Cronulla feel ready to go from wooden spooners to NRL premiership contenders with Paul Gallen seeing signs that Ben Barba can steer them to success.
Skipper Gallen says the Sharks have turned to corner after their 2014 annus horribilis when the ASADA investigation and a horror injury count took a heavy toll.
With the likes of Gallen, Andrew Fifita and Luke Lewis returning to the field and star recruit Barba taking over as chief playmaker following Todd Carney’s sacking, Gallen said on Tuesday Cronulla had the chance to deliver a first premiership for their loyal fans.
He believed the dark days of 2014 would provide a positive outcome as the Sharks had been forced to blood many young players.
“We’ve got a good roster and having years like last year – blooding guys like Valentine Holmes and Nu Brown, it will only help us for the future,” said Gallen.
“So much is going to rest on Benny Barba’s shoulders.
“(The forwards) will get up the field for him but we need someone to set up tries and score tries and he can be the x-factor there.
“He’s showing good signs so far. He’s had a good pre-season and he’s got family down (from Queensland) now.”
After blooding a host of rookies in 2014, there is not much room for new blood in the Sharks’ best 17 this year.
Highly-rated youngster Jack Bird, pinched from under the noses of St George Illawarra, is pushing for a spot in the centres but Gerard Beale and Ricky Leutele are favoured for those positions.
Gallen gave an enormous vote of confidence to young Kiwi giant Saul Houma, tipping him to be “something really special” and comparing him to the Burgess brothers in size and strength.
The skipper said he had taken the 127kg Houma under his wing since he was signed from the Newtown Jets on a one-year deal and was pushing coach Shane Flanagan to include him for round one.
“I’ve been really impressed in (Houma’s) pre-season and the way he’s trained, his strength in the gym. He’s got some skills too,” Gallen said.
“I’ve been paying special attention to him, doing some extra sessions just me and him, just having a chat to him, making him my weights partner.
“I think he could be something really special.
“I say to Flanno at training, `Why can’t this bloke play first grade?’
“I’ve never felt anyone stronger on the field. The Burgess boys are some of the strongest blokes I’ve ever tried to tackle and this bloke’s right up there.”
