The most arduous travel schedule in rugby league will continue on Wednesday when Cronulla board a flight to Townsville just eight days after touching down from the season-opener in Las Vegas.
The Sharks did not need reminding about their nightmare draw, which will see them cover a staggering 40,000km across the first nine rounds of the season.
After the hit-and-run trip to north Queensland, Craig Fitzgibbon’s side will play games in Canberra, Perth – which is almost a 7700km round trip to the Shire – and well as Newcastle, then travel to Brisbane for Magic Round.
If the Sharks struggle to win in the early rounds, pressure could start to build on the players, which in turn could cause tensions to arise within the camp while on the road.
“But I think the time away will only help us connect as a team,” fullback Will Kennedy said on Tuesday.
“It’s always good to get away with your mates. We’re lucky we all have that bond away from the field. When we’re away there will be games of poker or euchre, or guys heading out to get coffees. It’s good to get away with your mates.”
Flying Fish: Cronulla’s hectic travel schedule
- Rd 1 — Cronulla to Las Vegas: 24,880km
- Rd 2 — Cronulla to Townsville: 4208km
- Rd 5 — Cronulla to Canberra: 560km
- Rd 6 — Cronulla to Perth: 7688km
- Rd 7 — Cronulla to Newcastle: 392km
- Rd 9 — Cronulla to Brisbane: 1888km
TOTAL: 39,616km
Fitzgibbon has been planning for the rough start since the draw was released before Christmas, and said the onus was on his staff to make sure the preparation was flawless.
“You can’t look at it in its entirety because it’s too big, so we’ve chopped it down and are taking it one trip at a time,” Fitzgibbon said.
“If anything we actually enjoy travelling together. We’re definitely getting better at it. And it’s good this is happening early in the year when our energy levels should be high.”
The Sharks have made no changes to the team that created enough chances to defeat premiers Penrith at Allegiant Stadium, only to fall short 28-22.
Cronulla and Nicho Hynes take to the skies again on Wednesday.Credit: Kate Geraghty
There is even greater pressure on Kennedy to stay fit after the club lost a back-up fullback option, Liam Ison, for the season because of a ruptured ACL. Should Kennedy go down, Dragons-bound Daniel Atkinson will be entrusted with the custodian role.
Kennedy’s Sharks future remains up in the air beyond this season, but the 27-year-old is desperate to remain at the club he has been at since playing SG Ball. “If something came up I’d love to take it,” Kennedy said. “Nobody wants to leave here because it’s so good.”
In other team news, Brian To’o (hamstring) returns for Penrith when they play their first game at their temporary new home, CommBank Stadium, on Friday night. Casey McLean (concussion) starts on the other wing against the Sydney Roosters, who are without Victor Radley (concussion). The Tricolours, who were hammered 50-14 by the Broncos in round one, slumped to $9.30 in head-to-head betting on Tuesday evening.
Lewis Dodd is listed among the extended reserves for South Sydney, who have stuck with Jamie Humphreys at halfback, while Bayleigh Bentley-Hape debuts on the wing for the injured Tyrone Munro against St George Illawarra on Saturday in Wollongong.
Wests Tigers welcome back Api Koroisau (suspension) and Jahream Bula (shoulder) for Sunday’s western Sydney derby against Parramatta, who have handed former Bulldog Jordan Samrani his first career start.
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