EXCLUSIVE: Phil Gould brushes off claims Craig Fitzgibbon is under pressure at Cronulla

Phil Gould has shut down suggestions Craig Fitzgibbon is under pressure as Cronulla coach, arguing the club remain a premiership contender this year.

Fitzgibbon is in his fourth season at the helm with the Sharks and during his tenure, the side have yet to miss the finals.

Last year, the Sharks overcame a hoodoo by winning a post-season game, before being knocked out by eventual premiers Penrith in the preliminary finals.

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Cronulla have started their 2025 campaign rather slowly, falling short in a nail-biter against the Panthers in the opening round, while also losing to the Bulldogs and Raiders.

But when quizzed about Fitzgibbon being under the pump due to the side's lack of growth in recent years, Gould was quick to put that to bed.

"None - I don't agree," he said on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles With Gus.

"I think the Sharks are a good side and they've developed well and it's a competitive club. It's not easy to maintain a position near the top of the table as they have done.

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"I still think there's some improvement in them, but the Sharks are a contender in this competition if they are fit and get their football right at the back-end of the season.

"I think Craig Fitzgibbon is a great coach. He has done wonders for the club." 

Perhaps the biggest issue for Fitzgibbon will be getting marquee man Nicho Hynes back on track after a disappointing first five rounds from the halfback.

Gould admitted the 2022 Dally M Medal winner wasn't the only one who needed to lift his game in the Shire, but likened getting the best out of Hynes to a popular fast-food chain.

"They've got to get a few firing - but that's like the 11 herbs and spices in Kentucky Fried Chicken," he said.

Cronulla will take on Manly on Saturday afternoon at Perth's Optus Stadium.