‘What were they thinking?’: Fans take aim at Sharks-Titans NRL jersey clash

The Sharks are in the top four for now, weeks after anything but a finals team, but fans were all saying the same thing about their latest clash.

The jersey clash was not a great look. Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

What a difference a matter of weeks make?

After being almost written off just two weeks ago, the Cronulla Sharks are as little as one win from all but sealing their place in the NRL Finals after a crushing 36-6 drubbing of the Gold Coast Titans on Friday night.

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But while the Sharks were strong on field, fans lashed out at the jersey clash.

With both sides having a light blue colour scheme, the Sharks had a black strip across the top of the jersey and the shoulders with a block of light blue below, while the Titans have light blue up top which fades into a dark blue at the bottom of the jersey.

Clear as mud on the broadcast. Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Although there are differences including the Sharks’ black shorts to the Titans’ white, from a distance it was hard to tell.

Social media was swamped with fans struggling to tell the sides apart.

Anyone else struggling with these jerseys? @NRL#NRLSharksTitanspic.twitter.com/vFIgLb2uIB

— Jimmy Smith 🇦🇺 (@ThatJimmySmith) August 11, 2023

With the number of jerseys teams have these days, you would think a jersey clash is totally avoidable!!
Obviously not!! #nrl#nrlsharkstitans

— Tadhg Rohan (@tadhgrohan) August 11, 2023

These jerseys... What were they thinking? 💀#NRLSharksTitans

— Rewster (@Rewster7) August 11, 2023

This jersey clash is the worst thing I've ever seen#NRLSharksTitans

— Duy Quang (@DuyQ_01) August 11, 2023

Just turned over from soccer to #NRLSharksTitans game and I am wondering who thought having these jerseys out there playing was a good idea. Clash much.

— Spoodge6 (@Spoodge6) August 11, 2023

What’s the go with these jerseys? Just a tad of a kit clash happening #nRLsharkstitans

— David (@skybluedavidb) August 11, 2023

Jersey clash aside, it was a win the Sharks just had to have.

After a 44-12 loss to the Warriors in round 20, Phil Gould said the Sharks would be “cannon fodder” heading into the finals with the side’s poor record against top eight sides.

At the time, Gould said on Channel 9’s 100% Footy that he didn’t think the Sharks could make the post-season and: “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.”

While the Sharks were following the prediction with a loss to Manly and Penrith in the subsequent weeks, Cronulla defeated South Sydney 26-16 in Perth in round 23, before the drubbing of the Titans.

The Sharks celebrate Jesse Ramien’s try. Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

It’s believed finals teams will need 32 points to make finals this season and the Sharks are now up to 30 — with the Storm and Raiders to play each other on Sunday, the side should finish the round in fifth.

The Sharks have a tough run home against the Cowboys, Knights and Raiders — all of which are still in the hunt for the top eight.

Playing a Titans who re-signed Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to a record 10-year NRL deal, as well as David Fifita for a three-year, $1m a year contract, the Sharks were dominant from the outset.

While the Titans pair secured their futures, it comes at the end of a week where talismanic forward Wade Graham announced his retirement and his teammates turned up for him.

Graham even strolled over for a try in the second half thanks to Braydon Trindall’s third assist of the night, while fellow forwards Cameron McInnes and Toby Rudolf also crossed the stripe as the Sharks feasted on the Titans through the middle.

Friday’s result was a non-negotiable for the Sharks who got their season back on track with a shock win over Souths in Perth, and they now control their own destiny with three tricky games to come.