Phil Gould has warned the Sharks need to find some “resolve” quickly, or else risk missing the top eight altogether.
“They’ve survived by the brilliance of their backline and their ability to accumulate points and dominate possession and not make mistakes,” he said on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus.
Gould said he feared the Sharks were heading towards a season exit as disappointing as the one last year.
“They qualified top-four and bowed out in straight sets in a couple of big losses,” he said.
“I remember calling Craig Fitzgibbon … to say ‘well done mate, good year’, and he was so disappointed with the finals.
“He prides himself on defence, and they didn’t get it done.
“He said it won’t happen again, well it’s happening again.
“They’ve got a very tough draw. And I’ve been saying (they might not make finals) for a while. I don’t like saying that because I like the Sharks and I love them to do well.
“But they’re in trouble and they need to find some resolve very quickly.
“Unless they’re dominating possession and making the scoreboard tick, they certainly become vulnerable.”
The Sharks are teetering on the edge of the top-eight, locked in a fight with the Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Eels, Knights and Sea Eagles. All six clubs are separated by just three points. The Dolphins and Roosters are only a point further back.
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