NRL 2026: Semi-finals Week 2 Talking Points and Analysis, Why Cronulla Sharks need to move Nicho Hynes, Mark Nawaqanitawase contract

The preliminary finals are set, with the Newcastle Knights continuing their stunning turnaround while the Warriors made a shock straight sets exit.

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Meanwhile, it was more of the same for the Sharks as the Roosters sounded a warning shot to the Dolphins.

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Here, foxsports.com.au looks at the biggest talking points from the semi-finals action!

SHARKS URGED TO MAKE HYNES CHANGE AFTER FINALS FADEOUT

Where to now for the Cronulla Sharks?

It was the same old story in 2026 – make the finals comfortably then get bundled out without really looking like a title threat.

They’ve finished no worse than sixth under Craig Fitzgibbon since he took over for the 2022 season and have a fine winning record of 62 per cent.

His side went out in two preliminary finals in 2024 and 2025 to Penrith and Melbourne but both those sides couldn’t stop them making the grand final in this year’s finals series.

Fox League’s Luke Keary thinks Fitzgibbon will be stewing over 2026, particularly after his side was sitting pretty in the top four after Round 22 and with no top eight teams to face in the final five rounds.

They won one of those final five matches which shocked most.

Fitz reflects on another finals miss | 05:57

“I thought they were going to be right there in the top four. They just haven’t been able to get past Penrith and Melbourne and Melbourne aren’t there this year,” Keary said.

“It opened up the competition for the Roosters, the Dolphins, the Warriors and Cronulla who have been waiting and I feel like they’ve lost a big opportunity.

“I reckon Fitzy would be super disappointed. At the start of the season, he would’ve sat there and gone, ‘righto, I’ve had this squad for four to five years and been ultra-consistent’. They reached two prelims and lost to Penrith and Melbourne. Not many teams get to that point.

“He’d be disappointed because the top four was right there. You lose to Canberra, Parramatta and lose to the Dragons who were coming last. The top four was literally sitting right there for them.”

Fitzgibbon has kept faith in his squad for a number of seasons now and didn’t even make a signing for this year.

However, he’s got to not only bring some fresh blood into the squad, but also make some key positional changes in the hope it turns the Sharks into a genuine contender.

Fox League’s Michael Ennis thinks Fitzgibbon needs to officially hand the keys to the side to five-eighth Braydon Trindall.

“I would certainly be putting Braydon Trindall as their halfback,” Ennis said.

“It really isolates him as the man who runs the footy team and I think he’s shown this year that he is the man to run their footy side. I do believe that he can take them to that next level.

“There’s absolutely a spot for Nicho Hynes. I just think Nicho is suited in a No. 6 jersey and that would take some pressure off him.”

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"They've missed a HUGE opportunity!" | 10:03

Trindall has generally been seen as Cronulla’s halfback, but former top half Adam Reynolds said an official switch to the No. 7 jersey may actually help Hynes mentally.

“I think they know deep down that Trindall is their No.7. I’ve heard Nicho say that numerous times, but maybe it is a change-up that they need, just to have that mental game of having the six or seven on your back might be the difference,” Reynolds said.

The decision to switch his halves around looks to be the easy part for Fitzgibbon in the pre-season.

The fact he hasn’t brought a steady flow of players through the club of late may come back to bite him.

The Sharks will lose the likes of Jesse Ramien, Cameron McInnes, Siosifa Talakai, Sione Katoa and Mawene Hiroti in the off-season.

Riley Jones will be expected to fill the void left by Ramien in the centres, but Ennis is concerned about the Talakai loss due to his damaging ball-running and versatility and the fact he can play back row or centre with equal impact.

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HYNES OUT after early concussion! | 00:33

Keary said the Sharks might take a step back before they are a top four contender again.

“Looking forward at their roster and they lose Jesse Ramien, Sione Katoa and Mawene Hiroti and there’s no-one coming in,” he said.

“Are they in for a bit of pain now? I also feel like they lost the middle a lot this year. (Briton) Nikora went backwards this year.

“They haven’t signed anyone of note yet. It doesn’t look like they’re as strong now.”

Fitzgibbon needs to get to work right away to find some new players for the next few seasons.

They probably need to secure another big bopper in the middle to help Addin Fonua-Blake who can play a lone hand at times when it comes to intimidation and go-forward.

“If I’m being honest, if they need to take the next step, it’s time now to start looking at their roster and there’s some things off the field, like administration-wise, they can do better too,” Ennis said.

“It’s a real good opportunity now to have a look at some of those things. It’s also a great chance to freshen up. We’ve seen it with Newcastle.”

IT’S A PREMIERSHIP OR NOTHING FOR THE ROOSTERS

As footy fans know, the Roosters only play for premierships.

That’s why, despite coming off a big win over the Sharks on Saturday night, all the pressure will be on the men from Bondi when they take on the Dolphins this weekend.

The Dolphins may have won in the first week of the finals, against the Warriors in New Zealand, and are playing at home on Friday night, but the pressure won’t be on them.

They’re in their first finals series and already have exceeded expectations.

But the Roosters won’t accept defeat in a preliminary final.

They must at least make the grand final to give themselves a pass mark for 2026.

They haven’t been to the big dance since they won the comp in 2019 and that’s a long drought for them.

Fox League’s Michael Ennis believes Roosters coach Trent Robinson is thinking he’s in his best position in years to win a fourth title with the glamour club.

And with that, comes pressure.

"DCE was our leader out there tonight" | 06:22

“If Trent Robinson loses next week, he’ll feel like it’s a missed opportunity,” Ennis said.

“I think there is pressure next week. They play for premierships and haven’t had one in a while.”

Part of the pressure is the fact that Robinson has always had a stacked squad to work with.

He’s never been in a rebuilding phase.

If they fall short again, questions will be asked by fans and critics given how talented the Roosters are on paper.

“They had 11 players who have played Origin and two internationals. They’re a side that has enormous expectations because of the talent and quality of roster and quality of coach,” Ennis said.

“The reality is, whether they like it or not and despite the fact the Dolphins got into the prelim first, the Roosters are the favourites. Because of their squad and experience, the pressure is on them to make the grand final.”

Luke Keary was part of two premiership-winning sides which Robinson coached at the Roosters.

He said the coach knows there’s only one thing that he’s defined by.

“No doubt he’d know in the back of his mind that when you’re in the building, you have to win trophies. You know what’s expected of you,” Keary said.

“They play for premierships but he’s not the type of person to waver from that. He knows the type of coach he is and the type of person he is. He is ultra-confident inside.

“They missed a huge opportunity to get one over Penrith last week and have the week off but they go on a different path now.”

Ennis said late season losses to the Dolphins and Wests Tigers could be what comes back to bite them.

Had they run first, they would have run first and got a home final in the first week which might have been the difference in getting a week off and playing a preliminary final at Moore Park.

“I got the feeling they put themselves in this position with their back end of the season. They really should’ve pushed for that minor premiership,” Ennis said.

One thing that is guaranteed this weekend is fireworks.

“Hammer against Teddy. Katoa up against DCE, little Maxy Plath up against Victor Radley. Buckle up,” Ennis said.

Roosters storm into preliminary final | 03:53

MARKY MARK TO PROVE A ‘DEVASTATING’ LOSS

Every now and then a rugby league star makes the switch to rugby union and while it’s disappointing, the game moves on, still as popular as ever.

Think back to when the likes of Wendell Sailor, Matt Rogers and Lote Tuqiri signed with Rugby Australia in the early 2000s and there were fears that rugby was going to take over.

Those fears only lasted for a short period before the next batch of league stars filled the void and the game soldiered on.

But with each week that goes by, Mark Nawaqanitawase is showing that he will be missed by the NRL when he takes up his two-year union contract in Japan Rugby.

Watching him star in the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia will no doubt sting the game’s leaders.

The man they call ‘Marky Mark’ again came up with a play on Saturday night that will be on his long highlights reel at the end of the season.

Broncos charge towards back-to-back | 01:48

He came up with a brilliant pass behind his back to keep the ball in play and it led to an amazing Roosters team try which put them out to a 14-point lead and set up the win.

Fox League commentators Michael Ennis and Luke Keary said it would be sad to watch the winger show off his talents in another code.

“Mark just continues to produce moments every week that you just marvel at,” Ennis said.

“He’s an absolute weapon. We’re going to miss him.”

“It’s a devastating loss for the game, not just for the Roosters,” Keary added.

The good thing for the NRL is that the 26-year-old may return to the game after his two-year rugby deal.

He’s going for big bucks, but also to play in the World Cup.

Once the World Cup is over, the Roosters are very hopeful that he’ll come back to finish off his career in the NRL.

Watson finishes crazy Roosters try | 00:28

Fox League commentator Matt Russell said the game should do whatever it takes to get him back.

“Well, if they need to move Mount Kosciuszko a foot to the left, they should take the big earth movers and graters down to the Snowy Mountains because we want him back,” he said.

“You can’t begrudge him taking the big money on offer back in rugby union, but if Kosciuszko needs to be moved a foot to the left, Peter V’landys, I’ll see you on the Hume Highway. I’ll be driving the truck behind you, ready to move earth.

“I like seeing him in the media as well, he speaks well and gives thoughtful answers. He has given the game so much in a short period of time.”

Nawaqanitawase makes fans rise to their feet during games because he’s not only unpredictable, but can come up with plays that stun even the most experienced rugby league people.

And the kids no doubt are trying to be like him in the backyard.

“How good is Mark Nawaqanitawase? Not just in terms of his try-scoring ability. In the air he’s a threat, he creates the possible out of seemingly the impossible,” Russell said.

“He’s taken to rugby league seamlessly. I know he played it in the past, but it didn’t take him any time when coming over from union to find his niche in rugby league.”

THE SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL ACT BEHIND KNIGHTS’ REVIVAL

From a wooden spoon to the preliminary finals.

It is the remarkable turnaround that few people saw coming.

If Justin Holbrook was even able to lift the Knights out of the bottom four it probably would have been a pass mark, and anything close to the finals would have been a success.

But instead, he has last year’s cellar dwellers 80 minutes away from the unlikeliest of grand final berths.

Sure, there are a few new faces but with superstar recruit Dylan Brown out injured, Holbrook has largely guided a very similar squad to the brink of premiership glory.

Well, Knights legend Matty Johns said the pathway back to the top started with one simple but powerful act from Holbrook in the pre-season.

“Every club is unique and Newcastle is unique with its link with the community and that blue-collar spirit,” Johns said on Finals Footy with Matty Johns.

“I think we lost that link a little bit. The first thing he did when he took over, because he played there and he understands the link and the importance of the community, is he took the players down to the coal mines.

“He said, ‘This is what your supporters do for a living and getting that link back together’. He has done an incredible job.”

Holbrook dismisses bunker controversy | 08:25

That fighting spirit has been on full display all year, whether it was when the Knights took the Warriors the distance down a man or on Sunday as Phoenix Crossland dived for countless loose balls.

Even Kalyn Ponga, typically known for his flashy plays in attack, came up with one of the try-saving tackles of the game in the 63rd minute on Kurt Capewell.

The Knights captain seems locked in to every moment of the game, and according to Johns there has been a clear shift in Ponga’s leadership and on-field presence this year under Holbrook.

“You don’t see the highlight reel moments but what he’s doing for the side is far different,” Johns added.

“You just see the way he talks, his leadership in games, even in pauses in play when he walks up and encourages players. Those captain’s challenges that he nailed, all of those were so important.”

Ponga emotional post-game after Wahs win | 02:13

In some ways, Ponga may be benefiting from a level of freedom that he wasn’t able to play with in previous years at Newcastle when he was the guy.

There was no Brown or Fletcher Sharpe or Crossland kicking 40/20s or even Sandon Smith, who has been one of the more underrated pick-ups of the season.

“They’re not relying on him to do everything and in the past he’s been the marquee player, the superstar, the saviour and thought, ‘I’ve got to do everything here’ and then you work out quickly you can’t do everything. So to put those players around him, it’s been a massive difference to Kalyn’s game,” Nathan Hindmarsh said.

Sharpe in particular has gone to another level having found his permanent place in the halves, with the speedster running for 133 metres to go with 10 tackle busts on Sunday.

“He’s been a revelation. When you watch Penrith play, Dylan Edwards is just relentless,” Johns said.

“He’s always just testing the defence. Sharpe is very similar. He’s always involved.”

‘DIABOLICAL’ ISSUE LEAVES QUESTIONS FOR WARRIORS

The Warriors forwards set them up, but the backs didn’t knock them down.

Andrew Webster’s side were bundled out in straight sets this season in upset losses to the Dolphins and Knights but they set up both games to win.

They just couldn’t take advantage of the 62 per cent of field possession they had against Newcastle and for much of the game against the Dolphins they dominated on the stats sheet.

“It hurts, it hurts. When you give yourself an opportunity and you don’t take it, it hurts,” Webster said after the loss on Sunday.

“We just we just didn’t make the right passes or the right momentum onto the ball. We created. I thought our forwards created unbelievable momentum and gave us really good looks. We just didn’t ice them for different reasons.”

Warriors fans must be wondering what could’ve been had their two leading halfbacks Tanah Boyd and Luke Metcalf had been available in the finals series.

They would’ve had plenty of ball and field position to take advantage of.

The Warriors halves pairing of Chanel Harris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin were solid but were they responsible for not putting enough points on the board?

With all the quality ball they had in the two finals losses you’d think the Warriors would’ve scored more than three tries across both games.

Michael Ennis said in commentary that some of the last-tackle options were “diabolical”, although Webster obviously didn’t go that far.

Wahs fans pelt refs with bottles | 00:09

“I thought our kicking game was fine. We just didn’t find our targets well enough. We kicked the ball dead a couple of times,” Webster said.

“I feel like we’d dominated the opponent physically tonight. When you dominate them physically, and you take in moments you win, you actually probably win well, and we didn’t. So we missed those moments.”

Fox League’s Cooper Cronk believed the pair would benefit from the finals experience.

“They are doing something right, that system holds up. But sometimes you’ve got to be a little bit brave,” Cronk said.

“The Warriors’ halves need to keep the system, understand it, be a little bit more brave to have some confidence to go for it a little bit more.”

Bunker drama: 3 controversial calls! | 01:23

Harris-Tavita and Martin ran for a combined 99m against the Knights and had just 13 runs over the 80 minutes.

Do the Warriors rise up from this year’s disappointing finals campaign? Or carry the scars into next season?

If they do, it will be a mental issue according to Webster, not a physical one.

“We’re not making up the numbers here. We’re very confident in our abilities. We won some big games this year and dominated some big teams, so it’s in us. Finishing in the top two was no fluke,” he said.

“I said to the boys I was proud, so I’ve got to believe my own words, I can’t say it to them and then not believe it.”