Full-back Brett Stewart described last week’s loss to the Sydney Roosters as an ‘embarrassment’ and wants to make amends against Cronulla this Sunday.
“To toss that up in front of a pretty packed Brookie Oval (was not good). We were playing for a fair bit as well. It was just embarrassing to put out a performance like that,’’ Stewart said.
“We have had a few weeks like that this season. It was a familiar feeling and it was not a good one.
“We need to bridge the gap between our best and worst game. That’s been our biggest fault. We are still a mathematical chance (of making the finals) but we just have to concentrate on winning and winning well.
“Last week was not good enough. It probably typifies our year, being up and down.
“It is important to finish off on a high note. There are a few staff and players leaving and all of them deserve to go out on a winning note.”
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.
Stewart - the Sea Eagles leading tryscorer this season - said he was pleased to have extended his contract until the end of 2017 after putting pen to paper last Friday. He was off contract at the end of next season.
“Ï still think I have got another year or two after (2017). The maintenance training I am doing here seems to be prolonging my career,’’ he said.
“When I first put the maroon and white jumper on, I always thought I finish my career here so it is another step closer to that."