It is one of the biggest myths in rugby league at the moment: that Cronulla cannot actually play.
Watch any rugby league show on TV or listen to a chat about footy on the radio and the so-called experts are lining up to say it.
It’s the popular opinion but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s correct.
The surprising thing is that most of them are ex-players. They should really know better.
All we’ve heard this season is that Cronulla are a niggling team.
They want to get teams into a ‘‘grind’’.
They want to drag teams down to their level.
What a load of rubbish.
It makes you wonder if these people have watched the Sharks play this season.
Anyone who has will tell you that Cronulla have as much magic in them as anyone else in the competition.
From Valentine Holmes’ countless displays of individual brilliance to Ben Barba’s silky skills, from Wade Graham’s hands on the left side to Jack Bird ripping up the right — this Cronulla team are as attractive as any.
In fact, if one of the perennial heavyweights — say Roosters, Manly, Souths or Melbourne - were playing like Cronulla have done these past nine weeks, I’m sure we would be hearing all about it.
The difference? The Sharks can defend too.
Shane Flanagan knows that defence wins premierships.
And if defence in rugby league is all about attitude, turning up for the bloke next to you, and showing your jersey in the line no matter how tired or busted you are, then Cronulla have it in spades.
But just because the Sharks have put the effort in to learning how to defend as a unit — and teams are finding them nigh impregnable — doesn’t automatically mean they are unattractive to watch.
It just means they’ve got a bit about them — the kind of stuff that, dare I say it, wins premierships.
The strange part of all this is that Flanagan is now saying these exact things in press conferences.
But I’m on to you, Flano.
I don’t think he believes it for a second.
He knows his team can play but he is simply perpetuating the myth.
Just as the great Des Hasler did with his champion Manly teams, getting them ‘‘flying under the radar,’’ Flanagan’s Sharks are silently circling the rest of the competition, just under the surface of the water.
Now, I’m not saying Cronulla will win the comp.
I’m not saying they’ll make the grand final, I’m not even saying they’ll crack the top four.
But this myth that they cannot play football like the more glamorous teams is simply a scam.
Flanagan, his coaching staff and, most importantly, his players, should take an enormous amount of credit.
They have found a way of winning football games with the perfect balance of open, clever and at times exciting attack with tough, structured and uncompromising defence.
Another test of their credentials will come on Monday night when they host Melbourne Storm, one of the most structured teams - in attack and defence - in the competition.
If the Sharks win this one, surely no one can doubt the way they play any longer.
There will be too much blood in the water to ignore.
How do you think the Sharkies will go on Monday?
