FORMER Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks’ skipper and current Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs’ Women’s League Tag coach David Hatch believes now is the time for his beloved NRL team to break their trophy drought.
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The Sharks have endured 49 years of pain since their inception in 1967 to the NSWRL, but that could all end Sunday night when the Sharks take on Melbourne at ANZ Stadium. Hatch, who played 183 games for the Sharks from 1979–90, believes the Sharks have the team to create history.
“I hope they get up and it seems that a lot of people are backing them to win on Sunday,” Hatch said.
“The most important thing is that the players seem to believe in one another.
“They also have a few lads like Michael Ennis, Luke Lewis and James Maloney who have played in grand finals before, which should make a huge difference.
“The key will be to push up on on defence and nullify the Storm’s attacking players like Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith, like they did to Johnathan Thurston last week.
“If the Sharks can reproduce that intensity and dominance around the ruck, there’s no reason why they can’t create their own slice of history on Sunday night.
“And with it also being Ennis’ last game of NRL, there’s a little extra motivation for all the boys to win.”
Hatch was on the bench of the 1978 drawn NSWRL grand final against Manly-Warringah (11-all), which the Sharks would end up losing days later 16-nil in the rematch.
