Chad Townsend, a former premiership-winner with the Cronulla Sharks, has provided a candid critique of his former team, stating that their performance in 2026 is significantly below the benchmarks set in prior seasons.
The Sharks currently occupy ninth place on the ladder, placing them among several teams that are failing to meet expectations as they trail the top eight.
Their defensive weaknesses were exposed during a recent match against the North Queensland Cowboys, where they registered 36 missed tackles, made ten errors, and gave away four penalties in a 46-34 defeat.
While discussing the Sharks on the podcast 'The Boardroom' with fellow NRL veteran Ryan Hoffman, Townsend noted that the decline in performance is evident.
"I don't think their form has been anywhere near the standard they have set themselves over the past couple of years," Townsend expressed.
"Obviously, I watch the Sharks closely, and I feel a bit disappointed, to be honest. Defensively, I don't think they are where they need to be or where they should be at the moment."
Having played 146 matches for Cronulla across two stints and contributing to their historic 2016 championship, Townsend highlighted a worrying lack of intensity and consistency, especially during high-scoring games like the recent loss in Townsville.
"You sense a little bit of frustration from Craig Fitzgibbon about guys not getting their jobs done. Um, and obviously that game against the Cowboys this past weekend, it was just like, you know, try for try, try for try," Townsend remarked.
He added, "Defensively, I just think they've been off the mark so far this year. I think some of their performances have lacked, you know, a little bit of intensity."