HAVING relied on half-hour bursts in the opening rounds, Shellharbour coach Abed Atallah is optimistic the Sharks are starting to find their groove.
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In two wins this year, Shellharbour have blown Milton-Ulladulla away and then clung on for a 34-30 win, before coming from 12-4 down against Nowra-Bomaderry to triumph 28-16, with a four-try second-half surge.
It’s far from the type of consistency Atallah is after, but with key players returning, he hopes the Sharks are about to fire.
“It’s been hard, we’ve been really good in one half and then not so great the next,” he said. “It’s been a slow start, we’ve had blokes with other commitments, a couple of injuries, but we’re getting there.
“We’re starting to put it together now, it’s only early.”
In contrast, some of their biggest rivals – notably Jamberoo and premiers Gerringong – have hardly skipped a beat this year.
The Lions thumped Warilla 26-6 in a grand final rematch and Jamberoo showed their title potential with a 32-4 triumph over Milton.
Prop Lloyd Thomas could return for Sunday’s showdown with Albion Park-Oak Flats, having been sidelined since hurting his shoulder in the pre-season. Having watched Jai Field and Euan Aitken make it to the NRL, Shellharbour have been boosted by the emergence of Euan’s brother Wade this year. Also a hard-running centre, Aitken represented Group Seven and has been a standout in the his first full season in the top grade.
“They’re similar sort of players,” Atallah said. “He's been great for us this season.”
Second-rower Ryan McCracken and centre Ian Catania have also been among the Sharks best.
While Atallah expects Shellharbour to be a contender when finals approach, he was hardly surprised to see new Group Seven rivals the Stingrays emergence as a competitive force.
“Not with Buggsy (coach Dean Gray) there,” he said.
“He’s a competitor and he’s made the team play the same way, they’re going to be hard to beat, no doubt about it.”
The Stingrays host the Sharks next week at Flinders Field in the inaugural first grade clash.
While they’ve lost both games so far, the Stringrays were only edged out 34-26 by Port Kembla, after starting with an 18-16 loss against Gray’s old club Albion Park.
Shellharbour will have their own Anzac commemoration on Sunday, with jerseys made for the occasion and free entry for servicemen and women who bring along proof of their role in the armed services.
Lock Dylan McGregor is a former Army man.