Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon has told his players that the only way to silence doubters is by toppling Canberra in Saturday’s semi-final, declaring that respect in the NRL cannot be handed out; it must be earned.
The Sharks head into GIO Stadium with momentum but also with the tag of underdogs, facing a Raiders outfit that Fitzgibbon called the competition’s benchmark side.
‘Respect, you can’t ask for it’
“Our form line had been pretty strong up until that point, and I don’t think anyone saw us coming,” Fitzgibbon said in The Coach’s Mail video on the club’s website. “Respect, you can’t ask for it, it’s got to be earned. [The Raiders have] been the best team all year, that’s pretty obvious.”
Much of the build-up has focused on Nicho Hynes and his ability to steer Cronulla in big games, but Fitzgibbon was quick to spread the responsibility across the squad. “I think there’s a lot of talk about halves when it comes to big games,” he said. “[Nicho Hynes] is not affected by that at the moment. He’s had a really strong season this year, and he’s confident in the way that he’s playing.
MORE: James Graham names NRL's forgotten premiership contender
“Our team needs to do a job so [Hynes] can take his moments when they come – if they come. We’ve all got to rely on each other, it’s not just about Nicho.”
The Sharks, often cast as outsiders in the NRL’s pecking order, have embraced that mentality before. Fitzgibbon is banking on the same steel to carry them through against Ricky Stuart’s Raiders, who enter the clash as favourites.