SHELLHARBOUR coach Dave Walsh has shrugged off suggestions the Sharks will be short of match fitness for Sunday’s grand final against Gerringong at Collegians Sports Centre.
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Hunting their first premiership since 2001, the Sharks finished on top of the ladder and will start as slight favourites for the premiership showdown with the Lions.
On Thursday Gerringong fullback Joel Roberts fired a psychological shot with his theory that the minor premiers might be underdone after playing just once in the past month. But the Sharks are having none of it.
‘‘I think that’s a myth. I’d rather be straight in the grand final to get over the nigglies [injuries],’’ Walsh said.
‘‘We haven’t played a hell of a lot of footy lately, but before that we played 15 games straight, and everyone would be drained after doing that. We’re fresh and rearing to go and we’ve got no excuses.’’
Both sides have injury concerns. Shellharbour lock Brad Chapman (foot) is in doubt, while Lions captain Brad Davidson is battling a hamstring ailment.
Walsh has also moved experienced fullback Danny Sartori back into the starting side. Of their two regular season meetings, the Sharks and Lions drew 28-all in round seven before Harbour won 34-18 in round 16.
‘‘I’m expecting a real torrid affair,’’ Walsh said.
‘‘When you finish minor premiers everyone’s going to think you’re the best, but it’s up to us on the day to make it happen.
‘‘We respect Gerringong and we have to go out there with our ‘A’ game.’’
Walsh said the Sharks must avoid being too predictable in the middle of the field.
‘‘We need to make sure we’re not just punching sets out for the sake of getting our completion rate up,’’ he said.
‘‘We need to use the ball and make sure we’ve got a fair bit of time in possession, and our high-end kicks at the end of sets is important.’’
While the Sharks went straight through to the grand final, the Lions took the hard road.
After losing the qualifying final 8-6 to Kiama, Gong bounced back with a 16-14 defeat of Nowra-Bomaderry and last week’s 32-14 victory over the Knights.
‘‘The defence has been better the last few weeks,’’ Lions coach Mick Cronin said.
‘‘During the year you can get in some bad habits when you’re winning by big scores, and we’ve certainly improved that lately.
‘‘We still have to cut down penalties and not force the football, because we’re still forcing it at times.’’
The Lions are contesting their fifth grand final in six years and hoping to add to the premierships they won in 2010 and 2013.
‘‘I’m not looking for an underdog tag and I’m not looking for a favourite tag,’’ Cronin said.
‘‘Once you get to the grand final you’re one chance in two.
‘’I’m not a great believer in trick shots. Every now and then things come off, but in the end the game is won over 80 minutes.
‘’That’s what we bank on, turning up for 80.’’
