LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The Cronulla Sharks are facing a tough reality check after a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Melbourne Storm once again brought their dismal finals record into sharp focus.
With a seventh consecutive finals loss, the Sharks are left reeling and questioning their ability to compete at the highest level.
From the very start, it was clear that the Storm were in control, with the Sharks looking out of sorts and lacking the composure needed to challenge their opponents.
The blunder by Sharks fullback Will Kennedy at the kickoff set the tone for the match, and things only went downhill from there.
In a pivotal moment around the 30th minute, Nicho Hynes' failure to kick the ball into touch resulted in a penalty goal for the Storm.
Commentators were quick to highlight this mistake, with Andrew Voss describing it as a "horror" and Brenton Speed labeling it as "another monumental error."
With this latest defeat, the Sharks are left with a mountain to climb as they attempt to salvage their season and prove that they have what it takes to compete with the elite teams in the NRL.
Only time will tell if they can rise to the occasion and turn their fortunes around on the field.