Captain Jamie Lyon admits the feeling of fighting for a finals spot at this time of the year is unusual.
“It is a little bit different for us this year. We are usually in the eight comfortably (by now),’’ he said.
The ninth-placed Sea Eagles need Wests Tigers to beat St George-Illawarra convincingly on Saturday and then do the same to the Sharks on Sunday if they are to turn around the 61 points differential the eighth-placed Dragons have on them.
The Sea Eagles have won 19 of their 34 matches played at the Sharks’ home ground. Manly Warringah have also won 7 of the past 8 clashes.
Cronulla’s last win against Manly was on their home ground in 2012.
“There is a still a mathematical chance and we have to play pretty well on Sunday,” Lyon said.
“We always have a tough game in the Shire. It is going to be hard and a good challenge for us.
“The Sharks have had a great season. (Coach) Shane Flanagan has got them up this season and they have played some exceptional footy and unearth some talent over there. The way they have been playing has been good to watch.
“They are not in the top four for no reason. They are going to be hard and it will be a good atmosphere.
“The last few weeks haven’t been our best and we are pretty disappointed about the way we have ended the season, after we had that little bit of momentum where we won six out of eight games.
“The fans deserve better.”
