Despite being in an NRL mid-field ladder logjam where just four points separate fifth to 14th, the Brisbane Bronocs and Cronulla Sharks will most likely qualify for the 2025 finals.
It seems an unlikely scenario that both would sit out September action, yet I suppose there could be an argument mounted for both to miss based on what we have seen so far this season.
Either way, the simple reality for both is that any faith from supporters or trust from tipsters is underserved.
There are so many cracks, chasms and inconsistencies in the games of both, that neither can be trusted. In the world of NRL romance, Brisbane and Cronulla are cheating partners, presenting a façade on the surface behind which lurks a very dirty secret.
Whilst both teams have produced quality on a handful of occasions this season, the general tone and appeal of their play, and subsequent ability to build up a sense of trust and belief in them, has been well off the standard set by the front running Dogs, Raiders and Warriors.
The Sharks who have won eight from 14 and with just the one bye clocked up so far, do sit in a handy spot when the closeness of the competition is considered. However, recent hammerings at the hands of the Warriors and Roosters pulled the curtain away.
In both matches, the Sharks were badly exposed and scrappy wins early in the year against Melbourne, Parramatta and Wests Tigers add weight to the argument that Cronulla remains a team in and around finals contention but still nowhere near a squad capable of dominating the best sides.
Against teams expected to be around when the whips are cracking late in the season, the Sharks have not met the expected standard thus far in 2025.
The Panthers snuck home against them in the opening round, the Dogs were far too good for them a few weeks later and the Raiders eked out a win the following weekend.
Ronaldo Mulitalo celebrates scoring a try for the Sharks. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
When the Warriors trounced them by 30 on June 7, the pattern was complete. Thus far, Cronulla’s best scalps have been the Cowboys and Storm, certainly nothing to write home to mum and dad about.
Sunday’s opponent Brisbane are in an even less desirable situation than the men from the shire, just six wins from 13 matches has a squad many believed were premiership contenders languishing mid-table and looking frightfully out of sorts.
Interestingly, it all began rather well for the Broncos, a 50-14 trouncing of the Roosters to start the season suggested the tipsters had been right. Yet, poor recent defeats to the Sea Eagles, Dragons, Panthers and Rabbitohs have broken any bonds of trust built after a glorious win against the Bulldogs in April.
That form line now confirms that the Dogs were a little unlucky and did have an off-night. Like Cronulla and aside from that performance against Canterbury, Brisbane have lost to New Zealand, Canberra and Penrith and have claimed a host of dubious scalps that don’t exactly instil much faith in Bronco fans who must have been hopeful of a flight to Sydney in October.
Payne Haas pushes away Scott Drinkwater. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Wins against the inconsistent Cowboys, a slow starting Dolphins back in March, a perplexing Wests Tigers and a Titans team that sits at the foot of the ladder don’t’ mean that much, aside from having earned them the points they need to stay in the race for the finals.
Across the course of the season, the Bulldog scalp is really the only one of note and now a distant memory as the competition reaches the grind of the cold winter.
Whilst early to write off the chances of teams still well in the hunt for the top eight, anyone holding trust for the Sharks and Broncos right now is living in a fantasy world and is rare for teams to mount genuine late season charges based on new found form.
What you see is what you get and at the moment, the top three and the ever dangerous Melbourne and Penrith can be trusted. Cronulla and Brisbane cannot.
