After a disappointing loss to Parramatta, the Sharks head into the final round of the regular season with plenty of questions to answer.

On this episode of The ET Stand, the boys look ahead to Cronulla’s clash with the Melbourne Storm and ask whether recent form really matters once the finals begin.

CK gets the floor for his Eels rant, we run through the latest Bally M standings, break down the Sharks’ remarkable recent home record against Melbourne, and look at teams from the past who managed to turn poor late-season form into successful finals campaigns.

Boldo also unveils his 5½-point plan to get the Sharks back on track — including the importance of Braydon Trindall’s fitness, creating a siege mentality, better bench management, getting more from the supporting cast, Nicho Hynes taking ownership and finding a way to unleash Siosifa Talakai.

Plus:

• Boldo’s latest Player Tiers
• Why the NRL should completely rethink Round 27
• And a bigger question for the club: has constantly celebrating the 2016 premiership actually started holding the Sharks back?

Are the Sharks cooked — or is there still every reason to believe?

Solve Accounting

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Miranda Hotel

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Morgans Cronulla

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Southside Physiotherapy

https://ssphysio.com.au/

Display Wear

https://www.displaywear.com.au/

Mortgage Choice Cronulla, Sutherland & Wollongong

https://www.mortgagechoice.com.au/sutherland/

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One of the more infuriating Sharks performances of the season.

Boldo and Franko jump on after Cronulla’s 38-18 loss to Parramatta to work through a disastrous opening, another missed opportunity and what it means with the finals now just around the corner.

The Sharks were blown away early, fought their way back into the contest in the second half, but repeatedly failed to turn possession and field position into points.

• How did Cronulla allow the game to get away from them so quickly?
• The Sharks’ attack and a frustrating lack of variety from the halves
• Why Cronulla looked far more dangerous when they shifted the football
• Sione Katoa’s strong performance in a beaten side
• Will Kennedy, Blayke Brailey and the best performers from the loss
• The defensive problems on Cronulla’s edges
• The controversial Addin Fonua-Blake no-try
• Siosifa Talakai’s impact and whether the Sharks should have used him earlier
• Braydon Trindall’s frustration on the sideline
• Tom Hazelton and the potential changes to the forward pack
• The missed opportunity to push for the top four
• Are the Sharks simply waiting for the finals, or is their form now a genuine concern?
• Should Craig Fitzgibbon rest players against Melbourne?
• And are we heading towards yet another Sharks v Cowboys finals showdown?

Plus we get through plenty of your comments and hand out the ET Stand 3-2-1 votes.

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Your support helps us keep producing independent Sharks content every week throughout the season.

Solve Accounting

https://www.solveaccounting.com.au/

Miranda Hotel

https://mirandahotel.com.au/

Morgans Cronulla

https://morgans.com.au/branch/cronulla

Southside Physiotherapy

https://www.ssphysio.com.au/

Display Wear

https://www.displaywear.com.au/

Mortgage Choice Cronulla, Sutherland & Wollongong

https://www.mortgagechoice.com.au/pete.johnson/

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The ET Stand Podcast is LIVE every Tuesday night at 8:30pm and after every Cronulla Sharks match throughout the NRL season.

UP UP CRONULLA.

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With the top four still in reach and the finals fast approaching, Boldo, Franko and Francis are back to work through the big issues facing Cronulla.

Francis takes us inside Braydon Trindall’s shoulder dislocation — what actually happens when a shoulder comes out, what “minor structural damage” could mean, how it is rehabilitated and the risks involved in getting Trindall back on the field for September.

Franko then answers five questions coming out of the Titans win, including what we learned from another patchy Sharks performance and which players are putting their hands up heading into the finals.

We also update the Bally M Player of the Year race, where Nicho Hynes has moved ahead of the injured Trindall, before turning our attention to Sharks v Eels at CommBank Stadium.

Is this a danger game? Why have the Sharks struggled on Parramatta’s home deck? And who needs to step up and make sure Cronulla gets the job done with a top-four finish on the line?

Plus, we swing around the rest of the NRL and the developing finals picture.

• Braydon Trindall’s shoulder injury explained
• Can Trindall safely return for the finals?
• Franko answers five questions from Sharks v Titans
• Bally M Player of the Year update
• Nicho Hynes takes the lead
• Sharks v Eels preview
• Cronulla’s poor recent record at Parramatta
• The Eels danger signs
• Who steps up for the Sharks?
• The race for the top four
• Around the NRL

Solve Accounting

https://solveaccounting.com.au

Miranda Hotel

https://mirandahotel.com.au

Morgans Cronulla

https://morgans.com.au/branch/Cronulla

Mortgage Choice Sutherland, Cronulla & Wollongong

https://www.mortgagechoice.com.au/patrick.johnson/

Southside Physiotherapy

https://southsidephysio.com.au

Displaywear

https://displaywear.com.au

Join the ET Stand Discord and talk Sharks with us 24/7:

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Watch The ET Stand Podcast live every Tuesday night on YouTube, plus our live post-match debriefs immediately after every Sharks game.

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Up Up Cronulla!

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