After yet one more loss by the hands of the Warriors in Round 20, the Sharks are going through a sobering actuality — they will’t beat high eight groups.
Craig Fitzgibbon’s aspect travelled to New Zealand and had been flogged 44-12 with the Cronulla coach admitting “we got taught a lesson” within the post-match press convention.
Despite solely lacking the finals as soon as since 2015, their poor file in opposition to groups within the high eight has been uncovered in 2023.
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After 20 rounds the Sharks have misplaced six out of seven video games in opposition to groups at present in line to play finals soccer, beating solely the Eels in Round 2 in a decent 30-26 affair.
In Fitzgibbon’s first yr in cost in 2022 Cronulla completed second after the common season, however nonetheless had been solely in a position to take factors from 4 of 11 video games in opposition to the highest eight.
They additionally flunked out of the finals in straight units, shedding to the Cowboys after which the Rabbitohs.
In 2021 their file in opposition to contenders was even worse, successful solely two from 11 video games and in 2020 it hit all-time low once they had been unable to attain victory of their 9 video games in opposition to high eight groups.
The 2019 season yielded an identical consequence — three from 12 — and veteran rugby league reporter believes the Sharks are buoyed by a “softer” draw than different NRL golf equipment.
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“Each year they have finished in the finals across that period, I’ve been banging on about the NRL draw for quite some time,” Rothfield stated on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“But because they aren’t one of the superstar sides, they don’t get I don’t think as tough a draw as the more glamorous sides the Roosters, Rabbitohs, Storm and the Broncos.
“So I think in the last couple of years they have benefited from a softer draw and they keep belting up the weaker sides and falling against the better sides.”
As it stands the Sharks six in sixth place on the NRL ladder and can probably play finals soccer as soon as once more.
But, if historical past is something to go by, their hopes of lifting the NRL trophy after the finals collection are slim to none if they will’t flip their kind round.
The Sharks have one of the best assault within the competitors, however their defence was a key subject that must be mounted in response to Fitzgibbon.
“Our edge defence wasn’t good enough,” Fitzgibbon stated.
“We were comfortable trading sets there early but it works both ways right, you hold the ball and trade sets and then you get opportunities. But it felt like the majority of the game we were defending our try line because we gave them the opportunity to do that.
“We need more pressure, better defence and to earn the right to score more points. They showed us the way there.”
But for Rothfield, he believes the Sharks teaching employees must make a number of robust choices.
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Rothfield referred to as for Fitzgibbon to axe each Wade Graham and Matt Moylan, with each gamers at present 32-years of age.
Cronulla boast one of many competitors’s finest back-up halves in Braydon Trindall and now have a number of younger edge and center ahead, together with Tom Hazelton and Jesse Colquhoun, who could possibly be set for extra duty.
“I am just hoping Craig Fitzgibbon, he is the most loyal of all NRL coaches and he has been really patient with a couple of guys who are getting to the back-end of their careers,” Rothfield stated.
“Matt Moylan and Wade Graham, and I think with seven games to go their finals berth on the line I think he needs to take a long, hard look this week before naming the side.”
With solely seven video games left within the 2023 common season — the Sharks might want to win 4 video games to stay within the finals race.
But it could possibly be a troublesome process, going through the Panthers and Rabbitohs away in addition to the Raiders at Sharks Park.
Outside of the trio within the high eight, Cronulla may also do battle with a number of groups within the finals race grouped from ninth to twelfth within the Cowboys, Titans, Sea Eagles and Knights.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
