Craig Fitzgibbon has downplayed Cronulla’s robust begin to the NRL season because the Sharks eye the prospect for a full-strength line-up within the coming weeks.
The Sharks completed spherical six atop the ladder, marking the primary time since their 2016 premiership season that they had led the competitors on the finish of a weekend.
Cronulla can maintain high spot by beating North Queensland at Shark Park on Sunday, which might mark a stronger begin to the 12 months by way of seven rounds than in that drought-breaking premiership marketing campaign.
In 2016, the Sharks recorded two losses within the opening seven video games, although admittedly did have one additional fixture than this 12 months’s group.
However Fitzgibbon nonetheless must see enchancment from his Sharks, who suffered a giant loss to Wests Tigers in spherical three and had been made to combat again from 18-0 right down to beat Canberra every week later.
“It is a lengthy option to go,” the coach mentioned.
“We have had some durations in video games the place we would’ve missed a kick or had some wobbles all through durations of the sport.
“We’re making an attempt to fine-tune these, however I believe we have performed some first rate footy at occasions. All of the whereas, I really feel like we are able to enhance.”
The Sharks had been compelled to deal with accidents and suspensions to a handful of standard first-graders to start out the season. Briton Nikora, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Dale Finucane, Toby Rudolf and Royce Hunt are amongst these to have frolicked on the sidelines.
Hamlin-Uele returns from his knee damage to face his former membership the Cowboys in his first recreation of the 12 months, with fellow prop Hunt (calf) and winger Sione Katoa (suspension) due again subsequent week.
Solely fringe first-grader Jesse Colquhoun can be listed within the casualty ward after that, and Fitzgibbon hopes consistency on the team-sheet results in enchancment on the sphere.
“We’ve fairly an unsettled line-up for the time being, so the extra footy we get accomplished, the higher probability of that occuring,” he mentioned.
Prized for his velocity, native product Samuel Stonestreet replaces Katoa on the wing for his NRL debut on Sunday.
“He is clearly a reasonably uncommon athlete if you happen to have a look at the dimensions, the peak, the velocity and talent of him,” Fitzgibbon mentioned.
“It is a fantastic story as nicely, native junior, he was a fan of the membership as a child.
“It actually means one thing to him, to play for Cronulla, and clearly to make his debut at dwelling. He is fought onerous for that.”
