HALF Nicho Hynes has revealed a private team meeting was behind Cronulla’s stunning run to the penultimate weekend of the season after a mid-year slump.
“We had a players-only chat and a discussion on where we really were and the sort of team we have,” Hynes told Channel Nine in the wake of last week’s 32-12 qualifying final win over Canberra at GIO Stadium.
“You know, in the pre-season we expected big things and that middle of the year there, we weren’t anywhere near expectations.
“It was good, serious hard truths – and look what it’s done for us.”
On Triple M, Hynes added: “The last few weeks – Bulldogs, Roosters, now Canberra – we’ve had to defend our line for a long time and once you’ve shown that resilience to turn ’em away, turn ’em away, I think it gives a bit of energy.
“Even though you’re stuffed out there, your lungs are blowing, it still gives you energy.”
And the Sharks, whose win made Canberra the first minor premier since 2009 to be bundled out of the finals in straight sets, have used the low expectations of others as motivation.
“We use that as a bit of fire,” hooker Blayke Brailey told Triple M. “For the last few years now, People probably see us as part of the top eight – we’re not genuine contenders.
“We know what we have in our four walls and I know what we can do in this competition, this back end of the year. It’s about staying focused heading towards that back end and hopefully that grand final.”
Canberra suffered from the withdrawal of half Ethan Strange through illness on match eve.
“What was a successful year was also a failure,” prop Josh Papali’i told ABC.
Asked if the double-overtime loss to Brisbane the previous week had sapped his team mentally, Papali’i answered: “It was fine. That’s just excuses.”
Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, also on the ABC, reflected:Â “It’s unlucky what happened with Ethan Strange You want to (play) them at their best but you can only (play) what’s in front of you.”
CRONULLA 32 (Mulitalo Hynes Burns Iro Wilton tries Hynes 6 goals) bt CANBERRA 12 (Horsburgh Tamale tries Fogarty 2 goals) at GIO Stadium.
CANBERRA: Kaeo Weekes; Savelio Tamale, Matthew Timoko, Sebastian Kris, Jed Stewart; Simi Sasagi, Jamal Fogarty; Josh Papali’i, Tom Starling, Joe Tapine (c), Hudson Young, Zac Hosking, Corey Horsburgh. Res: Owen Pattie, Morgan Smithies, Ata Mariota, Matty Nicholson. 18th man: Ethan Sanders.
CRONULLA: William Kennedy; Sione Katoa, Jesse Ramien, KL Iro, Ronaldo Mulitalo; Braydon Trindall, Nicho Hynes; Addin Fonua-Blake, Blayke Brailey, Toby Rudolf, Billy Burns, Teig Wilton, Jesse Colquhoun. Res: Briton Nikora, Siosifa Talakai, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Tom Hazelton. 18th man: Dan Atkinson.
Referee: Grant Atkins.