Resurgent Cronulla have plenty of reasons to be cheerful as they prepare for their first NRL home game in seven weeks.
Back-to-back away wins and the long term re-signing of key playmaker Todd Carney have the Sharks in a buoyant mood as they prepare to host Canberra next Sunday.
Much of the early-season focus on the Sharks revolved around the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority’s investigations into the club.
The mood at the club was also darkened by a four-game losing streak.
Successive wins at Newcastle and against the Wests Tigers have revived the Sharks season going into a two-game home stand against the Raiders and South Sydney.
“That tough win up in Newcastle, we got a lot out of that and we had a good win tonight,” Sharks utility Luke Lewis told AAP.
“We still made a lot of little fundamental errors out there tonight that we probably weren’t happy with and we’ll get back to the drawing board and have a look at it and go over it all.
“It definitely gives us the confidence but we’ve got a tough match coming up against Canberra at home so that’s going to be a real test for us.”
Lewis attributed the Sharks’ lift in form to hard work and mateship.
“Everyone has been training hard, everyone is enjoying their footy and everyone is willing to work hard for their mate,” Lewis said.
He again underlined his versatility by playing in the second row and centres during Friday night’s 30-6 win over the Tigers.
The ultimate utility, who has played everywhere bar hooker, Lewis said he didn’t care what position he would be considered for in the NSW State of Origin team.
He came off the bench for Australia in last month’s Test against New Zealand.
Carney is locked in a battle with the Sydney Roosters’ James Maloney for the NSW five-eighth spot and said Origin was at the back of his mind.
“It’s easy to say that I don’t think about it, but I do, because I want to be there and I want to try and win this series for NSW,” Carney said.
“I’m working hard at training to produce the effort and the football on the field to try and get that position.
“In saying that, Jimmy (Maloney) is playing great football and hopefully Loz (NSW coach Laurie Daley) knows what I’ve done in his teams before and hopefully I do get that crack at game one.”
