Cronulla have come under the microscope following a disappointing performance in Round 20, with league great Phil Gould describing them as 'cannon fodder' heading into the NRL finals.
With a poor record against top-eight sides and a tough stretch over the next month with no byes remaining, the Sharks are in danger of missing the finals due to their defensive woes.
After conceding 44 points against the Warriors on Sunday afternoon, attention turned to the side's left-edge defence, with the likes of Matt Moylan and Siosifa Talakai struggling to contain their opposition.
Speaking on 100% Footy, Sharks legend Paul Gallen admitted some questions needed to be asked by head coach Craig Fitzgibbon in a bid to save their campaign.
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“The loss on the weekend was really hard to watch as a Sharks fan and former player," he said.
"Their left-edge defensively has been pretty poor all year and I know Craig Fitzgibbon is a defensive-minded coach… he’ll be terribly disappointed.
“Matt Moylan and Sifa Talakai, that left-edge there, they’d be under the bump I’d imagine… they need to perform.
"Luckily for him, he does have options there, guys like Connor Tracey and Trindall aren’t playing first grade… these guys probably are on notice.
"Whether he pulls the trigger and changes it, I’m not too sure. I would imagine he’d be terribly disappointed with where they are at the moment."
Will the Sharks make the NRL finals? Run home, ladder position
Cronulla sit just two points ahead of the ninth-placed Cowboys and with a tough run home, Fitzgibbon's side could be under pressure to make the finals.
While a strong points-differential of +102 could help them towards the back-end of the year, their clashes against title contenders Penrith and South Sydney could prove deadly, while the fixture against North Queensland in Round 23 looms as make or break.
Cronulla Sharks NRL run home
- Round 21 vs Sea Eagles [H]
- Round 22 vs Panthers [A]
- Round 23 vs Rabbitohs [A]
- Round 24 vs Titans [H]
- Round 25 vs Cowboys [A]
- Round 26 vs Knights [A]
- Round 27 vs Raiders [H]
Speaking on 100% Footy, Gould admitted he feared for the Sharks and their top-eight hopes in 2023.
“I don’t think so... not with the draw they’ve got there, not with the way they perform against the top sides," he said.
"Again, it just shows the graphic difference between the top teams and the bottom teams in this competition. Warriors absolutely gassed them on the weekend, they were just far too good for them, and they’re a long way away from being semi-final challengers I would think.
"If they get there, I think they would be cannon fodder, which is what happened to them last year. They sort of got through to the top-four, but went out in straight-sets.
"I know Craig Fitzgibbon was devastated by their defence in the big games, but nothing much has changed this year.
"They’ve got points in them against the weaker sides, they struggle to score points against the better sides, and their defence just doesn’t cope."
