Have the Sharks solved their biggest conundrum?

The Sharks have for a long time faced a conundrum over their halves - but they may have already found a solution.

For the better part of a year, a debate has raged around who is the Sharks’ chief playmaker - Braydon Trindall or Nicho Hynes?

But why can’t it be both?

That’s the rub of coach Craig Fitzgibbons’ summation after the duo fired Cronulla out of the blocks to have the competition’s top teams peering over their shoulder after a couple of showtime performances.

The knock on the Sharks the last few years has been that they couldn’t fire against the big sides and when it was time for the cream to rise to the top.

But they looked every bit a premiership-calibre team in their first-half dismantling of the Rabbitohs last week.

And importantly, Trindall and Hynes were the tip of the spear in the 27-12 win.

Hynes scored one himself and threw the last pass for Briton Nikora’s four-pointer while Trindall kicked a pair of 40/20s before registering a try in the corner.

Nicho Hynes. Photo: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images.

Braydon Trindall. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images.

And Fitzgibbon said the team wasn’t setting up either to be the “star”.

“Throughout the course of all three games this year, there have been moments when Hynsy has stepped up and Tricky has set in behind him, and then Hynsy has gone on the ball and Tricky has gone off the ball,” Fitzgibbon said ahead of the Sharks’ blockbuster clash against Canterbury on Saturday night.

“And then other moments Tricky has got on the ball and Hynsy has gone off the ball, which means their combination is growing there.

“A better balance to the kicking, they both kick the ball well… When one is shining, the other has got a role to play for the team. It’s not about who plays the best, it’s about how the team performs.”

Toby Rudolf is a chance to return against the Bulldogs. Photo: Jason McCawley/Getty Images.

Despite his side showing off during some razzle-dazzle moments, he said their 2-1 start to the season was built on a foundation of graft and hard work.

“It’s nice to have those moments, it’s entertainment. It’s great for the fans and the boys love it - every player that comes to a game of footy wants to score a try and wants to have a big moment or a chance to entertain the crowd.

“But our game is steeped in hard work and effort and team work and courage and toughness. If you get some nice moments on the back of doing that, that’s great. You’ve got to earn it.”

The Sharks forward pack could receive a massive boost with prop Toby Rudolf a chance to make his first appearance of the year after off-season shoulder surgery.

Originally published as Have the Sharks solved their biggest conundrum?