Braydon Trindall has revealed the Cronulla Sharks' spine of players, including William Kennedy, Nicho Hynes, and Blayke Brailey, are strengthening their off-field connection to bolster the club's chances of a premiership title in 2026.
Trindall was full of praise for his surrounding teammates in the Sharks lineup, commending their strong shared network away from the paddock to ensure it catapults them deep into the finals campaign.
The NRL's top try-assist recipient will return after suffering a dislocated shoulder in Round 24, and with no structural damage present, it meant he could return once he regains strength.
All eyes are on the Sharks to snap a disappointing month of results against the North Queensland Cowboys in their sudden-death final, with Trindall expecting them to turn it around alongside halves partner Hynes.
"It'd be good to be back out there and work with Nicho again," Trindall said this week.
"Take a bit of pressure off him and do a bit of the kicking and just get back into that flow state that we were in a bit over a month ago, so it's very exciting.
"We're training pretty well out there on the field at the moment. I don't think it'll be too hard to jump back in and link up and get that connection again."
Cronulla suffered losses at the hands of the Storm, Eels and Raiders in the past month of the competition.
The Shire-based outfit has been doing extras away from the coach's whistle, in their teammates' personal lives, to translate their strong friendship onto the NRL field.
"We bounce off the back of each other, it's all of our spine as well," Trindall added.
"It's Will K (Kennedy) and Brails (Brailey) included as well.
"We're pretty connected at the moment, doing plenty of off-field stuff to stay connected, and I think that's coming out on the field and how we play footy.
"Keep that connection off the field. It kind of translates on the field.
"The confidence is pretty high. The boys (are) jumping around the sheds, pretty keen to get out there."
Trindall is confident his shoulder can withstand the pressure of NRL finals after only a slim three and a half weeks since he suffered the dislocation.
The crafty five-eighth has the ability to elevate his teammates around him just by his presence alone, and provided an insight into his last few weeks of preparation to get his shoulder right.
"I just had to get the strength back up to where it was or nearabouts where it was when I did it," Trindall said when quizzed on the stability of his shoulder.
"I just worked hard and rehabbed there and got a bit of strength back and got some mobility through it, keen to play this week."
When asked if he'll require off-season surgery once the Sharks' season concludes, Trindall responded "not too sure yet," and to "see how we go for the rest of the year" before the club makes a decision.
The Sharks were dealt a blow when the NRL deemed Ocean Protect Stadium unfit to hold a finals match, relocating their home final to Allianz Stadium.
The NRL will be hoping the extended capacity of Sydney's latest stadium means more Sharks fans will come out and cheer on the side during September.
The Cowboys will also have Australian international Reuben Cotter on deck after he successfully downgraded his Grade 2 high tackle after contesting the charge in front of the judiciary on Tuesday night.
The sudden-death fixture will kick off at 7:50pm in Moore Park.
