Cronulla have declared they don’t fear Manly’s prized home ground of Lottoland or their woeful record against the Sea Eagles ahead of Saturday’s elimination final.
Manly’s clearance to have the knockout clash played at Brookvale was as much a boost to them as it was a statistical blow to the Sharks.
Cronulla have won just five of 46 games played the venue in their history, with their most recent victory there coming way back in 2008.
But after taming Leichhardt Oval in Robbie Farah’s farewell on Sunday, Sharks co-captain Wade Graham said Cronulla’s youngsters would be ready for whatever Lottoland provided.
“They (the youngsters) have had a good preparation getting into the finals,” Graham told AAP.
“Gal (Paul Gallen)’s farewell at home (two weeks ago) was a big occasion. We played well, we went down to Canberra but we played well in a big game.
“Robbie’s farewell on Sunday was a big occasion and a sudden-death game. Another hostile crowd, 20,000. A lot going on and big occasion.”
Of the Sharks’ starting side from last week, only Josh Dugan, Josh Morris, Gallen and Graham have won at Brookvale.
Another seven have never played there.
“We’ll be right to go,” Graham continued.
“We just played in two packed houses at suburban grounds. We know the feeling.
“It will be exciting. To get 20,000 at Lottoland for an elimination semi-final on a Saturday night, the place will be rocking.
“It’s all there in front of us. We’ve just got to go out there and get the job done.”
Cronulla’s problems with Manly have also extended beyond Lottoland.
The Sea Eagles have beaten them on 10 of the last 11 occasions, including earlier this year at Pointsbet Stadium while without Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic.
But while Graham expected Manly’s current injury crisis would galvanise the Sea Eagles, he claimed no past record mattered when it comes to finals.
“It’s weird, I just can’t explain it. You see it throughout the league all the time with all the hoodoos and stuff like that,” he said.
“I remember back when I played at Penrith, Manly were flying and we used to go well against them and we weren’t going great.
“All those things change once the finals roll around. It’s a different feel, it’s more than a competition game. It’s an elimination final.
“In no way will we be underestimating them … Dessie (Hasler) will get the players pumped and up for a big game.”