Cronulla will be sweating on the recovery of fullback Ben Barba, who revealed he is not 100 per cent fit heading into Sunday's grand final against Melbourne.
Barba feared his season was over after he was floored in the first half of last week's preliminary final against North Queensland, but the club cleared him of major damage and will continue to monitor his recovery as the week progresses.
With Paul Gallen and Sam Tagataese nursing injuries, the Sharks will be hoping their star fullback isn't hindered when he takes to ANZ Stadium on Sunday for his second grand final in five years. But Barba admits he is still feeling the effects of the severe cork.
"It's a little bit sore from the game. I had my first hit-out today and it's sort of hard when you don't run for four days it stiffens up," he said.
"It was good to get the body moving again. I'm not 100 per cent yet, but I'm hoping to be 100 per cent for Sunday. Like our preparations, I'll just build up into it. We have some great people at the club who take care of our bodies and allow us to perform on the field.
"I'll participate in sessions, but it goes back to the staff here making sure I do all the protocols to make sure it's all sweet. It's nothing I'm too worried about considering we have so many days left between now and Sunday."
Barba limped around the field for most of the first half against the Cowboys.
His initial thoughts weren't positive, but he was reassured by the club's medical staff that it wouldn't rule him out of this year's decider against the Storm.
"I was pretty nervous when it first happened," Barba said. "I actually sat down on the field after defending that set because my knee felt weak. I think it was just the impact of the guys coming from behind that caused it to be a little bit sore. I did get a little bit scared that it was serious. But after seeing the trainers at half-time they reassured me it was just a massive bump that would settle down.
"I think it happened when Val [winger Valentine Holmes] got stuck and someone has come behind me and clipped me from the Cowboys. It was a s--t little bump but I'll be sweet and ready to go on Sunday."
Tagataese, who began his first-grade career with Melbourne nearly a decade ago, edged closer to a return in the grand final having not played since round 22 due to a shoulder injury.
The front-rower, who looms as a powerful inclusion for Shane Flanagan's side on the bench, said he had met the strength criteria set for him by medical and coaching staff on Monday after not even being able to lift a bar in the gym a week earlier.
"I had to bench press 100kg," Tagataese said of the target set for him to prove his fitness. "A week ago I couldn't even do the bar. So to come from that to 100kg I felt like that was a good achievement."
"I've done a bit of contact, so I just had to pass all those [targets] to put myself into selection and I feel like I've done that. Now it's up to Flanno."
While Tagataese appears a more than handy addition – captain Paul Gallen said on Monday he would have him in the Sharks line-up if he was fit – Flanagan is faced with a selection dilemma to facilitate the 29-year-old's selection on the bench.
Rookie Kurt Capewell shapes as the unlucky man out should Tagataese make the final squad for Sunday.
"It's up to him now," Tagataese said of Flanagan. "It's his headache."
How the teams line up
Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sharks, grand final at ANZ Stadium, Sunday 7.15pm
STORM: Cameron Munster, Suliasi Vunivalu, Will Chambers, Cheyse Blair, Marika Koroibete, Blake Green, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith, Jordan McLean, Kevin Proctor, Tohu Harris, Dale Finucane. Interchange: Kenneath Bromwich, Tim Glasby, Christian Welch, Ben Hampton, Young Tonumaipea, Slade Griffin, Matt White, Felise Kaufusi, Ryan Morgan (five to be omitted).
SHARKS: Ben Barba, Sosaia Feki, Jack Bird, Ricky Leutele, Valentine Holmes, James Maloney, Chad Townsend, Andrew Fifita, Michael Ennis, Matt Prior, Luke Lewis, Wade Graham, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Gerard Beale, Chris Heighington, Sam Tagataese, Jason Bukuya, Kurt Capewell, Joseph Paulo (two to be omitted).
Referees: Matt Cecchin, Ben Cummins.
UBet: Storm $1.77 - $2.10 Sharks
