The Sharks will shoot for three wins in a row when they face the Rabbitohs in Gosford on Saturday night as the finals race heats up.<\/p>\n
After returning to form with vital victories over the Dolphins and Roosters, Cronulla will arrive at polytech Stadium as heavy favourites with the oddsmakers.<\/p>\n
Entering the round in ninth position, the Sharks are in control of their own destiny but can’t afford to let opportunities slip in pursuit of a playoffs berth.<\/p>\n
Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon knows 15th-placed South Sydney will pose a serious challenge despite missing several key players including Latrell Mitchell, Keaon Koloamatangi, Cody Walker, Cam Murray and Campbell Graham to injuries.<\/p>\n
“They’ve got a spirit about them; there’s no doubt that they’re fighting at the moment,” said Fitzgibbon, who saw merit in Souths’ loss to Penrith last week.<\/p>\n
“With troops missing, sometimes opportunities come to other players which can make for a dangerous proposition… a little bit more unpredictability.<\/p>\n
“They’ve definitely not lost the spirit.”<\/p>\n
Having fought through a mid-season lull, the Sharks are poised to strike at the right time of year with star hooker Blayke Brailey leading the charge.<\/p>\n
Brailey, the ultimate professional who has played 121 consecutive games, has emerged as the competition’s hottest player on the back of a lethal running game.<\/p>\n
The local junior tore the Roosters apart with 118 metres, two line breaks and a try assist last Friday, using his speed and instincts to hare out of dummy half.<\/p>\n
In Fitzgibbon’s eyes, the plaudits are well overdue for the reliable rake as he prepares to lock horns with powerful Rabbitohs No.9 Siliva Havili.<\/p>\n
“I think he’s having ‘higher impact’ moments \u2013 probably more visible in (making) line breaks, and a couple of those have turned into tries, which has probably put the spotlight on him a little bit,” Fitzgibbon explained.<\/p>\n
“He’s been our Player of the Year for the past two years. It’s really simple to say he needs to run more, but he’s got a fair bit else on his plate in the space of 80 minutes … He’s got a fair bit of a defensive workload, he’s got to give the ball to the big fellas when it’s required, but he’s selecting his moments really carefully.<\/p>\n
“They’re paying off.”<\/p>\n
While the Sharks are set to regain blockbusting centre Jesse Ramien from a one-week absence with hamstring tightness, second-rower Briton Nikora is out after copping a head knock against the Roosters. Billy Burns will take his place.<\/p>\n
For the Rabbitohs, Englishman Lewis Dodd will start at halfback for the first time this season with Jamie Humphreys (concussion) sidelined. Jye Gray is back from a broken thumb at fullback, in turn pushing record-chasing finisher Alex Johnston to the wing, Isaiah Tass to centre and Euan Aitken to the back row.<\/p>\n
With momentum behind them, Cronulla are ready to seize a golden chance to record three consecutive wins for the first time since Round 11.<\/p>\n
There will be no complacency, with Fitzgibbon noting: “Anyone can beat anyone in the NRL if you don’t turn up with the right attitude.<\/p>\n
“The most important thing for us if we do want to play semi-finals is to keep building on the way we’ve played the last couple of weeks,” he added.<\/p>\n
“There’s still plenty of footy to go, so we’ve got to be wary that we’re not inconsistent at this stage of the year.”<\/p>\n