Craig Fitzgibbon Expresses Frustration with Cronulla’s Inconsistent Performance
Cronulla Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has voiced his frustration with the team’s inconsistent performances in the NRL, particularly after a recent 36-12 loss to South Sydney. The defeat leaves the Sharks outside the top eight, despite their history of making the finals under Fitzgibbon’s leadership.
Fitzgibbon criticized the Sharks’ performance, pointing out that the two tries they scored in the final 15 minutes were a “false economy” due to ill-discipline and handling errors. These mistakes allowed the Rabbitohs to gain momentum and secure a convincing victory.
This is not the first time Fitzgibbon has questioned his players’ attitude. A fortnight earlier, after a heavy loss to North Queensland, he expressed concerns about the team’s mindset. However, this time, the coach’s frustration was more evident, as he struggled to hide his contempt for the Sharks’ performance against the Rabbitohs.
“I’m getting a bit sick of waiting for it (the penny to drop) to be honest,” Fitzgibbon said. “I’m not going to shy away from it, either. It’s up to us. We still believe we’ve got a good side, we’ve got a strong squad, but we’re not displaying it regularly.”
The NRL competition is highly competitive, with scores and momentum fluctuating frequently. Fitzgibbon emphasized that the Sharks need to take advantage of their opportunities rather than wait for them.
“Our strong performances this year have been strong, but it’s been inconsistent. Until we learn those lessons, we’ve got to harden up and we’ll do that. We have these wobbles every year and we tend to do something about it, but I’m sick of waiting for it as well.”
Cronulla, currently sitting at 4-5, have only managed one win in their last four matches. Their next challenge comes against Canterbury in the opening game of Magic Round in Brisbane on Friday. Fitzgibbon believes the only way forward for the Sharks is to focus on improving their basic skills and consistency.
Fitzgibbon also hinted that key players like winger Ronaldo Mulitalo and centre Jesse Ramien may return from injury for the upcoming match. However, there are concerns about the availability of hooker Blayke Brailey, who suffered a category one concussion during the game.
Brailey is set to miss the clash against the Bulldogs under NRL protocols. Despite this, he claims to feel fine and suggested that the Sharks might seek to overturn the concussion ruling. This could provide an opportunity for Brailey to play on Friday, which is his last chance to impress selectors for the State of Origin series.
“I feel good, I feel normal, so hopefully I can play next week. I’m sure the club will look at it,” Brailey said.
