2026 Cronulla Sharks NRL Depth Chart and Predicted Team

2026 Cronulla Sharks Predicted Round 1 Team

The Sharks will head into 2026 with the same 17 that played the majority of last season.

They will be without try-scoring sensation Ronaldo Multialo and captain Cam McInnes for Round 1, which should see Sam Stonestreet jump on the left wing and Jesse Colquhoun start at lock.

Expect the front row to rotate throughout the season between Oregon Kaufusi, Toby Rudolf, Tom Hazelton and Braden Hamlin-Uele.

Billy Burns hit career-best form toward the backend of the season, keeping Briton Nikora on the bench. However, it is likely Nikora will keep his starting spot to start 2026.

Fullback: William Kennedy
Left Wing: Sam Stonestreet
Left Centre: KL Iro
Right Centre: Jesse Ramien
Right Wing: Sione Katoa
Left Half: Braydon Trindall
Right Half: Nicho Hynes
Prop: Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker: Blayke Brailey
Prop: Oregon Kaufusi
Left 2nd Row: Teig Wilton
Right 2nd Row: Briton Nikora
Lock: Jesse Colquhoun

Bench: Siosifa Talakai
Bench: Toby Rudolf
Bench: Tom Hazelton
Bench: Billy Burns

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2026 Cronulla Sharks Squad

Addin Fonua-Blake, Billy Burns, Blayke Brailey, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Braydon Trindall, Briton Nikora, Cameron McInnes, Hohepa Puru, Jayden Berrell, Jesse Colquhoun, Jesse Ramien, KL Iro, Mawene Hiroti, Nicho Hynes, Niwhai Puru, Oregon Kaufusi, Riley Jones, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Sam Stonestreet, Sione Katoa, Siosifa Talakai, Teig Wilton, Tom Hazelton, Toby Rudolf, Tuku Hau Tapuha, William Kennedy

*Last updated 12 Jan 2026

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2026 Cronulla Sharks Transfers

2026 gains: 

None

2026 losses: 

Daniel Atkinson (Dragons), Kade Dykes (Bulldogs)

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2026 Cronulla Sharks Depth Chart

*Last updated 12 Jan 2026

Depth wasn’t called upon last year for the Sharks as they played 25 players - the least amount in the competition.

The departure of Kade Dykes leaves the Sharks a little shallow for fullback options. Liam Ison missed all of 2025 with an ACL injury suffered in the first round of NSW Cup, however, he is touted as the club’s next #1 once Will Kennedy finishes up.

Mawene Hiroti will be the next man up if any of the outside backs suffer an injury in Ronaldo Mulitalo’s absence. He also played the majority of the NSW Cup season at fullback in 2025.

Niwhai Puru is the only halves replacement in the Sharks’ top 30 at the moment following the departure of Daniel Atkinson.

The 2nd row stocks are also slim for the Sharks, with Blake Hosking the only edge back up not in the 17. There will need to be multiple injuries in the back row for him to make the side, with Craig Fitzgibbon likely giving a middle forward a bench spot.

Riley Jones and Jayden Berrell will battle it out to replace an injured or suspended Blayke Brailey. But good luck with that as Brailey hasn’t missed an NRL game since 2020.

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