The Cronulla Sharks are using their doubters as motivation, determined to prove they are not finals flops and are "locked in" to deliver a second NRL premiership to the club.
With nine wins from their last 10 starts, the Sharks are flying, yet they continue to face criticism from those who point to their poor September record as evidence that Craig Fitzgibbon's side are title pretenders.
In Fitzgibbon's first season in charge in 2022, Cronulla finished second in the minor premiership but bowed out in straight sets. The following year, they were eliminated after a heartbreaking 13-12 loss to the Sydney Roosters in the first week of the finals.
Back-to-back preliminary finals
However, the Sharks have since reached consecutive preliminary finals and believe they have buried the hoodoo with emphatic victories over the Roosters and minor premiers Canberra, both away from home, last season.
"We've been to two prelims in the last two years before this, so the media just want to say whatever they want to say. We don't really care at the moment," in-form back-rower Billy Burns told AAP.
"We're just focused on our footy. We've proved a few things wrong, like can't win at 'Brookie' (Brookvale Oval), a few things like that."
Using sceptics as fuel
Burns admitted the fourth-placed Sharks are using the sceptics as fuel as they chase a top-two finals berth and more in 2026.
"Any motivation you can get at this time of the year is pretty good, so we'll definitely use whatever we can," he said.
Star fullback Will Kennedy says the Sharks are "used to" hearing the naysayers pipe up about the team's finals record.
"It's nothing new to us as a team," he told AAP. "But we've grown a lot of confidence out of the last couple of years and we've definitely brought that this year and we just want to keep charging."
Last year's wins a turning point
Kennedy said last year's elimination of the Roosters and Raiders were especially big for the group.
"There was a lot of talk about all that. We didn't look too much into it and we focused on our footy and we took care of it," he said of the so-called finals jinx.
The Sharks also sense the end of an era coming with stalwarts like co-captain Cam McInnes, Jesse Ramien, Sione Katoa, Siosifa Talakai and Mawene Hiroti all leaving at season's end.
Playing for departing stars
"So we want to play for them and just keep playing for each other as well because we've been together for so long now," Kennedy said.
"All the boys that have been here for so long that are leaving, we love them. We wanted to keep everyone here. But they've got to do what's best for their family and it's best that we play good footy for them and for ourselves as well."
Burns said the Sharks are bent on sending out the departing stars with a bang.
"We've been playing together, some of us, since under-20s all the way through and the group is obviously super close," he said.
"It's sad seeing blokes leave and obviously going out with a grand final will be pretty handy so we're pretty locked in at the moment and chasing that, so hopefully we can do that."
