Cronulla Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has openly acknowledged his role in the team's defensive challenges after a staggering 46-point concession to the North Queensland Cowboys.
The Sharks displayed encouraging signs in their attacking play; however, their defensive performance told a vastly different story.
Despite matching their rivals in total tackles, they fell short by missing a staggering 46 tackles over the course of 80 minutes.
This lack of defensive cohesion allowed key players like Scott Drinkwater, Tom Dearden, and Jaxon Purdue to exploit their weaknesses with ease.
"To be perfectly honest, I think it's attitude and I reckon we need an attitude check and (the) importance of what it takes to knuckle down and play together and work hard together," Fitzgibbon remarked when discussing the breakdown in their defensive strategy in Townsville.
Fitzgibbon emphasized that fostering a stronger mindset is crucial for the team's future defensive efforts, urging players to recognize what it truly means to collaborate effectively on the field.
The Sharks will need to address these issues promptly if they hope to rebound in subsequent matches, as their current form leaves much to be desired.