Cronulla's 2026 premiership campaign ended with a 46-10 defeat against the Roosters on Saturday night.
The Sharks' hopes suffered an early blow when Nicho Hynes sustained a head knock while attempting to tackle Salesi Foketi.
Hynes's head was placed awkwardly during the collision, and he failed his head injury assessment, ending his involvement in the match.
After Cronulla's finals elimination, coach Craig Fitzgibbon said Hynes apologised to his teammates and coaching staff.
"What possibly could have went wrong, went wrong", Fitzgibbon said while describing the difficult evening.
"He just went out there and went head first for the first collision he could get and (the) timing was wrong, but it's just a sign of how much he wanted it," Fitzgibbon said.
"Cost him dearly but he just apologised. He knows that he had a moment that he (had) an opportunity for tonight which was important to him and us.
"Yeah, went wrong, but can handle that when you go in first and you're that committed for the team and club that that's important to you."