Craig Fitzgibbon pulls off first major Roosters swoop as Sharks rebuild continues

Craig Fitzgibbon has pulled off his first major Roosters defection bid after leaving Bondi, luring winger Matt Ikuvalu to Cronulla in a coup for the first-time coach as his budding Sharks roster slowly begins to take shape.

The former Bondi assistant coach has been relatively vocal about leaving Trent Robinson’s Sydney Roosters alone when it comes to Cronulla recruiting, but that rule seems to have been left behind with his latest signing, Matt Ikuvalu.

The 27-year-old winger has played 38 games for the Roosters since making his debut in 2018. He spent most of those games working with Fitzgibbon in training, and it’s likely their close relationship played a big role in Ikuvalu’s Cronulla swap. The flyer had one year left on his Sydney deal, but has left early to take up a two-year tenure in the Shire.

Fitzgibbon’s Bondi poach is the first time he’s dipped into his old club’s roster.

Ikuvalu enjoyed a hefty string of appearances in 2021 amidst Robinson’s injury crisis, starting 15 times. He scored 14 tries in those starts, and averaged 151 metres across the games he started.

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The Sporting Base can confirm Ikuvalu will begin training with the Sharks in less than 14 days, as the Shire’s premier club begins preseason training ahead of its new Fitzgibbon era.

The try-happy winger is far from Fitzgibbon’s only major signing too.

The 44-year-old, who twice coached NSW Country five years ago, has already convinced Storm duo Dale Finucane and Nicho Hynes to take up rich long-term deals in the shire as pivotal players for his Cronulla rebuild. Even earlier, the club signed former Dragons captain Cameron McInnes on a hefty four-year contract. He too joins the club next week.

Heading in the other direction are several injury-prone veterans, including Josh Dugan (retired), Will Chambers (rugby), Shaun Johnson (Warriors), and Chad Townsend (Cowboys). The club recently tied up Will Kennedy (2023), Matt Moylan (2022), and Toby Rudolf (2024).

The Sharks finished ninth last season, winning just 10 games in 24. Their season came off the rails at the end of the year, with the Knights pipping them to eighth place in the final rounds.

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