ALTHOUGH Cronulla were blown away by the Melbourne Storm 48-6 at AAMI Park on Saturday night, their main focus now turns towards this Sunday's clash against Canberra at Remondis Stadium.
Sharks coach James Shepherd summed it up best in his post-match press conference: "It was a poor performance from us tonight."
Even allowing for the fact that the Sharks were without a stack of regular squad players, their defence was brittle.
But Shepherd said the main task was to now prepare for the clash against Canberra.
The Sharks and Raiders are locked together on 14 points, but the Sharks are last on percentages.
The Sharks have a minus 252 points differential and the Raiders, a minus 195.
It's being billed as the "battle to avoid the wooden spoon."
Former Sharks coach Ricky Stuart is in charge at the Raiders.
There are three games left in the premiership rounds and this is the Sharks' final home game of the season.
Cronulla have only finished with the wooden spoon twice — in 1967 and 1969.
Match kick-off this Sunday is 2pm.
Melbourne 48 d Cronulla 6 (Valentine Holmes try, Michael Gordon one goal); crowd: 12,185.
Can the Sharks beat the Raiders and stave off the wooden spoon?
RETIREMENT, RETURN
A bulging neck disc has forced John Morris to call it quits. He has not played since achieving the amazing feat of 300 NRL games against Souths in round 11 at Remondis Stadium. Morris, 34, who played 105 games for the Sharks, began his career at Newcastle, then played with Parramatta and Wests Tigers before joining the Sharks.
Gymea Gorillas junior Mitch Brown is coming home. The utility back who can play fullback, wing and centre, has signed for two years. Brown debuted for the Sharks in 2006 and has played with Wests Tigers and Canterbury. The Sharks are negotiating with Gold Coast Titans Brad Takairangi who can play centre or back row.
LAST HOME GAME
Sharks last home game for this season will be against Canberra at 2pm on Sunday, August 24, at Remondis Stadium, Woolooware.
HOLDEN CUP
Sharks tackle Canberra at 11.45am this Sunday at Remondis Stadium.
NEW DEAL
Cronulla is working on a deal with Newtown for their NSW Cup team in 2015. The Sharks are partnered with the Melbourne Storm in the 2014 competition.
