The performances of the Cronulla Sharks this season has yet again found itself under the microscope, with former Dally M Medal Winner, Billy Slater, weighing in on the matter.
Heading into the final five rounds of the regular season, the Sharks had a relatively favourable draw, with a top four spot on the line.
However, losses to the Dragons, Raiders, the Eels and the Storm, separated by a scrap-and-grab win against the Titans, saw the Shire side lose the right to have a double-chance come September, finishing fifth on the ladder.
Over recent seasons, the club has copped criticism for being 'flat-track bullies,' beating easier opponents, but struggling for consistency against contenders, seeing them make finals, then ultimately failing to reach the ultimate goal of winning the premiership.
When previewing the Sharks next contest against the Roosters on Nine's The Billy Slater Podcast, Slater revealed that “they haven't convinced me yet,” raising concerns that Cronulla fans may be headed for a similar story to past seasons.
The dual Clive Churchill Medal winner credited the side's roster but admitted they needed to find something further.
“They've got a good team, and they are capable of doing something, but they just aren't showing me enough," he said.
The Sharks defeated the Cowboys 28-16 on the weekend with Slater acknowledging that they have “found a little bit of their mojo”, but their performance as a whole “wasn't overly convincing."
At stages this year, the attack of the Sharks has looked fluid and flowing, with the ability to quickly pile on points when firing, however, consistency has yet again been a main weakness.
Slater continued that the game between Penrith and the Roosters was a "class above the rest of the finals game on the weekend," raising the point that if the Sharks are to cause an upset they “need to go up a couple of notches.”
The stark contrast in quality between the top four teams and the rest over the weekend was evident, if the Sharks are any chance of returning to the top step, they simply have to turn it up and string together three-straight performances starting this weekend.
Trindall's performance on return from a dislocated shoulder was dubbed as "courageous," with the five-eighth playing a staring role for his side, with his influence making them look completely different to the side fans saw in the last month.
Speaking on Trindall, Slater said that he showed "Physical courage to go after the game."
“You could see right from the moment he ran out onto the field that he was in some discomfort,” Slater said.
“He was brave, and he had to make those tackles, and he did his job.”
An effort that will need to be repeated on Saturday night (local time) if the Sharks are to continue their finals run as they search for their first premiership since 2016.
