SHARKCAST: MAILBAG EDITION DECEMBER 2024

[00:00:00] SHARKIES! SHARKIES!

[00:00:02] ...back in the shire, turn your port slides off, puts a cupboard over the...

[00:00:31] Hey there, welcome to SharkCast, a podcast dedicated to the greatest sporting club in the history of the world.

[00:00:36] The mighty Cronulla Sutherland Sharks. This short, sharp mailbag is brought to you by Dyson Logistics, the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Port Hacking and Jason Hawes at Cripps & Cripps Real Estate.

[00:00:46] It is Christmas Eve, almost evening, a warm one in Sydney, in Australia, as some of you are aware.

[00:00:55] We have listeners in about 30 different countries, but for those of you in Sydney, a little bit warm, but we're gonna get through it.

[00:01:02] It's a good time of the year if you believe in the magic of Christmas. If you don't, I hope you're doing okay. You know the drill.

[00:01:09] I'm just here to talk some sharks and some of your thoughts on the sharks.

[00:01:14] We have had some mail come in over the last month or so.

[00:01:17] I appreciate everyone throughout the year, whether it's email, DMs, just hey you in the street.

[00:01:24] Really appreciate your support. It does not go unnoticed. Hopefully we get to all of it.

[00:01:28] If we don't ever, you can let me know and I can try and make that up.

[00:01:33] But for now, I wanted to start with one from Brad.

[00:01:39] And Brad said, hope you're well checking in.

[00:01:42] I don't check social media much these days.

[00:01:45] I wanted to know what you've got going on pod wise.

[00:01:48] If there's anything I can be involved with buying tickets, I want to support whatever you do over there.

[00:01:54] Hope we have a chance to catch up for a lager someday.

[00:01:57] Talk some sharks.

[00:01:58] Take care. Thanks for all the pods this year.

[00:02:00] You've no idea how much it helps a lot of people escape their problems each week.

[00:02:05] That is extraordinarily kind.

[00:02:07] Thank you so much, Brad, for letting me know that.

[00:02:10] I do get really nice mail from people most of the time.

[00:02:14] Not all the time, but most of the time.

[00:02:17] Telling me their appreciation for the pod.

[00:02:19] And I really acknowledge that and I appreciate it.

[00:02:22] As far as what you can do, the best thing at the moment is just keep spreading the word.

[00:02:27] Keep supporting us by listening and by viewing if you're a YouTuber.

[00:02:31] And just spreading the word if you believe this is something that one of your friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, etc, etc, would like.

[00:02:41] Then just flick them a link and see if it's for them.

[00:02:45] That's the best thing at the moment.

[00:02:47] Next year, we're thinking about all sorts of different scenarios.

[00:02:50] We're still working out a whole bunch of things as well.

[00:02:52] So I'm not quite sure which way we're going to go with that kind of thing.

[00:02:57] But if there is a way for you to support us in another way, we will certainly let you know.

[00:03:01] Wanted to give a shout out to South Coast Smith as well.

[00:03:04] He appreciated the Christmas episode, which a lot of people did.

[00:03:09] We had some fun down at the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Port Hacking.

[00:03:13] We were lucky enough to be in the Mariner Bar and our friend down there, Liam, really served us up some nice food.

[00:03:21] We got the infamous garlic bread as well, which was just brilliant.

[00:03:24] Probably the best garlic bread I've ever had and that's no word of a lie.

[00:03:28] And we had a great time just chatting away.

[00:03:31] It was all of us except for Jardian, TK and Kieran couldn't make it because I didn't invite him.

[00:03:40] Because I didn't have enough microphone outlets, etc.

[00:03:45] It's a long story, but Kieran's going to be on an episode soon.

[00:03:48] He knows he is loved.

[00:03:50] Thanks to Steve and a whole bunch of other people who have joined YouTube.

[00:03:55] Just subscribe for free.

[00:03:56] If that's something you're into, then please do that.

[00:03:59] It helps us.

[00:03:59] Hit subscribe, hit follow.

[00:04:02] If you're not into that, I'm not going to push you onto that.

[00:04:04] So no dramas.

[00:04:05] There will always be audio podcasts for everyone.

[00:04:08] Peter said, good day.

[00:04:10] Wanted to drop a quick line.

[00:04:11] Say thanks for the content from you and all your co-hosts.

[00:04:17] It feels like you've brought the wide world of shark supporters together.

[00:04:21] And we've all ridden the wave that comes with following the greatest club in the world.

[00:04:25] Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[00:04:27] Bring on 25.

[00:04:28] The window is open.

[00:04:29] Black, white and blue forever.

[00:04:31] That is from Sharky Pete.

[00:04:32] Hey, thanks so much.

[00:04:34] Appreciate your contributions throughout the year as well, Pete.

[00:04:37] Look, everyone's welcome to listen to the show.

[00:04:39] And if it's for them, then awesome.

[00:04:41] If it's not, it's not.

[00:04:42] But we are certainly trying to do this as a group.

[00:04:45] And we have since day one.

[00:04:47] And what that means in the black and white, black, white and blue, I can't quite tell

[00:04:53] you, but we appreciate the audience we have.

[00:04:55] And we hope that it is there forever more and growing.

[00:04:59] Thank you, Peter.

[00:05:00] Merry Christmas to you as well.

[00:05:04] OG RCB.

[00:05:06] He says the Sharks are introducing a hall of fame.

[00:05:08] They've had a team of the quarter century, team of the half century, immortals.

[00:05:14] They've certainly kept up with rugby league's haphazard way of honoring the past.

[00:05:18] The criteria limits some people.

[00:05:20] Older generation players played less games and origin wasn't a thing.

[00:05:24] Whilst it allows the premiership backdoor for the likes of Maloney, Hall of Famer, Ennis,

[00:05:29] Hall of Famer, Val, go away, hisses.

[00:05:33] Hey, you can't talk that way about Val.

[00:05:35] Porter Gallen medal winners can also be in, which means Michael Gordon has more of a

[00:05:39] Hall of Fame case than others, which seems wrong.

[00:05:43] So RCB is really looking at the criteria.

[00:05:47] Every part of the criteria is important, I guess.

[00:05:49] So he's really studied that.

[00:05:50] He said, my nominees are,

[00:05:52] Paul Gallen should be made an immortal of the club if he wanted to continue to have an immortal, but he's in.

[00:05:59] David Peachy, Dane Sorensen, Cliff Watson, Matt Rogers and Andrew Fafita are my other tips.

[00:06:06] But anyone who makes it will be well deserved.

[00:06:08] The chat on League Unlimited forums will be very interesting if Noddy makes it though.

[00:06:15] I think with Hall of Fame status should come a Ring of Honor type thing.

[00:06:20] There's currently a giant black wall in the ground doing nothing.

[00:06:24] So he's referring to that far side big wall.

[00:06:26] It wouldn't be that hard to split that space into 11 banners with guys pictures on it,

[00:06:31] or along one of the other two giant concrete spaces with nothing doing.

[00:06:36] Hall of Fame is awesome.

[00:06:38] Can't wait to be a part of it.

[00:06:39] And it's going to be awesome to see all those legendary figures from the club in one place.

[00:06:45] I like the people you've picked.

[00:06:47] I take absolute interest in what you've said about how a Port-A-Gallon medal winner can also get in the door.

[00:06:55] I like all your nominees.

[00:06:57] It's a nice round figure, and I think you'll be close.

[00:07:01] I haven't listed my final thoughts yet on that, but they're all pretty good.

[00:07:07] But as you say, you can't really go too wrong.

[00:07:09] I wouldn't have thought.

[00:07:10] Now regarding the Christmas show and some of the thoughts there,

[00:07:14] and specifically to do the ground, which RCB is very interested in.

[00:07:19] He said,

[00:07:20] Clinton's airspace thing has sent me.

[00:07:23] If we could somehow get the money, you could really do something.

[00:07:26] Build above the current ground.

[00:07:29] Build above everything you can.

[00:07:31] Build above the ET stand and either side of it.

[00:07:34] Envelop the ground until there is only playing pitch and heel as green space.

[00:07:39] Put a roof over the whole joint.

[00:07:41] Keep building until it became an indoor-outdoor mall footy stadium.

[00:07:46] So, a lot of tongue in that cheek, but also some seriousness I think.

[00:07:51] My kingdom for better bathrooms, food facilities and more seats in the place.

[00:07:54] They have to do something short to medium term.

[00:07:58] What's the plan here?

[00:07:59] Anyway, I hope we get our Christmas wishes.

[00:08:01] Let's win the comp.

[00:08:03] That is from RCB.

[00:08:05] Legendary male writer and legendary listener of the show, as all of our listeners are of course.

[00:08:11] And he's going out this year with a bang.

[00:08:13] What a great piece of correspondence.

[00:08:16] What do you people think?

[00:08:17] Do you think that poor Galen should be made an immortal straight away?

[00:08:21] Because I certainly do.

[00:08:23] Sean has been in touch.

[00:08:25] Wishing you and the crew a great Christmas.

[00:08:27] Thanks for all the extra great work across the year.

[00:08:31] I've been getting tired of the Nico bashing.

[00:08:33] The obvious response is to disagree, but I thought some facts and stats would help.

[00:08:37] And I think they have.

[00:08:38] I've done some number crunching in our halves over the last two years.

[00:08:43] Given its stats and given I drew several conclusions, I've dumped it all on a PDF for you, Sam.

[00:08:48] Some heavy Christmas reading.

[00:08:50] Now, opening the PDF, this is outstanding.

[00:08:54] One of the main conclusions you've had is that Trindle and Hines have not had the opportunity to grow into a halves pairing.

[00:09:00] You've mentioned things like the forwards.

[00:09:03] You've mentioned a whole bunch of things here, which I really love.

[00:09:06] And maybe this is for a future episode, I think, that we can get into this.

[00:09:12] But I really like what you've done here.

[00:09:14] And I think you're right.

[00:09:15] I think that there is a bit more time to be patient on how these two go together, Hines and Trindle.

[00:09:22] I mean, at their best, they've been lethal.

[00:09:24] So, I'm with you.

[00:09:26] I think it will be the starting halves for 2025.

[00:09:30] There's no doubt about that.

[00:09:32] And nor should there be.

[00:09:33] I'm going to do some of that reading over Christmas, Sean.

[00:09:37] So, thanks so much for that.

[00:09:38] And if I can get that into the next episode or an episode down the road with one of the other shark casters, we will definitely do that.

[00:09:46] Thanks for being in touch, Sean.

[00:09:47] Thanks for doing that.

[00:09:47] Really appreciate it.

[00:09:48] Jimmy was in touch and he enjoyed the Alan Wilson interview, which is probably six or seven weeks old now.

[00:09:57] I started following the Sharks age five in 85.

[00:10:00] So, Alan and his teammates were my first shark heroes.

[00:10:04] That's from Jimmy.

[00:10:05] Thank you very much.

[00:10:06] Now, Steven says,

[00:10:17] Oh boy.

[00:10:18] Yeah, there's been a lot of disappointment around the members packs for 2025.

[00:10:24] There kind of usually is, especially over the last, I guess, five years at least.

[00:10:30] I have no intel about whether every club uses the same, I guess, companies to distribute and to manufacture these things.

[00:10:39] But I've got a feeling last I heard they do.

[00:10:42] Might not be all 17 clubs, but I know for, I'm pretty sure a fact that as recently as the last year or two, so not this year included, but before that, we were using the same company as three or four clubs at least.

[00:10:58] So, I don't think that you're ever going to be able to please everyone.

[00:11:02] But having said that, it's not ideal.

[00:11:04] There's lots of different ways around it.

[00:11:06] Whether we'll get to that point, I'm not sure.

[00:11:08] The club is aware of it.

[00:11:11] I've had discussions with them about people writing to me about their feelings, but it can never hurt to let the club know things.

[00:11:19] So, if you are not happy, you should get in contact with the club directly and let them know that you think it's not great and let them know why.

[00:11:29] Don't be generic about it.

[00:11:31] Be specific so they can have an idea about how to improve things.

[00:11:34] I personally, yeah, I go onto the site and I don't see too much there that I'm really interested in.

[00:11:41] I think that a way around that would be putting that money towards a voucher to use at the Sharks shop.

[00:11:48] You know, something like that's a pretty obvious thing to do.

[00:11:50] I saw mention recently, someone suggesting, you know, give some of it to charity, which I thought was interesting as well.

[00:11:57] And I'd be all for that, of course, as well.

[00:11:59] So, it's, I think it's one of those things also where a lot of people have a feeling about this kind of subject.

[00:12:06] And then there's a whole bunch of other people who sort of don't really have the same feelings.

[00:12:10] So, whilst I absolutely concede that a lot of the things are not really great or what I want, I'm buying a ticket.

[00:12:19] I'm buying a seat.

[00:12:20] Anything else is kind of a bonus.

[00:12:21] Now, I'm not saying that's how you should feel.

[00:12:25] That's how I feel.

[00:12:27] Yeah, I'd love to get a cap.

[00:12:29] I'd love to get a sticker for my car.

[00:12:31] I don't know what else I really need, aside from a ticket to get into the ground.

[00:12:35] Maybe a scarf.

[00:12:37] That's a nice touch.

[00:12:38] There are other people who really, really, really take a great interest in what comes in their members pack.

[00:12:44] And I respect that as well.

[00:12:45] So, there's no right or wrong as far as how you're going to feel.

[00:12:48] But I personally, I don't get too pumped up about that either way.

[00:12:55] But, Steven, you're right.

[00:12:56] I don't know if it's the worst members merch in the league.

[00:12:59] I'm hoping that a whole bunch of club members feel the same way and that we're not the only ones.

[00:13:04] And you should let the club know.

[00:13:05] You know, let them know that you're not happy.

[00:13:08] And the only way you're going to make change is by doing that, I think.

[00:13:13] Thanks for being in touch.

[00:13:14] Appreciate your support throughout the year.

[00:13:16] Brian's been in touch.

[00:13:17] Long time listener since 2016.

[00:13:20] Long term fan since 1968.

[00:13:23] So, almost since the start there.

[00:13:25] Brian, appreciate you.

[00:13:28] Enjoy the pod.

[00:13:30] Also, the new direction that you've taken since Adam moved on.

[00:13:33] I met Adam a couple of times.

[00:13:35] I know he's a nice bloke.

[00:13:36] He is a nice bloke.

[00:13:37] That's right.

[00:13:38] Brian's making the trip to Vegas like a whole bunch of us.

[00:13:41] And he's looking forward to that.

[00:13:44] He's asking a few questions here, which I'll answer personally.

[00:13:47] As far as Shark House goes, we're going to definitely do some shows over there.

[00:13:51] So, stay tuned to that.

[00:13:53] I'm hoping that some of them will be for gatherings.

[00:13:57] Not just myself and someone else in a hotel room.

[00:14:01] We're trying to do some things.

[00:14:04] So, both with the club potentially and also elsewhere.

[00:14:09] Like people are just sort of reaching out, which is great.

[00:14:11] So, why don't you stay tuned to our channels and we'll get back to you.

[00:14:16] You said, thanks again.

[00:14:17] Shark House is one of my must listens and I've enjoyed all the additional contributors too.

[00:14:21] Cheers.

[00:14:22] That's from Brian.

[00:14:23] Thanks Brian.

[00:14:24] That's awesome.

[00:14:24] I appreciate you so much.

[00:14:27] Long time listener.

[00:14:28] Long time fan of the club.

[00:14:30] Going to Vegas.

[00:14:31] It's exciting.

[00:14:32] We do have a bunch of people who also contributed to the YouTube.

[00:14:38] And I think I've replied to most of those on the YouTube.

[00:14:41] But appreciate everyone who jumps on there and has their little say as well.

[00:14:46] Thanks to Brett who subscribed as well.

[00:14:47] I can see there's a bunch of new subscribers on YouTube.

[00:14:49] So, if you're not subscribed to YouTube and you use it, then please feel free to do so.

[00:14:55] Again, I don't mean to harp on that.

[00:14:58] Paul's been in touch.

[00:14:59] Says, have you been well?

[00:15:01] Got a few for the pod.

[00:15:03] I'm really glad Britton got his new contract.

[00:15:06] The guy is elite.

[00:15:07] I don't want to lose Stone Street or Ronaldo.

[00:15:11] Sam could be a 10 year great on the wing.

[00:15:14] The kid's a stud.

[00:15:15] Ronnie is our heartbeat in my opinion.

[00:15:19] How are you personally feeling on the probability radar when it comes to these re-signings?

[00:15:24] Thanks from Paul.

[00:15:25] I personally would like to see them both get done.

[00:15:27] I would think one of the two at the very least will get done.

[00:15:31] I've got no reason to think that they both won't get done.

[00:15:34] The Stone Street thing is interesting.

[00:15:36] He's an immense talent.

[00:15:38] He's done it at top level.

[00:15:40] He's done it at lower grades.

[00:15:41] There's no reason to think he won't kick on.

[00:15:43] I do think that we have two of the best starting wingers in the comp in Katoa and Ronaldo.

[00:15:50] Now, maybe Katoa won't be at that level in five years time.

[00:15:54] I'm not sure.

[00:15:56] I do think Stone Street in the future.

[00:15:58] I definitely would re-sign him.

[00:16:00] But I still think he's waiting in the wings at the moment between the two wingers we have.

[00:16:04] So, we'll see what happens there.

[00:16:07] As Dave Riccio pointed out on the episode he was on, and if you haven't listened to that, please go do so.

[00:16:12] And thanks to everyone who already has.

[00:16:14] There's different levels as to when someone gets signed and why they get signed.

[00:16:18] So, with Ronaldo, for example, it's not a case of he doesn't want to sign and they don't want to sign him.

[00:16:24] There's just a few other things holding up the process.

[00:16:26] So, that's why other players might get signed before him, but it doesn't mean that he's still not on their radar and they're ready to go when he's ready to go and vice versa.

[00:16:38] So, it's not necessarily the pecking order as Dave confirmed in his episode with us last week.

[00:16:46] Joanne says,

[00:16:48] Welcome to the Mighty Sharks.

[00:16:49] Adam Fenua Blake to one of our posts on the Instagram.

[00:16:53] So, if you're not following us on the socials and you're into the socials a little bit, do follow us on Instagram and other accounts.

[00:16:59] Thanks also to everyone that sent us or posted about listening to us on their wrapped, I guess, Spotify exclusively end of year stats and declarations.

[00:17:13] Thanks to Tate for sending me that and a whole bunch of people sent that.

[00:17:15] So, thank you so much.

[00:17:16] It definitely is appreciated.

[00:17:19] A lot of people in touch about the jersey too, the away jersey that we are going to be wearing next year.

[00:17:25] Most of them seem to like it after initially thinking it was not going to be that great.

[00:17:29] Everyone sort of changed their tune when they saw the likes of Nico and Fenua Blake in it, which is great.

[00:17:34] So, that's about it from the mailbag.

[00:17:36] Just wanted to sort of clear the mailbag for the pre-Christmas, I guess, part of things.

[00:17:43] I've said it before, I'll say it again.

[00:17:46] Thank you so much to everyone for your support.

[00:17:48] No matter how it was that you supported SharkCast this year, it's completely appreciated.

[00:17:53] And we're going to keep rocking next year, bigger and better than ever.

[00:17:56] Things in the works.

[00:17:58] We hope to be able to tell you those things once they're confirmed and once they're happening.

[00:18:02] We're going to be around, you're going to hear from us, and it's something that we absolutely love to do.

[00:18:07] We love to SharkCast for you.

[00:18:10] To be honest, we love to SharkCast for ourselves, and we're so glad that everyone loves to be a part of it, loves to hear it.

[00:18:18] And if you want to be in touch, and if you want to have your say, just drop us a line.

[00:18:23] You know how to do it.

[00:18:24] And hopefully next year there'll be more opportunities for you to do so as well.

[00:18:28] If we don't speak to you before the new year, we'll say, take care over this crazy time of the year.

[00:18:36] But you never know when an episode is going to drop.

[00:18:38] So I'll just leave it at that.

[00:18:40] Subscribe via your favorite podcast.

[00:18:42] Subscribe via YouTube and you'll never miss an episode.

[00:18:48] SharkCastPod, take care.

[00:18:49] Enjoy your time.

[00:18:51] Whatever that means to you guys.

[00:18:53] You know what I'm trying to say.

[00:18:54] It's the end of the episode.

[00:18:55] I'm getting out of here.

[00:18:56] Up up.

[00:18:57] Sharkies!

[00:18:58] Sharkies!

[00:19:12] Back in the Shire.

[00:19:14] Turn your points lights off because we're coming over the...