Cronulla’s first grade side may not have had the result they were after on Friday night but the next generation of Sharks have shown the future is equally as bright.
Cronulla secured the under-20s Jersey Flegg Cup premiership on Sunday, downing Penrith 22-12 at Leichhardt Oval.
Halfback Braydon Trindall was named man of the match as the Sharks ran in tries to Bronson Xerri, Harrison Smith, Isaac Lumelume and Trindall to finish 10-point winners.
Cronulla’s partner club Newtown, featuring a number of Sharks-contracted players, fell just short in the Intrust Super Premiership decider going down 18-12 to Canterbury.
Since 2015, the Sharks have now won SG Ball, Harold Matthews Cup and Jersey Flegg titles as well as two national championships and an NRL premiership.
First grade coach Shane Flanagan told the Leader a number of the club’s young players on show including Blayke Brailey, Xerri and his son, Kyle, would play first grade next season.
“It’s about planning. Unfortunately you’re going to lose blokes sometimes. You’ve got to know you’ve got a first grader there ready to go which makes it easier,” he said.
“Blayke, Kyle and Billy [Magoulias] are all local juniors who have been here a long period of time.
“The NSW Cup competition changed this year, there was a lot more youth. It’s gone up a level and is much better because of the splash of youth in it. I think it was a really good comp this year. We’ve got a lot of local juniors, good kids in there.
“And our under-20s have been the model of consistency. They’ve been first or second all year. We’ve got a heap of local juniors who are potential first graders there.
“The younger boys like Kyle and Blayke are only 19 playing against men. They could have played 20s this year. But week in week out it gets them ready for NRL and they’ll handle it fine. Kyle played one game and Blayke probably should have played a couple. He’ll play next year.
“Blayke’s ready to go next season. He’s been on the lighter side. He’s not as big as [older brother] Jayden. Jayden never played [first grade] until he was 21. Blayke is probably the same, he’s 21 next year.
“He’s put on some weight, some good size. He’ll get a chance next year without a doubt, he’s a fine player.
“Bronson can’t play at the moment. He’s not eligible. You’ve got to be 18 to play first grade. He’ll play next year without a doubt. You look at [Zac] Lomax at the Dragons, he’s playing first grade now. Him and Bronson are on the same pathway. Bronson is probably a little bit bigger than Lomax but you see how Lomax has handled it and Bronson will be the same.”
As for his own future, Flanagan said negotiations were in the hands of his manager but reiterated his desire to stay at the club beyond 2019 and continue to build on the successful foundations.
“I want to stay here long term. If I keep winning footy games that’ll get resolved,” he said.
“For me we’ve built success and a great winning culture. I think I’ve done that and don’t want to stop. There’s a fair bit there, we’ve won comps in all age groups since 2015.
“From a club perspective no one else would have had that success.”
