"Only so many shots": McInnes hungry for premiership success

Sam Kosack • December 23rd, 2025 2:15 pm

Sharks’ captain Cameron McInnes has conceded the club’s premiership window may be closing with 17 players off contract in 2026.

Since Craig Fitzgibbon’s arrival in 2022, the Sharks haven't missed the finals and made the last two preliminary finals. However, they have been unable to take the next step and be considered genuine premiership contenders.

With Perth currently in the player market, PNG able to sign players from November 1, and the Super League expanding their competition, demand for quality players has never been higher.

The poaching has already begun, with Mawene Hiroti expected to join the Titans in 2027, and Jesse Colquhoun being pursued by multiple clubs, including Perth and Newcastle.

The Sharks have had one of the most stable rosters over the past three seasons, but with Toby Rudolf, Sione Katoa, and Siosifa Talakai just some of the players off-contract, McInnes is cognizant to the fact this could be a last ride with some of the squad’s core players.

“We've been together for a while now, so a sense of urgency might be a strong way to put it, but we definitely know that there's only so many shots you get as a group,” McInnes told SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“Guys have to move on and things like that so we’re probably getting to that point.

“In saying that, when I got there, a lot of these guys were young and talented but didn’t really know what it took to win consistently and Fitzy (Craig Fitzgibbon) sort of taught the group that.

“I reckon last year, it probably took us too long to find our groove. We sort of mucked around a bit throughout the year, and (were) inconsistent, and probably thought it would happen like the year before.

“Thankfully at the end, the boys were able to switch it on a bit, but I reckon we probably need to be a bit more consistent throughout the year to sort of make some noise at the end.

“There's always noise about not being able to win big games. We have from time to time, but you want to be in those big games throughout the year, and you don't get too many opportunities in a regular season.

“I reckon there's been times over the last couple of years that we've probably let ourselves down in those moments throughout the year, and then when you get to those semi-final games, whether it's subconscious or not, there's these little scars.

“I think our best footy is good enough, but the best teams are able to access it when they need it, and the pressure is on. Sometimes you have to lose them to win the next one.

“We're not naive to that fact (this could be the last time together).

“Guys like me that are getting older and other guys are performing really well, and that's what happens, isn't it?

“You perform well for a club, and then other clubs that need some help come and throw money, and that's a decision everyone has to make, and you can't keep everyone.

“I reckon that's probably where the club's coming to right now and so for me, it's just that sense of urgency.

“When we started coming up five years ago now, you always want to build something and achieve something and we've done really well, but if you come second, you're the same as the person that comes 17th. So close enough's not really good enough in our game, is it?"

It could also be one final ride for McInnes himself.

McInnes has played 226 NRL games over his 12-year career, needing three more injury-free seasons to join the illustrious 300-game club.

The Sharks’ skipper is off-contract, and at 31, he understands he needs to prove he can still compete at NRL level in order to gain an extension in the NRL.

“(It’s) a bit too cliche, but I'm just trying to see where I'm at right now.

“I’ve got to get back on the field. The way I'm sort of looking at it is the knee doesn't help things.

“When you're younger, you sort of need to prove that you belong, and then once you get over 30, probably more in the forwards… you probably need to prove that you can still do it. I'm still hungry to prove that I've still got time left in me.

“From a club standpoint, you can understand (with an) older player coming off an ACL (injury), you want to see what's going on before you commit.

“When you're a bit younger, you always put an age on it, don't you? And then you're like, ‘if I get to that age, I'll be content.

“But then, for myself anyway, it got to 31… (and) I'm not content.

“I don't ever want to be holding on. I want to be contributing.”

The Sharks open their season with a grudge match against former assistant Josh Hannay’s Titans at home.