Did the Sharks peak too early?

[Super Freak]

Did they peak too early?

They have been getting worse over the past few weeks, and they just don't look like the same ruthless side we've been seeing the whole season.

Even in the Knights game, they made a lot of errors in that game. A better team would have taken advantage of that, but the Knights being the awful team they are, Sharks were able to get away with a convincing win. But it overshadowed some problems that were creeping into the game.

Against the Titans, They just looked like they didn't know how to win a game in those crucial moments. Townsend was showing why he wasn't in high demand and Maloney choked.

Now this game, it was just like seeing the 2015 Sharks all over again. Some very ordinary defence and some poor decisions in attack, such as the chip and chases that just weren't working.

I know they had Ennis out, but I doubt they would have even won with Ennis.

Is this them choking? Or are they just taking their foot off the pedal?

 

[jarro65]

I think Canberra would've beaten most sides on tonights effort.

Sharks are still playing well and should continue to do so for a while yet i'd expect.

 

[vertigo]

I think this thread is a bit premature.

 

[Mr Fourex]

 

[Danoz Direct]

I don't know if they have peaked to early yet. But I definitely hope they have.

 

[Big Pete]

Unless their season completely hits the skids, they should win their next three games. St George (A), Rabbitohs (A), Roosters (H) shouldn't scare them and Bellamy can always decide to treat the final home game as a glorified bye.

I don't think last night was an indicator of anything. The Raiders obviously used this game as a source of motivation and were coming off a big win against the Rabbitohs the week before. The win gave them a lot of confidence, and they used that to beat a Sharks side that was coming to grips with their franchise record run of wins coming to an end in a bittersweet fashion.

As a result, their execution was slightly off where as the Raiders made the better use of their chances.

The way I see it, the Sharks will still find a way in the Top 2, which will see them face off against Canberra or North Queensland. What I found interesting about the performance was the Sharks ruck defence. It's an area that has been weak all season and now that the Raiders have exposed it for everyone to see, I'll be interested to see how Hodgson and Granville go about exploiting it in the finals.

Say the Sharks lose that game, and go onto face either Canterbury or Brisbane, I wouldn't be overly surprised if they tumble straight out of the finals.

 

[broncsgoat]

Pretty amazing that they didn't lose for 16 rounds and the storm are still in front of them.

 

[Huge]

Pretty amazing that they didn't lose for 16 rounds and the storm are in

front of them.

Fixed it for you. Not still, only now. They haven't been in front of them for months, if at all.

 

[Harry Sack]

TBH, I think it was just bad wording Huge.

This thread is entirely too early imo. If they struggle in the next 2 games then I think it's a worthwhile discussion.

 

[Nashy]

Seems like the perfect time to drop a few, regroup, and come home hard into the finals.

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Seems like a lot of the top teams aren't at their best at the moment. Whoever can go on a run will be best placed.

 

[Dash]

Seems like the perfect time to drop a few, regroup, and come home hard into the finals.

That's what the Broncos are doing right? Right?

 

[Nashy]

That's what the Broncos are doing right? Right?

Absolutely!

 

[Super Freak]

That's what the Broncos are doing right? Right?

Exactly.

The Broncos purposely went on that bad run to give the other teams false hope. To make them think we are gone. Then boom, we hit everyone by surprise just like in 2006...

I fucking wish.

 

[Renegade]

no, the sharks will be there or thereabouts, they missed ennis against Canberra + Hodgson had an absolutely storming game.

I see no reason the Sharks cannot go on and win it.

 

[Battler]

Hopefully. The game against us where they almost lost despite having something like a 24 point lead wasn't something you'd see from teams like the Storm.

 

[vertigo]

I see no reason the Sharks cannot go on and win it.

My mate is a Sharks supporter, he is still wary of the fact that they have no big game experience - last time they got to a prelim was a completely different team and they couldn't score a point which is the same thing that happened to last year's team in the semi.

 

[Broncoman]

My mate is a Sharks supporter, he is still wary of the fact that they have no big game experience - last time they got to a prelim was a completely different team and they couldn't score a point which is the same thing that happened to last year's team in the semi.

They still do have Maloney, Ennis and Barba in the spine who have played origin/grand finals before and there is also Gallen, Graham, Bird and Lewis there who defiantly aren't strangers to the big time.