Sharks coach confident defence will stand up
Do the Cronulla Sharks really need an X-factor to be a genuine title contender?
And, who are the youngsters ready to take the next step?
We put those questions, and more, to coach Craig Fitzgibbon as he prepares for his third season in charge in the shire.
Kdouh: How do you reflect on your 2023 season? Fitzgibbon:
We had some moments throughout the year that were more difficult than the previous year. We made changes during the season. I really thought we finished with a better representation of what we were about. None of us were comfortable about the way we were playing at the mid-year point.
Kdouh: The Sharks finished with the fifth best attack in the NRL but what’s your assessment of the side’s defence, having conceded on average 20 points per game?
Fitzgibbon: We weren’t
comfortable with the way we were defending. Particularly our semi-finals performance in 2022, it wasn’t up to scratch for semi-finals standard. Then we lost the semi against the Roosters only conceding one line break, one try and a kick deflection
try, so we did tighten our defence up towards the back end but it was too late to find a real rhythm with it.
Kdouh: How do you shore up your defensive structures over the summer?
Fitzgibbon: I feel like we were starting to grow up as a team and honour the simple part of the game like holding on to the ball and where we were turning the ball over. We changed a lot of combinations in the spine, sometimes it’s hard to get continuity there with Braydon Trindall coming in, and Will Kennedy getting hurt. We’re confident we can get our attacking football to complement our defence.
Kdouh: The side is 0-3 in the finals in the past two seasons. How do you make sure those results don’t become a mental block for the team? Fitzgibbon:
Some areas went forwards, some went backwards last year, but I feel like we can go forward again in 2024. The pain of those two finals exists but we need to earn the right to be there in the finals. All the while be better prepared for what might come.
Kdouh: There has been some commentary that
maybe the Sharks are missing an X-factor player in the side. What’s your take on that, do you need an X-factor? Fitzgibbon:
You’re asking me to disrespect my team, and I’m not going to do that. From a development level, I believe wholeheartedly that with the exception of the more senior players – like Dale Finucane, Cam McInnes, Brit Nikora and Blayke Brailey – if you look at where everyone else is in their career, I’m really excited about the fact they could have an Xfactor in them. That’s what I’m most excited about to be honest. I’m excited about them stepping up and hopefully proving me right.
Kdouh: Nicho Hynes went from Dally M medallist to having to face some scrutiny over his performances. What will we see from him this year?
Fitzgibbon: Nicho has handled a lot of adversity in his life but maybe the first time he’s had to handle footy adversity.
It wasn’t an easy time for him. All the while he never shirked his effort or desire to improve. When Nicho calmed his mind around what is important for his game and the team, he responded really well in the back end of the season.
Top-line halves at some point are always going to have these tough periods, there is a lot resting on their shoulders. We also changed his halves and fullback combination on him.
Kdouh: Who are some of the players in the squad you feel are ready to step-up? Fitzgibbon:
If you look at where the team is at in terms of experience, I do feel strongly that a lot of players have so much more to give. We’ve got a crew of younger guys that are ready too. Guys like Tuku Hau-Tapuha and Jesse Colquhoun, he broke his foot at the start of 2023. We’ve got Kayal Iro and Kade Dykes in the backs. Kade is coming back from a knee reconstruction.