Coaching Rivals: Fitzgibbon and Hannay Set for Season Opener Showdown
The upcoming NRL season opener between the Cronulla Sharks and the Gold Coast Titans promises more than just a clash of teams; it’s a reunion of former colleagues and now coaching adversaries, Craig Fitzgibbon and Josh Hannay. The two men shared a close professional relationship during their time together at the Sharks, with Hannay serving as a key figure on Fitzgibbon’s coaching staff. However, when the Titans kick off their campaign against the Sharks in Cronulla this Saturday night, any pre-game pleasantries will be strictly off the table.
“Not this week,” Fitzgibbon stated emphatically when asked about the prospect of catching up with his good friend, who is now at the helm of the Gold Coast club. He elaborated on the general, unwritten rule of the coaching fraternity: “General coaching rule, we don’t talk to the opposing coach on game week. But yeah, had a couple of chats weeks ago and then thought it’d be good to catch up after the game.”
This approach isn’t new for Fitzgibbon. He previously navigated a similar situation after departing his role as an assistant coach at the Sydney Roosters, choosing not to connect with his former mentor, Trent Robinson, before their first encounter as rivals.
Despite the professional distance maintained during game week, Fitzgibbon expressed his willingness to share a post-match beer with Hannay. He acknowledged Hannay’s readiness to step into a full-time head coaching role, a position he’s earned after several stints as an assistant. Fitzgibbon recalled Hannay’s interim tenure with the Sharks during the turbulent COVID-19 period in 2021, during which Hannay guided the team for 19 matches.
“I know it’s in an interim sense, but I thought for the scenario in Covid when he took over with the Sharks, he did a really good job there,” Fitzgibbon commented. “And there was a lot of turbulence, not being sure about what was going on there. I thought he handled that really well, so that’s a sample size there that showed you he sort of knew how to handle things.”
Fitzgibbon further praised Hannay’s progression: “And then obviously the work that he’s done with the Sharks and then Queensland sort of put him on the radar. He’s very measured, very controlled, he’s clear about what he wants, so he’ll be fine I think. But again, not this week hopefully.”
Sharks’ Quest for Consistency and Title Contention
The Cronulla Sharks are entering the new season with a strong sense of continuity, having retained the core of their squad that narrowly missed out on a Grand Final berth in 2025. This stability is considered a significant advantage, despite the ongoing challenges of key players like Cameron McInnes and Ronaldo Mulitalo being sidelined with serious knee injuries.
The team has received a boost with winger Sione Katoa cleared to play after overcoming his own injury scare. Additionally, reliable forward Teig Wilton was rested as a precautionary measure early in the season, underscoring the club’s strategic approach to player management.
Coach Fitzgibbon expressed confidence in his squad’s belief and clarity of purpose. “It’s easy for us because we believe in our squad. We’re really clear on it,” he said. Reflecting on the previous season, he added, “I thought the back end of last year, obviously being agonisingly close to getting what every team tries to get out of a season, but I thought we showed improvement at the back end of the year.”
Fitzgibbon sees considerable potential for growth within his playing group: “I just feel like a vast majority, not all of them, but the majority of our squad have still got some upside, so we’re really comfortable, so that was an easy decision not to move on that. But that’s a long time ago now, last year as well, and we have to earn the right to get out there and start it again.”
Navigating Contract Uncertainty as a Strength
While Fitzgibbon’s tenure has seen minimal roster turnover, the Sharks are facing a period of potential change with several high-profile players coming off contract. Siosifa Talakai has already been confirmed to be moving to the Bears, and other key players could depart.
Fitzgibbon views this uncertainty not as a weakness, but as a potential strength that the team can leverage. “It can be a real strength,” he asserted. “It’s been discussed internally, but we wanted to bring it up, address it so we can put it to bed and get back to business.”
He emphasized the unified focus within the club: “All the boys that are off contract or may leave, they’re all Sharks this year, so our focus is on the Sharks and they’re pretty clear on that. They’re a tight group, they’ve been together for a long time now, and we’d like to think we can use that to our advantage.” This shared commitment and long-standing camaraderie are expected to be valuable assets as the Sharks aim for a successful season and a shot at the title.
