Cameron McInnes thinks Cronulla will not be the latest team to succumb to the NRL’s infamous late-season fade out, despite taking the same road as South Sydney in 2023.
First after 15 rounds, the Sharks are still fourth but need two wins in their last six games to secure a finals position.
In theory, they should be able to accomplish this by playing five of their last six games against teams outside the top eight, beginning with Saturday night’s contest against the Rabbitohs.
However, McInnes admits the Sharks must get their football back on track after a torrid two months.
Cronulla’s loss to North Queensland on Saturday brought their record since the Magic Round to two victories in eight games.
That is the same run South Sydney had through those rounds last year, despite their dramatic collapse from first to ninth.
McInnes has previously experienced late-season issues.
He was at St George Illawarra in 2017, when they finished first after round seven and fourth after round thirteen, missing the finals outright.
And he was there again the next year, when the Dragons led the table in round 16 until fading late to finish seventh.
“It’s a different club, different circumstances,” McInnes stated about his Dragons experience.
“I do not think (that is the same). However, from the outside looking in, it clearly appears comparable.
“That was so long ago. But I understand we’re working hard here.
“The effort is commendable, but it’s the detail-oriented football, with the errors, that we’re not managing as well as we could.
“But we’re not far away; it’s not all doom and gloom. We simply need to work that out a little bit.”
Cronulla has an advantage over the aforementioned Dragons teams in that they still have players recovering from injuries.
Nicho Hynes is expected to return before the finals following a fractured tibia and syndesmosis rupture.
And, while winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has been sidelined for four weeks with a knee injury, he will return in September.
Statistically, the Sharks have improved over the last month, reversing their early-season dip.
“You want to find your footy, or your game,” McInnes said.
“Everyone’s working hard. At some time, you’d like to see the findings.
“Wins and defeats are clearly our business, but I am more concerned with delivering a product on the field that you are proud of and have worked hard for all week.
“The effort exists, but the detail does not.
“We want to be putting our game on the field, and then when those guys come back, regardless of wins and losses, it means we’re in a good place.”
