In a special episode of the ET Stand, we sit down with the Dorrell family — Mike and Ben in the studio, with Lucas and Simon joining remotely — to hear the story behind one of the most extraordinary acts of support in Cronulla Sharks history.

Mike Dorrell and his family have committed more than $5 million to the Sharks over five years, but this episode is really about how a family becomes so connected to a football club in the first place.

The brothers take us back through their childhood, their very different paths into rugby league fandom, the heartbreak that came with following Cronulla through the years, and some typically competitive Dorrell family stories along the way.

We hear their very different memories of the 2016 Grand Final, including Mike waking up in New York at 3:30am despite promising himself he wouldn’t watch, and Lucas’ slightly more chaotic experience back home with family, a television, Roy Orbison CDs and plenty of grand final stress.

Mike also explains how the $5 million commitment actually began — starting with a message through the Sharks website that initially struggled to get a response, before eventually leading to meetings with Dino Mezzatesta and Steve Mace in New York and a growing relationship with the club.

There’s also plenty of fun as the brothers revisit their fiercely competitive sporting upbringing, their adventures playing touch football in the United States, meeting ET in Vegas, and argue their way through the ET Stand’s Greatest Shark Ever elimination game.

Plus, we discuss the future of the Sharks, the importance of keeping the club connected to the Shire, the return of the leagues club and why Cronulla remains such an important part of the Dorrell family story.

A funny, generous and very different ET Stand conversation with a family whose connection to the Sharks goes well beyond the scoreboard.

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Boldo had a chat with Steven Russo on their shire fm 99.7 show about the Newtown Jets GF this weekend.

Here it is for you audio only...

Carn the Jets!!!

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The 2026 Cronulla Sharks season is over, and in what is probably our final regular show of the year, Boldo and Franco sit down for a proper review of where it all went wrong and what needs to change in 2027.

Boldo leads off with his feedback for Craig Fitzgibbon. Was Fitzy too loyal to some senior players? Should the Sharks have been more willing to blood the youngsters? Did we get enough out of Siosifa Talakai? Was the finals centre selection the wrong call? And after another season where the attack struggled for consistency, does Cronulla need to become a little less predictable?

We also crown the 2026 BALLY M winner, with Mrs Boldo making her ET Stand debut to help reveal the final leaderboard. Will Kennedy takes out the award ahead of Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall after an incredibly tight finish.

Franco counts down his top bright spots from 2026, while Jay Owen provides the numbers behind the season, including Cronulla's best winning run, Nicho's scoring records and some revealing defensive statistics.

Then it's the final edition of Boldo's Player Tiers for 2026 before attention turns to next season.

Who makes our predicted Round 1 Sharks team for 2027? Who replaces the departing players? Is Jesse Colquhoun the new lock? Which of the young centres gets first crack? And what do we make of the early Nicho Hynes to Perth rumours?

Finally, we say thank you to the sponsors, contributors, guests and especially the ET Stand community who have watched, listened, commented, argued and talked Sharks with us throughout 2026.

Another season done.

Up Up Cronulla.

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Hi all, Sorry about the audio. Boldo here. We last second decided to record in the podcast studio and after a loss and we got one of the settings wrong. Like the Sharks... we just didn't fire :(

If we do more in the studio we'll be better next time.

The Sharks’ 2026 season is over after a brutal 46–10 loss to the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.

In the final debrief of the season, the ET Stand crew picks apart where it all went wrong — from Nicho Hynes leaving the game early following a HIA, to the disrupted bench rotation, missed tackles, defensive breakdowns and a Roosters side that simply looked faster, stronger and more physical.

We discuss whether losing Hynes changed the game, why Cronulla looked immediately more dangerous when Siosifa Talakai was introduced, whether Braydon Trindall needed to take greater control, and why the Sharks stopped going to what was working.

There’s also the bigger question: was 2026 a failure?

After reaching consecutive preliminary finals, Cronulla went backwards this year — and a worrying final six weeks ultimately caught up with them when it mattered most.

We look at Craig Fitzgibbon, the future of this playing group, some big roster decisions ahead of 2027 and where the Sharks need to improve if they’re going to take the next step.

Plus our final 3-2-1 votes, the ET Stand Player of the Year race and plenty of reaction from Sharks fans after a disappointing end to the season.

FINAL SCORE: SYDNEY ROOSTERS 46 – CRONULLA SHARKS 10

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It’s Finals Week 2, the Sharks are still alive, and the ET Stand panel is fired up.

Boldo, Franko, Chris Kelly and Peter from Mortgage Choice unpack the reaction to Cronulla’s crowd against the Cowboys, the constant criticism of Shark Park and the way the Sharks seem to be treated by sections of the NRL media.

The boys read a letter from Ad20161, take aim at the double standards around finals crowds and discuss whether Cronulla is genuinely judged differently to other clubs.

Then it’s into the football:

• Chris Kelly’s key takeaways from the Cowboys win
• the latest Bally M 3–2–1 scores
• the 10 recurring themes that keep coming up on the ET Stand — including bench management, Talakai’s minutes and taking the two
• a full Roosters v Sharks Week 2 Finals preview
• the big stats, match-ups and historical angles
• Boldo ranks the Sharks’ best Week 2 finals wins
• Franko wraps up the latest from Newtown and the lower grades

A bumper episode ahead of another sudden-death final.

Can Cronulla send the Roosters out in straight sets?

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THE SHARKS ARE THROUGH TO WEEK TWO.

Cronulla beat the North Queensland Cowboys 26-16 at Allianz Stadium to keep their 2026 premiership campaign alive — and Boldo and Franko are back straight after the game to break it all down.

On this episode:

• SIOSIFA TALAKAI’S enormous impact off the bench and why he dominated the 3-2-1 voting.
• BRAYDON TRINDALL’S return, the extra cohesion he brought to the Sharks attack and the toughness he showed playing through shoulder trouble.
• NICO HYNES stepping up when it mattered and scoring the try that effectively iced the game.
• SIONE KATOA crossing twice in another strong finals performance.
• WILL KENNEDY’S contribution at the back.
• Cronulla dominating possession early and controlling large parts of the contest.
• The controversial offside decision and another discussion about NRL officiating.
• Whether Trindall’s shoulder becomes a target for Cronulla’s Week Two opponent.
• Plenty of listener 3-2-1 votes as the ET Stand Player of the Year race continues.
• And what the Sharks now need to improve as they head into WEEK TWO OF THE FINALS.

It wasn’t perfect — but in September, winning is all that matters.

CRONULLA 26

NORTH QUEENSLAND 16

THE SHARKS ARE STILL ALIVE.

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It’s OPPOSITION FAN PREVIEW time as Boldo is joined by Rob from the On The Ranch Cowboys Fans Podcast ahead of another huge SHARKS v COWBOYS finals clash.

Rob gives us the North Queensland view on where the Cowboys are at, their biggest strength, their biggest weakness and why their defence could decide their season.

We chat Tom Dearden, Jaxon Purdue, Jake Clifford, Reuben Cotter and Jason Taumalolo, plus which Sharks players worry Cowboys fans most — including Braydon Trindall, Will Kennedy, Sione Katoa and Siosifa Talakai.

There’s also plenty on the growing Sharks-Cowboys finals rivalry, some painful memories from previous clashes, the best players to have represented both clubs and Rob’s prediction for Saturday night.

Can the Sharks end the Cowboys’ season — or does North Queensland have another finals upset in them?

UP UP CRONULLA!

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The Sharks have earned a home final — but once again, they won’t actually get to play it at home.

On this episode of The ET Stand Podcast, Boldo and the crew go big on the decision to move Cronulla’s Week 1 final away from Ocean Protect Stadium, why it feels so unfair on the club, the fans and the local community, and why the NRL’s handling of the situation has left Sharks supporters furious.

Then attention turns to the football as we break down the fallout from the Storm loss and look ahead to Cronulla’s massive finals clash with the North Queensland Cowboys. We revisit the Cowboys’ 46–34 win over the Sharks earlier this season, the defensive issues that hurt Cronulla that night, and what needs to change with the season now on the line.

Plus, we take a trip through Sharks history and rank Cronulla’s Top 10 Week 1 finals victories, counting down from some famous September wins all the way to the greatest Week 1 finals victory in club history.

Finals footy is here.

UP UP CRONULLA!

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