they will need to do when players off-contract at the end of 2024 become available for negotiation from November 1.
Current squad for 2025
Daniel Atkinson, Blayke Brailey, Kade Dykes, Dale Finucane, Royce Hunt, Nicho Hynes, Sione Katoa, William Kennedy, Cameron McInnes, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Briton Nikora, Jesse Ramien, Sam Stonestreet, Siosifa Talakai, Braydon Trindall, Teig Wilton
Current best 17 for 2025
1. William Kennedy
2. Sione Katoa
3. Jesse Ramien
4. Siosifa Talakai
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo
6. Braydon Trindall
7. Nicho Hynes
8. Royce Hunt
9. Blayke Brailey
10. Dale Finucane
11. Briton Nikora
12. Teig Wilton
13. Cameron McInnes
14. Daniel Atkinson
15. Kade Dykes
16. Sam Stonestreet
17. No player signed.
Players off-contract at end of 2024
Jayden Berrell, Jesse Colquhoun, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Mawene Hiroti, Kayal Iro, Matt Moylan, Niwhai Puru, Toby Rudolf, Siteni Taukamo, Connor Tracey, Jack Williams
Here are five players available to negotiate on November 1 from outside of the club the Sharks could target for 2025 and beyond.
EVERY PLAYER OFF-CONTRACT AT THE END OF 2024
Other clubs
» Brisbane Broncos
» Canberra Raiders
» Canterbury Bulldogs
3. Jake Simpkin
The Sharks have Blayke Brailey signed long-term. This move isn't about replacing him, although plenty of the club's fans are on the record saying they ultimately need to.
Cronulla are also yet to make a decision on the future of the under-utilised Jayden Berrell, who has barely been sighted since being picked up out of the QLD Cup.
But taking he won't re-sign - and what reason would he have to do so at this point? - it could well be a player like Jake Simpkin who makes the switch to Cronulla.
In backing up Apisai Koroisau at the Tigers, he has proven he can play more than just the nine, and the former Queensland under-20s player is yet to be given a real opportunity to show his worth in the NRL.
Playing a spark-style role off the bench in combination with Brailey could change the fortunes of the Sharks at dummy half each week, but having an NRL-capable player like Simpkin would also give coach Craig Fitzgibbon options if Brailey's form doesn't turn a serious corner in 2024.
