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Message: [QUOTE="Big Pete, post: 2701895, member: 1899"] Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't think of any instance where the 5th favourite team has taken out the premiership this late in the competition. Certainly, I can remember many instances where a side surprised everyone and made it as far as a prelim or even the grand final, but gone onto win? Hmmm...maybe not since the Super League era where the Bulldogs surprised everyone has something like that happened. So I don't think it's that disrespectful to think the Sharks chances are slim to none. Of course every team is some chance, even Manly but it's like that scene from Dumb and Dumber... [media=youtube]gqdNe8u-Jsg[/media] ...they're not good. I think 5th favourite is a little generous for Cronulla as well. Yes, the addition of Fifita is handy but I don't think it's automatically a tremendous boost to the Sharks. On his day, Fifita is the best prop forward in the game. However, this season, he has easily been the dumbest prop forward and he can just as easily cost the Sharks a game, as much as he can win it. Maybe the six weeks on the sidelines would have helped him somewhat but I don't think the Sharks have really missed him and if I was Flanagan, I'd be compelled to play him off the bench and challenge Fifita to take the spots off of Tagataese and Heighno - the latter of which has been very underrated this season. So unless Fifita can find his best form, I think the Sharks will be caught out and wouldn't be surprised to see them out by week 2. If they are, there's no shame in that. After all the drama of last season with ASADA & Carney, to finish inside the Top 4 would be a nice achievement. It also bodes well for their future. Maloney & Townsend are an upgrade on their current halves pairing & Bird could be just as handy in the centres as he is at five eighth. The fullback equation should be less hairy now with Gordon out of the equation. That will mean Cronulla will either get more value out of Barba or develop Holmes who looks capable of adding another dimension to the Sharks attack. It isn't a making of a dynasty by any means, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Cronulla struggle in 2017 with a few players getting on or looking close to retirement, but they should figure somewhere next year. [/QUOTE]

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