Questions have been raised over the lack of leadership at the Sharks, amid a form slump which has seen them lose five of their last six games.
Cronulla were cruising after a Magic Round win over the Roosters in Round 11, sitting pretty atop the ladder.
However the wheels have fallen off since then, with the latest loss against the Titans in Coffs Harbour last Friday night the lowlight.
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To compound a poor couple of months for the club, captain Nicho Hynes is facing a sideline stint after a training injury on Monday.
The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield believes it’s clear the Sharks are lacking leadership on and off the field.
“I think there is problems with the leadership. It was a painful column to write because I like them so much,” Rothfield, a passionate Sharks supporter, said on NRL360.
“You look at their capitulation over the last six weeks, they’ve lost five games.
Before that they were beating the Roosters at Magic Round, they beat the Storm in Melbourne.
“When I watch them, I think that football side is lacking leadership.
“Nicho is not the captain but he’s the on-field caller and we all know he’s struggling, I don’t have to keep banging on about that.”
The sudden retirement of the Sharks “spiritual leader” Dale Finucane earlier in the season can’t be understated according to Rothfield.
Finucane had to medically retire back in late April after two medical experts urged him to hang the boots up due to concussions.
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“Even if Dale Finucane isn’t necessarily missed on the football field, he is in the locker room,” Rothfield said.
“He was the spiritual leader of that club and they are playing leaderless.”
Gorden Tallis wondered why captain Cam McInnes couldn’t be the player to step up.
“You think McInnes could? He played State of Origin in Game I,” Tallis asked.
“McInnes isn’t playing well … And he got dropped (from the Blues) straight away,” Rothfield replied.
“I watch them closely every week, there is no one stepping up.
Veteran journalist Brent Read says the next few weeks without Hynes and his side in the midst of a slump, will be the biggest test coach Craig Fitzgibbon may have to face.
“It’s a real test for Craig Fitzgibbon early in his coaching career now without Nicho,” Read said.
“It’s an immense challenge for him.”
Source Agencies
