The three things the Sharks must show against Storm if they are to be considered NRL contenders

With one win from their past four matches, the Sharks are searching for three key ingredients to reignite their season against Melbourne on Sunday.

Defence first. Performance over panic stations. Stop looking for shortcuts.

These are the vital ingredients that a hurting Cronulla side are searching for as they aim to reignite their season against Melbourne on Sunday.

Seven days after their poor second-half collapse to the Broncos the Sharks players face a crucial test of character by meeting the premiership favourites at AAMI Park.

“It’s a good chance to show how much we love and care for each other and the club,” Sharks forward Teig Wilton said.

Facing the toughest road trip in the NRL, the Sharks response from a week of home truths, behind-closed-doors honesty sessions and soul-searching will be revealed when Craig Fitzgibbon’s side tackle the Storm for the second time in six weeks.

At $3.25 with the TAB, Cronulla are being given almost no chance by punters, starting the match as the longest-priced outsider of any team this weekend.

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon. Picture: Thomas Lisson

WHO ARE WE

With one win from their last four matches, the ladder-slipping Sharks are obviously looking for victory.

Yet interestingly, what was spoken about within the Sharks four walls of their meeting last Wednesday, according to their leading players, had little to do with the result.

It was about delivering a performance, win or lose, which reflected their desired character and DNA, of being hard-nosed and connected, even in defeat.

They are key traits that the Sharks have been lacking across the entire 80 minutes in their most recent losses to the Roosters, Warriors and Broncos, where in all three matches Cronulla conceded more than 30 points.

“We’ve spoken about bringing a team performance,” Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall said.

“We could go to Melbourne and lose, but as long as we’re putting in a good team performance, I don’t think we’ll be far away on the scoreboard.

“Looking back on that video (of the Broncos), my performance wasn’t up to scratch.

“I had my kick out on the full and lazy body language, I need to be doing more to help the team.”

Wilton, a member of the Sharks leadership group, added: “It’s also about our discipline around sticking to our game plan, playing the long game and not looking for short cuts by working on and off the ball for the entire 80 minutes and also, our discipline in having the attention to detail around all the little things in the game.

“It’s not easy to win in this comp and if you’re a little bit off in too many areas, you obviously pay for it and that’s what happened last weekend.

“It’s a good opportunity to show how much we care for what we’re fighting for here.”

DEFENCE

Fitzgibbon gives little away at his press conferences, preferring the privacy of his office or the dressing room to address his players.

Yet his brief two minute post-match press conference last Sunday after the loss to the Broncos said all you needed to know about the head coach’s fury.

Fitzgibbon is a coach of high morals and standards, particularly towards defence, knowing that a stoic defensive line is the greatest conduit to receiving equal share of possession.

Cronulla have shown over the past four years that they can attack from anywhere. But lately, their defence is letting them down.

The Sharks know they won’t be making a dent in this competition if they don’t correct their defence, conceding on average 22.7 points per game (ranked ninth in the NRL) this season.

“It has to start with our defence. You can’t win a comp in the NRL if you’re not one of the best defensive teams,” Wilton said.

“We’re letting too many points in at the moment and so defence is a main priority.”

Trindall agreed.

“We scored enough points to win the game last weekend (against the Broncos), so there’s a focus on our defence and its also on us (he and fellow half Nicho Hynes) putting them (opposition) in the right spots on the field so our defence can back it up,’’ he said.

Sharks enforcer Addin Fonua-Blake added: “We have to get back to putting in those full 80-minute performances on both sides of the ball.

“At the start of the year we were happy to bunker down on our tryline and defend for a number of sets at a time and I that’s what we want to get back too.”

HYNES-SIGHT

No one is asked to carry Cronulla’s losses more than their halfback Nicho Hynes, who despite a strong first half against the Broncos which included a try, two tackle busts, a try assist and 169 kick metres, has worn the brunt of the side’s defeat last Sunday.

Given the drilling down and dissection of their game and forthright assessment by Fitzgibbon of the Sharks current form this week, the playing group believe the focus on Hynes doesn’t stack up.

“I’m on the field too and I let us down on the weekend,” Fonua-Blake said.

Nicho Hynes is an easy target for Cronulla's critics. Picture: Getty Images

“Nicho is an easy target, but I’m pretty sure out of the 17 blokes that took the field, 17 of us would put our hands up and say we weren’t good enough.

“We’ve got to get around each other, which we have and build for a tough Storm game.

“I’ve had a few mental lapses in my games this year and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure I perform the best I can.”

Wilton said simply: “We’re confident that when we get it right in the areas of the game that we are falling short of at the moment, our boys (Hynes and Trindall) can do the job for sure.

“I absolutely back the boys we have.”

STORM WARNING

The Sharks form has dipped in the wake of their confident 31-26 win over the Storm in round 11, where they needed to battle to victory with 15 men after losing outside backs Sam Stonestreet (ankle) and Jesse Ramien (eye) in the first half.

After Melbourne found a way to win in golden point against South Sydney last weekend, Cronulla know exactly what is waiting for them.

“That’s happened (win in round 11) and it’s done. We can’t rely on our old wins to get us more,” Fonua-Blake said.

“They’re a quality side, we’re going to have to move on from last week and get ready for a tough Melbourne team.”

Trindall said he would arrive in Melbourne with respect for their quality, but excited by the possibility of flipping the Sharks current form on it’s head.

“It’s why you play footy, to be in these big games, if we can go to Melbourne and get back to what we do best, I’m looking forward to that,” Trindall said.

Originally published as The three things the Sharks must show against Storm if they are to be considered NRL contenders