Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon didn\u2019t hesitate when asked what the turning point was for his side\u2019s finals charge, with an \u201cunacceptable\u201d performance against the Broncos proving to be the catalyst for their turnaround. <\/p>\n
The Sharks looked like the real deal following a road win over the Sea Eagles and then a tense win over the Storm in rounds 10 and 11, only for them to lose four of their next five, including an ugly defeat in Brisbane.<\/p>\n
Fitzgibbon\u2019s side had raced out to a 28-12 lead but conceded the final 22 points that afternoon as their edge defence fell apart.<\/p>\n
While that was ugly, the coach was surprisingly upbeat the following week when they conceded three late tries to lose 30-6 in Melbourne, with Fitzgibbon regularly referencing that game as a positive in their season.<\/p>\n
A bye in round 18 came at the perfect time, with the Sharks winning nine of their next 10 matches and emerging as one of the best defensive units on their way to the preliminary final.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was after we played the Broncos up there,\u201d Fitzgibbon replied when asked what the turning point was this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought our performance was unacceptable for what we believe we\u2019re either capable of or value as a team and as a club.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was poles apart, so we had to come down here and play the Storm the week after, and we had to reset. We were really competitive that game, but the game got away from us in the last 10 or 15 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was the start of what we needed to address and work on. From that point on, it\u2019s been relatively consistent.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Sharks now look like a genuine premiership threat heading into Friday\u2019s grand final qualifier against the Storm who beat them in the first week of the 2024 finals series. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou get hardened by your heartache, and we\u2019ve had a bit in the semis over the previous years,\u201d Fitzgibbon said, conceding his side was flat during the Origin period after a stack of travel to start the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really nice to have two really strong opponents in the Roosters and Canberra to take them on and give the boys even more belief. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re also under no illusions with the Storm. They\u2019ve had the week off \u2013 they earned that \u2013 and we\u2019re on a six-day turnaround with an interstate trip, so we\u2019ve got a challenge which the boys are excited about.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we do believe that we are in a better position than we have been in semis past.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Storm is the only thing standing in their way of the grand final, but it\u2019s a daunting task with the hosts set to welcome back superstar playmaker Jahrome Hughes from a fractured forearm.<\/p>\n
Fitzgibbon didn\u2019t say his left edge would go after the halfback who hurt his arm in his first game back from a dislocated shoulder. <\/p>\n
\u201cDefensively we\u2019ll need to be on our game because he\u2019s a really good controlling half and a great ball runner,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was out with a shoulder injury for a long period of time, so I\u2019d imagine his shoulder has healed really well.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new injury with his wrist has clearly healed well enough to play, so you\u2019ve got to take it for what it is.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a wonderful player and one of the best players in our premiership, so we\u2019ll have our hands full making sure we can control him, and there are a number of players we\u2019ll have to do a good job on as well.\u201d<\/p>\n