SEASON IN REVIEW | NYC Sharks 2015

Author: sharks.com.au
Timestamp: Fri 25 Sep 2015, 01:26 PM

It was a season which promised so much, but in the end failed to deliver as the NYC Sharks lost eight of their last nine matches in finishing 15^th as they fell from contention after a mid-season streak had them well placed to push for a finals berth.

While a season which delivered just seven wins, two of those came against a Warriors side which plays Penrith this weekend for a spot in the NYC Grand Final, it was a case of what might have been with injury and narrow losses plaguing their 2015 campaign.

A 22-all result against Manly at Brookvale, in a game where the Sharks squandered a big half-time lead, gave another indication of opportunities lost during the season just concluded. Manly too are in the final four and will play off against the Cowboys for a place in the Holden Cup decider.

A season-ending injury to local junior and Australian Schoolboys halfback Connor Tracey early on hardly helped, nor did numerous losses when calm heads and a little slice of luck in the closing moments of matches would have resulted in a vastly improved win column.

On five occasions the under 20 Sharks went down by less than a converted try, with more games lost after the team had led deep into the second half of matches.

On another note, the NYC Sharks had Valentine Holmes for just one game, while Jack Bird never ran out in the Holden Cup this year at all. The pair would certainly have given a boost to those players around them should they have spent any time at all in the Sharks 20’s side.

In looking for a positive heading into 2016, many from this year’s squad return, while a fully-fit Tracey will add some dash around the halves.

When joined by fellow Australian Schoolboy reps in Ash Nisbet and Jayden Brailey, both armed with a season’s experience in the 20’s under their belt, and brighter times should lay ahead.

The Sharks NYC team should also benefit by the inclusion of a number of players who were successful in claiming the SG Ball and National Under-18’s trophies for the Cronulla club in 2015.

The likes of Jack Williams, Jesse Savage, Keenan Yorsten, Jaiden Brown, Daniel Vasquez, Billy Magoulias and Will Kennedy were promoted at various stages of the season and had a taste of 20’s action this year, giving them an idea of what to expect when the new season rolls around.

Team captain Anthony Moraitis moves into the Sharks full-time NRL training squad for next year, with the club set to farewell the likes of Josh Addo-Carr, Alec Susino, Brad Deitz and Harrison Muller, players to have toiled hard over the past few years in the 20’s team.

See following game by game results and a link to NRL Stats in a review of the Sharks 2015 NYC season.

Round 1 v Raiders – LOST 34-32
Round 2 v Broncos – LOST 36-22
Round 3 v Storm – LOST 44-12
Round 4 v Titans – WON – 30-12
Round 5 v Roosters – LOST 68-6
Round 6 v Knights – LOST 22-18
Round 7 v Souths – WON 26-22
Round 8 v Panthers – LOST 34-4
Round 9 v Warriors – WON 23-22
Round 10 v Titans – WON 18-16
Round 11 – BYE
Round 12 v Dragons – WON 30-24
Round 13 v Roosters – LOST 40-24
Round 14 – BYE
Round 15 v Knights – WON 24-10
Round 16 v Cowboys – LOST 56-10
Round 17 v Manly – DRAW 22-all
Round 18 v Dragons – LOST 26-18
Round 19 v Raiders – LOST 24-22
Round 20 v Bulldogs – LOST 38-10
Round 21 v Warriors – WON 20-18
Round 22 v Cowboys – LOST 32-22
Round 23 v Storm – DRAW 28-all
Round 24 v Tigers – LOST 46-20
Round 25 v Eels – LOST 34-32
Round 26 v Manly – LOST 52-6