'Cannon fodder': Gould's brutal verdict on team

1 year ago 104

Rugby league adept Phil Gould believes it isn't apt the Cronulla Sharks volition marque the apical 8 with the nine reeling from a 44-12 nonaccomplishment to the Warriors connected Saturday.

While the Sharks beryllium sixth connected the ladder presently, they've lone beaten a existent apical 8 broadside erstwhile this season, accounting for Parramatta successful circular two.

Their play has been inconsistent each year, having suffered a 54-10 decision to the Storm successful circular 15 earlier going connected a three-match winning streak with wins implicit struggling sides: the Bulldogs, Dragons and Tigers.

However, the Warriors effect has brought them backmost down to earth.

The Sharks volition look 3 apical 8 sides successful their past 7 games, on with a clash against the Cowboys who are ninth.

The Sharks person struggled against apical 8 sides. (Getty)

When asked if the Sharks person got what it takes to enactment successful the eight, Gould wasn't holding overmuch hope.

"I don't deliberation so, not with the gully they've got there, not with the mode they're performing against those apical sides," helium said connected Nine's 100% Footy.

"Again it conscionable shows the graphic quality betwixt the apical teams and the bottommost teams successful this competition, that they tin beryllium truthful ascendant with the bottommost 9 teams of the contention and inactive beryllium non-competitive with the apical 8 teams successful the competition.

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"I mean the Warriors perfectly gassed them connected the weekend, they were conscionable acold excessively bully for them."

Gould went further to picture the Sharks arsenic "cannon fodder" if they did marque the finals, aft capitulating past twelvemonth with losses to the Cowboys and Rabbitohs.

NRL Highlights: Warriors v Sharks - Round 20

"They're a agelong mode from being semi last challengers, if they get determination I deliberation they'll beryllium cannon fodder, which is what happened to them past twelvemonth ... they got done to the apical 4 but went retired successful consecutive sets with immoderate beauteous large scores," helium said.

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"I cognize Craig Fitzgibbon was devastated astatine their defence successful the large games but thing overmuch has changed this year.

"They've got points successful them against the weaker sides, but they conflict to people points against the amended sides and their defence conscionable doesn't cope."

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