Gallen hoses down Joey’s ‘September-itis’ fear holding Sharks back
Andrew Johns is not convinced the Sharks will avoid catching a case of “September-itis” in this year’s final series, even if a club legend feels otherwise.
Cronulla have been a mainstay in finals football over the past five years, but the players have failed to reach the big dance.
Nicho Hynes will be the key for Cronulla to thrive in this finals series Getty Images
With three wins in nine finals games since 2021, it appears to some that the Sharks can not handle the pressure that comes with playing in post-season matches.
Two surprise losses to the Eels and Storm, both of whom failed to make the eight this year, only add to the fears and perception many have of the team come finals time.
The return of Braydon Trindall, who had been sidelined with a shoulder injury, will be a major boost for the Sharks, but Johns still feels the weight falls on the shoulders of Nicho Hynes to guide his team to victory.
“The great unknown with Braydon Trindall is the great unknown of the Sharks,” he said on Nine’s Freddy and the Eighth.
“At this time of year, they get September-itis and they haven’t fired.
“It is all on Nicho (to lift the team), everyone knows that. If Trindall isn’t anywhere near 100 per cent, Nicho really needs to stand up. It is his time to get there, own these big games and shut everyone up. It’s on him.”
Paul Gallen, the first Cronulla Sharks captain to lift the Provan-Summons Trophy a decade ago, does not hold the same level of concern as Johns.
Instead, Gallen declared elimination games brings out the best in his old team.
“The Sharks have played plenty of top eight sides... they’ve won six of their 11 games against top eight sides so they are a big chance of beating anyone,” Gallen told Nine’s Today on Thursday.
“Must win footy brings out the best in Cronulla. We need everyone in the Shire to come out here and support the boys this week.
“The Cowboys are not a great defence side, they can attack. I think the Sharks will win it through their defence.”
League greats are urging Sharks fans to make the trip to Allianz Stadium Getty Images
A home crowd advantage will help boost the confidence of those on the field, especially given the opposing side is travelling from Far North Queensland.
Brad Fittler made clear he will not accept any excuses relating to travel to and from the match by fans as free public transport is included in the match tickets. Additional buses and trains will also be running on game day.
But just as the crowd can lift the home side, Johns warned that the Sharks cannot underestimate the hunger the Cowboys have to keep their season alive.
“They are an unknown ... you never know what you are going to get,” Johns said.
“This side is their (best) side. I’ve tipped them to beat the Sharks, I think they have the ability to beat them.”
Fittler added: “You talk about the 50 point rule (eliminating you from premiership contention), the Cowboys got beat 82-12.
“It just says that every now and then they give up. So you wonder if there is a stage where the Sharks test them enough that they will give up.”
Still, even if the Sharks do survive the first round of finals football, the odds are against to win the competition as only two teams in the history of the game have ever won the premiership after finishing the regular season outside the top four.
No team in the modern NRL era has ever achieved that feat.
Cronulla fell just short of the top four spot due to their final two defeats.
If any team were to break that historic record and win the premiership from outside the top four this season, Johns believes it will be the Rabbitohs.
“If any team can win it from outside the top four it is this team,” he said of the squad Wayne Bennett has built at South Sydney.
South Sydney and the Newcastle Knights will kick off the 2026 NRL finals series in an elimination final on Friday night. The Sharks will play the second elimination final on Saturday night against the Cowboys at Allianz Stadium.
