Braith Anasta has taken aim at the Sharks, declaring they are “definitely stale” and also questioned their coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
The Sharks slumped to a 22-14 upset defeat to arch rivals the Dragons on Saturday.
Anasta was critical of Cronulla’s performance.
“I was watching the game on the weekend against the Dragons, and I thought for a team fighting for a top four spot, they’re stale,” he said on NRL 360 on Wednesday night.
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“I’m just going to say it right now. They are definitely stale.
“They were poor, really poor.”
According to Fox Sports Stats, Cronulla have had the least Origin players of any team over the last two seasons, but yet have the third worst winning record during the Origin period.
It led Anasta to put the blowtorch on Fitzgibbon over the Sharks’ recruitment and retention.
Halves Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall have long-term contracts with the club.
Hynes will be a Shark until the end of the 2029 season, while Trindall will remain with the club through until the end of the 2028 season.
“What are the Sharks doing? With no Origin players, and no injuries compared to any other team in the competition,” Anasta said.
“And here we are again watching the side do the same thing year after year.
“But in this situation, Fitzy has been in control of the same team.
“He has chosen to re-sign Hynes and Trindall and those guys.
“He’s a mate of mine but I call it how I see it on this show.
“I’m not going to not mention it just because he’s a friend.
“Is he making the right decisions? What move is he going to make next?
“These players are on long-term deals.
“If you’re a Sharks fan, you’re thinking, here we go again, right?
“(Fitzgibbon is) going to have to spice something up or change something soon, or he’s got to change the way that they play.”
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Reporter David Riccio believes the Sharks are guilty of being complacent when they go up against struggling teams, or teams who are missing a lot of players.
“I think it’s a mentality,” Riccio added.
“I think they’re guilty of looking at the opposition team sheet.
“Through that Origin period, they’re playing depleted teams.
“Who did they get beaten by on the weekend? By the Dragons. A depleted side.
“They lose to the Roosters in Gosford. Depleted team.
“They seem to play better against the better teams.”
Cronulla sit in seventh spot on the table, just two competition points in front of the Dolphins (8th) and Roosters (9th).
They’ll take on the Titans on Saturday afternoon at Sharks Stadium.
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