LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has strongly countered claims that the Sharks have a simplified end to their regular NRL season. He emphasized the challenges his team faced earlier in the year, especially following the recent news about the triple-injury carnage for the Broncos, which has opened up the finals race.
This Saturday, the Sharks will face St George Illawarra in a local derby at Jubilee Stadium. Depending on the outcomes of other matches, particularly if the Knights can defeat reigning champions Penrith, the Sharks have the chance to move into fourth place.
Despite the speculation on their draw, Fitzgibbon pointed out that Cronulla's upcoming matches provide them a solid path to a top-four finish. They won't be traveling outside Sydney for their last five games, benefit from a guaranteed two points from a bye, and are scheduled to meet only one current top-eight team, the Bulldogs.
Fitzgibbon expressed frustration over the ongoing accusations of the Sharks having a "soft" draw, reminding critics of their challenging start to the season, which involved tough matches and extensive travel. "With all due respect to that getting spat out, we've had one of the hardest draws in recent history (this year)," he stated, underscoring the recent upsets in the league as evidence against the notion of an easy schedule.
Notable incidents include the Titans defeating the fourth-placed Warriors and the Eels overcoming the Broncos, alongside the Tigers' surprising victory over the Bulldogs. Fitzgibbon articulated the competitive nature of the league, asserting, "The bottom teams are beating the top teams at the moment so how do we sit there and say the draw is favourable, when one slip and you're in trouble? The competition is so tight, it's so close. I think it's disrespectful to your opponents sometimes." He concluded by highlighting the strong performances from bottom teams like the Titans, reinforcing that various teams are playing exceptional rugby across the entire competition.