🎧 Audio Summary – The ET Stand Podcast: “How Do You Fix the Sharks?”
In this jam-packed 90-minute episode of The ET Stand, the panel grapples with the Cronulla Sharks' current plight following their fourth loss in five games — this time a 30–6 defeat to the Storm in Melbourne. Host Boldo is joined by Chris Kelly, Franco, Matty Williams, and special guest commentary from the fans as they ask the big question: Do the Sharks need fixing — and if so, how?
🔧 Fixing the Sharks Debate
- Franco, watching on delay and free from emotion, thinks the performance was better than fans and media suggest — especially defensively until the last 15 minutes.
- The panel unpacks key effort errors: a poor challenge, a disastrous tap-on, and more misreads.
- Chris argues the team lacks physical intimidation and urgency.
- Kelly makes a passionate case for holding the course: “We’re battered, flat, and fatigued, but it’s not broken. This bye is coming at the perfect time.”
- Matty and Boldo raise concerns over systemic prep issues, fitness, and player management. Boldo provides a detailed list of six “actual fixes” including smarter challenge use, better injury return decisions, and simplifying the bench rotation strategy.
📊 Boldo’s Melbourne-Themed Player Tiers
Boldo rolls out his signature segment with a tourism spin:
- Players compared to Melbourne icons like Docklands (Nicho & Nikora – expensive but underwhelming), St Kilda Beach (Atkinson – doesn’t deliver what it promises), and Luna Park (Ronaldo – flashy and solo).
- Blayke Brailey earns top billing, while injured Kade Dykes is likened to Qantas – sorely missed but still flying high in fans’ minds.
- Reactions range from Matty calling it Boldo’s “most accurate tiering yet” to Franco gently critiquing player placement for theme consistency over form.
đź’¬ Fan Fixes & Comment Chaos
- Listeners submit their solutions: Talakai to lock, Ronaldo to centre, four-forward bench, Stone Street call-ups, and more.
- Debate erupts over Will Kennedy’s future, Trindall’s inconsistency, and whether Jesse Ramien and Oregon Kaufusi should be flicked.
- Assistant coaching changes are floated, with Nathan Brown and Mick Potter getting support.
- Paul in the comments triggers a podcast first — getting booted for defending Jack Williams as an Origin pick. “We’re not copping that!” shouts Boldo.
🎞 History Corner
Matty takes us back to past seasons where Sharks fell off a cliff post-finals — especially 2003, 2009, and the strange 2019 transition.
🎠Around the League & NRLW Preview
- Chris runs through Origin III team news, Vanessa Foliaki’s retirement, and the start of the NRLW season.
- The Sharks NRLW team kicks off Thursday night with 13 returning grand final players.
- Big praise for coach Tony Herman and excitement about the season ahead.
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