They might be riding a five-game winning streak but Cronulla players know their Premiership credentials will face the ultimate test this week when they take on defending premiers Penrith.
The first team to take on the defending champs at full-strength since the start of the Origin period, Cronulla were given a first-hand look at how to silence the Panthers playmakers throughout the Origin series, with Queensland gaining the ascendancy through their control of the middle in the Maroons' victories.
Sharks forward Cameron McInnes said the challenge of winning the ruck was crucial for his side, and would be dictated by how well his team controlled possession.
“For me, holding the footy and kicking it back to the other team, everything comes off the back of that so that’s something we need to sort out,” McInnes told the media on Tuesday.
"I don’t think we were that good on the weekend [against the Cowboys] — our completion rates weren’t up to standard. The goal line defence the last few weeks has been outstanding from us, but as much as that’s a strength of ours, there’s only so many times you can give the team the ball on your line.
“You need hold the footy, kick it back to them and you front up in defence.
Mac Attack is back
“When they’re down there we’ll back ourselves and turn them away but something is going to give eventually so we need to make sure we don’t just keep giving teams opportunities there.
“Everyone in the NRL is strong and runs physically and they’re no different but the thing that Penrith do is they do it for longer than a lot of teams," he said.
"That will be the challenge for us.”
Having spent time in Blues camp throughout Origin, Sharks forward Dale Finucane saw firsthand the control that Queensland was able to have over the Panthers halves, including co-captain Isaah Yeo and his role in linking the play.
The 30-year-old praised the detailed approach of coach Craig Fitzgibbon in improving the side throughout the year to put the Sharks firmly in Premiership contention — a claim that will only increase further should they chalk up an upset victory on the road.
“Whilst it is an important game and it does carry a lot of weight, it’s just another game that we need to prepare for in the same way that we prepared for the last 18 games before this,” Finucane said.
“It’s hard ,really, because you’ve obviously got that macro goal of wanting to be as successful as you can be. You’d be silly to be in this competition if you weren’t here to win a premiership. But given that Craig is very process orientated, you need to have the smaller goals to achieve that big picture or otherwise it doesn’t happen."
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