After reaching the preliminary final last season, many experts had the Cronulla Sharks pencilled in as genuine title contenders for 2019.
But then all hell broke loose and muddied the waters in the Shire.
A salary cap investigation, financial struggles, no sponsors, a star player walkout and a coach deregistered – all in the space of a few months.
And heavy fines were imposed on the club just weeks out from the season's start.
Still, the club boast an impressive roster and seem to thrive under pressure.
The slither of good news for Cronulla over the off-season was the coup of Kiwi Test playmaker Shaun Johnson.
Johnson's dazzling on-field talents and outstanding marketability are desperately needed.
He is set to link with Chad Townsend in the halves, rekindling the combination they had at the New Zealand Warriors in 2014 and '15. Matt Moylan will revert to fullback.
Aside from the many external distractions, the other blow for the Sharks heading into the season is the absence of co-captain Wade Graham.
The key back-rower won't feature at the beginning of the year due to ongoing rehab for an ACL tear. He will be sorely missed, especially with the retirement of Luke Lewis.
That means 37-year-old skipper Paul Gallen will shoulder extra responsibility in his record-breaking 19th and final NRL campaign.
Cronulla's exceptional development program continues to reap rewards, with youngsters Bronson Xerri, Isaac Lumelume, Blayke Brailey and Briton Nikora all in contention for first grade selection this season.
Times may be tough for Cronulla – but the Sharks are perhaps the NRL's toughest team.
CRONULLA SHARKS PRE-SEASON NEWS
Entering the pre-season with a historical salary cap investigation rhanging over the club, Cronulla's troubles quickly multiplied.
The club's reigning Player of the Year, Valentine Holmes, blindsided the Sharks when he walked on the club to pursue an NFL career.
Next, reports emerged that Cronulla were in a dire financial position and could wear a retro-style jersey in 2019 because they hadn't yet secured any kit sponsors.
Title-winning Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan was provisionally deregistered in December after the NRL Integrity Unit found he breached the terms of his 12-month ban in 2014 that was imposed following the Sharks' supplements scandal.
The NRL initially proposed a fine of $800,000 on the club for continuing to contact Flanagan, though this was reduced to $500,000 in March after the club "accepted and acknowledged its wrongdoing."
Flanagan – who officially resigned from the Sharks in January – had his deregistration upheld and won't be allowed to return to the game in the short-term.
Some semblance of stability at Cronulla was restored in early 2019 when John Morris was named interim head coach, with Jim Dymock remaining as assistant.
Morris was named head coach for the next three seasons in February.
Ex-under 20s coach David Howlett, who has been at the club for two decades, was promoted to an NRL assistant coaching role.
Cronulla received their punishment over the salary cap drama on March 1.
A breach notice proposing a fine of $750,000 was issued to the club but $500,000 of that is suspended because Sharks CEO Barry Russell self-reported the discrepancies to the NRL.
The club also copped a $707,000 salary cap penalty ($353,000 in 2019 and 2020).
They will be forced to shed a player to become salary cap compliant by round one.
Including the $500,000 fine regarding Flanagan, Cronulla face a total financial sanction of $1.2 million ($500,000 suspended)
They have accepted the punishments and will not appeal.
PRE-SEASON TRIALS
February 23 – Sharks 28 def Sea Eagles 22
March 2 – Sharks vs Knights
CRONULLA SHARKS' 30-MAN NRL SQUAD
Valentine Holmes leads a number of backs leaving the Sharks.
Centre Ricky Leutele headed overseas to the Toronto Wolfpack, while Jesse Ramien and Edrick Lee left for the Newcastle Knights following impressive seasons.
Veteran forward Luke Lewis retired at the conclusion of 2018 after 18 years of NRL.
Shaun Johnson is the club's marquee addition after exiting the New Zealand Warriors, who didn't want him beyond next season.
Former Australian and NSW centre Josh Morris arrived at Cronulla, with his defensive nous a perfect fit for the team's gritty style.
The Sharks retained talented halfback Kyle Flanagan, the son of former coach Shane, who pledged his future to Cronulla until at least 2021.
Wade Graham gave the Sharks faithful reason to smile in January by committing to a new three-year contract, keeping him at Cronulla until 2022.
Dynamic hooker James Segeyaro departed the Sharks at the conclusion last season but suddenly re-signed with the club in late February.
| Player | Date of Birth | Height, weight | Position | NRL matches | Rep honours | |
| 1 | Aaron Gray | 7/4/1994 | 181cm,96kg | Wing/Centre | 43 | City Origin |
| 2 | Aaron Woods | 13/3/1991 | 194cm, 111kg | Prop | 172 | Australia, NSW, City Origin |
| 3 | Andrew Fifita | 28/6/1989 | 194cm, 118kg | Prop | 190 | Australia, Tonga, NSW, Indig. All Stars, City Origin |
| 4 | Ava Seumanufagai | 4/6/1991 | 189cm, 114kg | Prop | 118 | Nil |
| 5 | Billy Magoulias | 23/1/1997 | 179cm, 99kg | Lock/Prop | 0 | Greece |
| 6 | Blayke Brailey | 23/9/1998 | 184cm, 81kg | Hooker | Nil | Nil |
| 7 | Braden Uele | 1/9/1995 | 191cm, 112kg | Prop | 2 | Nil |
| 8 | Briton Nikora | 7/12/1997 | 185cm, 94kg | Second-row | 0 | Nil |
| 9 | Bronson Xerri | 10/9/2000 | 188cm, 99kg | Centre | 0 | Nil |
| 10 | Chad Townsend | 10/1/1991 | 181cm, 89kg | Halfback | 139 | City Origin |
| 11 | Cruz Topai-Aveai | 23/1/1999 | 192cm, 112kg | Prop | 0 | Nil |
| 12 | Jack Williams | 28/9/1996 | 184cm, 98kg | Second-row/Lock/Prop | 4 | Nil |
| 13 | James Segeyaro | 11/11/1990 | 170cm, 84kg | |||
| 14 | Jayden Brailey | 4/9/1996 | 179cm, 88kg | Hooker | 46 | Nil |
| 15 | Jayson Bukuya | 21/4/1989 | 187cm, 97kg | Second-row/Lock | 170 | Fiji |
| 16 | Josh Dugan | 11/5/1990 | 190cm, 102kg | Centre/Fullback | 168 | Aus., NSW, NRL All Stars, Country, PMXIII |
| 17 | Josh Morris | 23/8/1963 | 184cm, 98kg | Centre | 263 | Aus., NSW, NRL All Stars, Country, PMXIII |
| 18 | Kurt Capewell | 12/7/1993 | 185cm, 95kg | Second-row/Centre | 40 | Nil |
| 19 | Kyle Flanagan | 15/9/1998 | 183cm, 85kg | Halfback | 1 | Nil |
| 20 | Matt Prior | 27/5/1987 | 190cm, 106kg | Prop | 228 | Nil |
| 21 | Matt Moylan | 16/6/1991 | 185cm, 88kg | Five-eighth/Fullback | 113 | Aus., NSW, NRL All Stars, City, PMXIII |
| 22 | Paul Gallen | 14/8/1981 | 180cm, 103kg | Lock/Prop | 328 | Aus., NSW, NRL All Stars, City, |
| 23 | Isaac Lumelume | 16/4/1998 | 187cm, 90kg | Wing/Centre | 0 | Nil |
| 24 | Scott Sorensen | 16/3/1993 | 180cm, 96kg | Second-row | 20 | Nil |
| 25 | Shaun Johnson | 9/9/1990 | 179cm, 89kg | Halfback/Five-eighth | 162 | New Zealand, NRL All Stars |
| 26 | Sione Katoa | 21/8/1997 | 180cm, 88kg | Wing | 9 | Nil |
| 27 | Sosaia Feki | 9/5/1991 | 188cm, 101kg | Wing | 126 | Tonga |
| 28 | Wade Graham | 25/10/1990 | 186cm, 96kg | Second-row/Lock | 219 | Aus., NSW, Portugal, Indig. All Stars, City, |
| 29 | William Kennedy | 18/4/1997 | 183cm, 88kg | Fullback | 0 | Nil |
| 30 | TBC | – | – | – | – | – |
COACH: John Morris
Additions (players who weren't in top 2018 top 30): Josh Morris (Canterbury Bulldogs), Shaun Johnson (New Zealand Warriors), Blayke Brailey, Briton Nikora, Bronson Xerri, Isaac Lumelume
Losses: Jesse Ramien (Newcastle Knights), Edrick Lee (Newcastle Knights), Ricky Leutele (Toronto Wolfpack), Kurt Dillon (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Luke Lewis (retirement), Joseph Paulo (St Helens), James Segeyaro (unsigned)
Re-signed: Jayden Brailey (2020), Jayson Bukuya (2020), Paul Gallen (2019), Sione Katoa (2020), Jack Williams (2020), Kyle Flanagan (2021), James Segeyaro (2019)
Off-contract beyond 2019: Blayke Brailey, Kurt Capewell, Sosaia Feki, Paul Gallen, Wade Graham, Aaron Gray, Billy Magoulias, Briton Nikora, Ava Seumanufagai, Scott Sorensen, Cruz Topai-Aveai, Braden Uele
Development players: Braydon Trindall, Teig Wilton, Daniel Vasquez, Jackson Ferris, Toby Rudolf, Joshua Carr
CRONULLA SHARKS' BETTING ODDS
At $15 (via TAB as of 20/2/19), the Sharks are equal seventh in the betting to win the 2019 premiership. It would be their second title in four seasons, with the team breaking a 50-year drought to win their first in 2016.
It seems the bookies believe Shaun Johnson will regain his best form at Cronulla, pricing the entertaining half at $17 to win the Dally M Medal – making him the seventh-favourite for the award.
Two sports behind Johnson in the market is teammate Matt Moylan ($21) followed by Josh Dugan ($41) and Andrew Fifita ($51).
The Sharks are $1.75 to make the top eight, $3.75 to finish in the first four as they did in 2018 and $26 to suffer the most losses.
CRONULLA SHARKS' 2019 DRAW
Games played on
Thursday: 4
Friday: 4
Saturday: 9
Sunday: 7
Teams they play twice
Titans, Cowboys, Eels, Panthers, Broncos, Storm, Dragons, Raiders, Warriors
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue |
| 1 | Friday 15 March 6:00pm | Newcastle Knights | McDonald Jones Stadium |
| 2 | Saturday 23 March 3:00pm | Gold Coast Titans | Shark Park |
| 3 | Saturday 30 March 5:30pm | North Queensland Cowboys | 1300SMILES Stadium |
| 4 | Saturday 6 April 7:35pm | Parramatta Eels | ANZ Stadium |
| 5 | Saturday 13 April 7:35 | Sydney Roosters | Shark Park |
| 6 | Thursday 18 April 7:50pm | Penrith Panthers | Shark Park |
| 7 | Saturday 27 April 7:35pm | Brisbane Broncos | Suncorp Stadium |
| 8 | Friday 3 May 7:50pm | Melbourne Storm | Shark Park |
| 9 | Thursday 9 May 7:50pm | Gold Coast Titans | Suncorp Stadium |
| 10 | Sunday 19 May 4:05pm | Manly Sea Eagles | Shark Park |
| 11 | Sunday 26 May 4:05pm | St George Illawarra Dragons | WIN Stadium |
| 12 | BYE | – | – |
| 13 | Saturday 8 June 5:30pm | Parramatta Eels | Shark Park |
| 14 | Thursday 13 June 7:50pm | Canberra Raiders | GIO Stadium |
| 15 | Sunday 30 June 4:05pm | Canterbury Bulldogs | ANZ Stadium |
| 16 | Sunday 7 July 4:05pm | Brisbane Broncos | Shark Park |
| 17 | Saturday 13 July 7:35pm | Melbourne Storm | AAMI Park |
| 18 | Friday 19 July 6:00pm | New Zealand Warriors | Westpac Stadium |
| 19 | Thursday 25 July 7:50pm | North Queensland Cowboys | Shark Park |
| 20 | Saturday 3 August 7:35pm | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Shark Park |
| 21 | Friday 9 August 7:55pm | Penrith Panthers | Panthers Stadium |
| 22 | Sunday 18 August 4:05pm | St George Illawarra Dragons | Shark Park |
| 23 | Saturday 24 August 3:00pm | New Zealand Warriors | Shark Park |
| 24 | Sunday 1 September 2:00pm | Canberra Raiders | Shark Park |
| 25 | Sunday 8 September 2:00pm | Wests Tigers | Leichhardt Oval |
It's a big year for...
Chad Townsend.
Only two seasons ago, Townsend directed the Sharks to their first premiership.
He's now on the edge of being usurped as Cronulla's choice halfback by 20-year-old gun Kyle Flanagan.
Townsend copped a lot of criticism from supporters in 2018 – maybe unfairly – who widely condemned his general kicking game.
To his credit, Townsend bounced back after some poor performances as the Sharks fell just short of the grand final.
He will be expected to fire alongside Shaun Johnson right away next season, although the pair didn't reach any great heights when they played together at the Warriors.
But make no mistake – if Townsend starts slowly in 2019 then the shouts for Flanagan to take his spot will become ear-splitting.
MEMBERSHIP AND TICKETING
As of 20/2/19, the Sharks had 14,003 members for 2019 – a new club record for that time of year.
The club is well on track to better their 2018 membership total of 15,802.
Membership packages can be viewed here.
General tickets for the season are available here.