Cronulla Sharks captain Blayke Brailey has drawn on the experience of former player Michael Ennis as the team prepares for the upcoming NRL finals series. Brailey met with Ennis during a reunion of the Sharks' 2016 premiership-winning side last weekend to discuss strategies and mindset heading into the postseason.

The Sharks enter the finals seeking to regain form after a challenging end to the regular season, having lost four of their last five matches. A decade ago, Ennis and the same club faced a similar situation, dropping multiple late-season games before surging in the finals to secure one of Australian sport’s most celebrated premiership victories.

Brailey described his conversations with Ennis as insightful, noting that Ennis provided candid advice about the team’s current status and areas for improvement. “We’re at the starting blocks again. It all starts again. So, enjoy the week,” Brailey said, emphasizing the importance of focus and composure as the finals approach.

Reflecting on Ennis’s attitude, Brailey remarked that the former player still exhibited a strong competitive drive, a quality he found inspiring. “I could see he still had the fire in his belly to play. That was great to see,” Brailey explained.

The Sharks, who have been consistent contenders in recent years, are yet to progress to a grand final despite reaching two preliminary finals recently. With increasing pressure from repeated finals eliminations, the team acknowledges the significance of this campaign, especially given the group’s limited time remaining together.

Brailey highlighted the motivation derived from their underdog status, noting that external expectations tend to underestimate the team. “People are probably writing us off and we have a bit of an underdog mentality. Hopefully, we can use that as motivation,” he said.

As the Sharks gear up for the decisive matches, they aim to channel experience, resilience, and the wisdom passed down from past champions to mount a strong bid in the finals.