Cronulla insist their nightmare document towards Penrith is historical historical past, regardless of not scoring some extent towards the Panthers because the 2022 season.
However the Sharks are dealing with the potential of contending with out each first-choice centres Jesse Ramien and Kayal Iro, every underneath an harm cloud forward of Saturday’s grand last qualifier.
Sporting a moon boot this week, Ramien has had scans on a persistent ankle harm, whereas a biceps challenge has plunged Iro’s choice possibilities into doubt.
One week after slaying their finals hoodoo and touchdown their first post-season win underneath Craig Fitzgibbon, the Sharks face one other psychological mountain at Stadium Australia.
Cronulla are hardly alone in having a horror run towards the Panthers, with no group having a profitable document towards them since 2020.
However the Sharks’ is especially regarding.
Their solely win towards the three-time defending premiers this decade got here throughout an Origin-impacted spherical in 2021.
They’ve additionally been held scoreless of their previous two matches towards Penrith, with their final factors approaching July 28, 2022, some 798 days in the past come Saturday.
Of the present Cronulla facet, Ronaldo Mulitalo is the final participant to cross for a attempt towards the Panthers previously 4 seasons.
And as a group they haven’t scored some extent previously 219 minutes of soccer towards Penrith.
However regardless, Nicho Hynes and different Sharks are adamant there isn’t a psychological block.
“If I did not have the arrogance and perception we may break them down, I do not suppose we’d be right here proper now,” Hynes mentioned.
“They’re human. Everyone seems to be beatable.
“It is going to be very onerous, it isn’t as straightforward as simply saying they’re beatable. They’re three-time champs for a motive, could possibly be going into their fifth grand last.
“You must applaud and take your hat off what they’ve achieved, as a result of it is onerous to do.
“However we would not be right here proper now if we did not have a perception to do it.”
A part of the Sharks’ horror run features a 42-0 hiding from Penrith at dwelling in Could, the place Hynes went off the sphere after a head knock and didn’t return attributable to calf tightness.
Cronulla had entered that recreation with seven straight wins, with Hynes one of many kind gamers of the competitors and equal-leader of the Dally M Medal race.
That loss started a run of three wins in eight video games for the Sharks, whereas Hynes grew to become essentially the most scrutinised participant within the league.
“That’s lengthy gone,” Hynes mentioned.
“It was spherical 12. We’re a a lot better group than we had been then. We’re enjoying higher footy, we’re far more related now.
“The best way we’re enjoying footy for the time being (offers us the arrogance).
“The (round-27) Manly recreation specifically, this recreation from the weekend (towards North Queensland). Our recreation fashion is beginning to swimsuit the best way our gamers play.”
Cronulla gamers have insisted this week that the round-12 loss didn’t derail their season, with accidents enjoying an even bigger position.
And of their eyes, regular-season matches have little influence on finals.
“We’re not going to be naive. We all know the outcomes are there. However for us it isn’t trying again, it is trying ahead,” Mulitalo mentioned.
“It is a new competitors. You’ve one other crack at it.”
AAP
