Rd 10, 2026 Craig Fitzgibbon Presser

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[00:00:55] Hey there, welcome to SharkCast, part of the podcast dedicated to the greatest sporting club in the history of the world, the mighty Cronulla Sutherland Sharks. This short, sharp press conference-based episode is brought to you by Dyson Logistics, the Royal Motor Yacht Club and Port Hacking, and Jason Hawes of Crips & Crips Real Estate. My name is Sam Shinazzi, OG 2015.

[00:01:23] Bunch of episodes for you this week, and I'm going to play the press conference for you and then just say a few words afterwards, so stick around for that. But without further ado, here is Mr. Craig Fitzgibbon. Football. Outfitzy, great win last week. What do I bounce back? How are the boys going after that one? Yeah, it was more shark-like. We showed that's the way we would like to play every week.

[00:01:50] Obviously you don't get what you want every week, but I thought it was an improved performance. We've been really strong in parts of games, but the way the momentum swings, we just haven't handled those. I thought we knuckled down to the simple hard things last week, and we'll have to do it again, because we're a strong, another top-four opponent in South. Teague getting three tries last week. How good has he been for you guys and Chance of Origins, shall you think? Yeah, I think he could do it. I think I said in the press comments last week after the game,

[00:02:20] I don't think, we haven't had Teague really fit and healthy in any of the time that I've been here. He's carried injuries for most of his years, and he's such a tough guy and reliable, and he's actually quite talented as well. Once we get the best physical version of him, I think he's got some more levels to him as well. It was a really good performance for him, and he's done that coming off a pretty low base, didn't do much pre-season, if any at all, off the back of another shoulder, Rico, so he's starting to show what he's about.

[00:02:49] Can you begin to meet his return? He's been back for a couple of weeks now. What have you made of his return to footy? Yeah, really good. I thought Jesse Cole and Billy were playing really strong for us early, and Cam brings a different skill set there. We love his leadership and his intensity. I think you can see he walks around with intensity, so when it gets into your team, it tends to help. I'm really pleased with the way Britt came back into the team as well.

[00:03:15] I thought Jesse Cole and Billy were amazing off the inner chains, so just balance the team out a little bit better for us there. But I don't think it's a real secret why everyone loves Cam, man. You mentioned you had a great performance, more sharp performance on the weekend. How do you close the gap between your best and your worst performances, and try to make that a little bit shorter? The simple word is consistency. You've got to earn it. No one's going to give it to us.

[00:03:41] It's not on anyone else but us other than to put it out there and fight for that consistency and play that way. Sometimes it's more difficult than you think. You need some set-by-set footy. You need an evenly matched possession rate. You need to apply pressure with field position. Just do the little things really well. Big momentum swings make it a bit harder, but we controlled those momentum swings the other day.

[00:04:05] You've spoken about Cam McInnes. There's been a lot of talk around his future at the club, linked to a couple of clubs. What's your thoughts on him potentially staying beyond this team? We'd love to keep him. To be honest, probably not the time to talk about contracts daily and in the game. We're just getting ready to play, but we'd love to keep Cam. We know that had a bit of secret. Whether we can or not remains to be seen. Coming up against the Bunnies, they know how to put the points on the board. You guys do too. What's the mindset going into this week?

[00:04:35] Similar to last week, they do the simple things really well. We're a hard-edged game, not a shootout. They are a good attacking side. I think that's pretty obvious. They're a top four side and they've played really well all year. Obviously, any Wayne Bennett coach side works really hard, so we'll have to work hard as well. And then losing Luttrell, how does the game plan change if at all? No, it doesn't for us. We've got to do what we want to do and execute our plan.

[00:05:03] Sometimes with a player of his magnitude, even if it's an opportunity for someone else, an opportunity comes in and raises the level for everyone else to want to have a good game. It can be tricky, so we'll make sure we don't soften our resolve. Game 100 for Nico, what does he mean to this club? For Nico, he's owned a Sharks game. I think the thing that you see with Nico, he's been through a bit. He's still been really, really consistent in a consistent side for the last few years.

[00:05:33] But what I love about him most is nothing gets to him anymore. He just turns up and not many players wear the pressure that he has to. He turns up, he's grown up a lot. He walks in the door every day. The only thing he ever tries to do is get better. And too many players I see that work on their game and professionalism and love footy as much as him. So a player like that in your team is infectious and the boys love him. And they're happy to support him. And we're looking forward to seeing him play.

[00:06:03] But he's got to get out there and get it done. Nico, one of the more criticised players over the last few years, and you mentioned it doesn't let it get to him. Was he like that when he first arrived at the club? Or has he grown into that mentality? Oh no, it's a steep learning curve for him. His first year was a breakout year and he won the Dallium. So he'd get elevated really quickly like that without any real pressure and challenges.

[00:06:28] And to be honest, the rest of us and the team, we didn't perform well enough at the end of the year, which cost him a bit of heat and criticism. But he's developed through a grain out of it. And he's far more resilient than he's ever been now. And what I said, not many players wear the number seven jersey at any club as a weight. He accepts that weight and he knows what to do about it now. Does Luttrell change things, Fitz? Not particularly, no.

[00:06:55] As I just said before there, Dave, I think for us, we've got to make sure we're not worried about who's in and who's out. But it can galvanise a team when they lose a player like Luttrell and makes other people stand up. They'll be standing up anyway. They've got Campbell Graham, who's the sort of player every team wants in their team. And it's his 150th game. So I don't think they'll be worried too much. They'll be out there trying to play for him as well. With the rule change, you said earlier, no one would get a shootout.

[00:07:25] With the rule change, is that even possible anymore? I don't know. Yeah, it's up to being disciplined and playing strong footy. And yeah, if it happens, it happens. If not, try not to. You mentioned Campbell Graham. What is it about his game that makes him such a dangerous opponent? He just looks so reliable. He's been a very good player and on the cusp of origin for a long time now. He might have played for Australia, but wouldn't have done a tour with Australia a long time ago. And I don't think he'd let New South Wales down either.

[00:07:53] I think he's been a quality player for a long time. And Ronaldo, I think he said he was eyeing Magic around as a return. How's he going? Do you think that's a chance? Yeah, I do. He's out there training now. We've got to make sure he's got some hurdles to get through. But he's been pretty hard to hold back for a while now. He's been team training possibly for a month straight now. And no hiccups, no hurdles. And even all the performance testing.

[00:08:20] And they do a battery of tests to make sure that the knee's in a strong position. And he's getting to a point where he's pretty hard to hold back. Jesse, one more week? I hope so. Yeah, Jesse's turned the corner for us. He's definitely improved. And we thought he would have come back for this week. It's probably just on the six days. I don't know if a Sunday game might have got him there. But no, he's definitely turned the corner. And he's a strong chance the next week as well. Speechley the dummy hardback, it goes to McGaw.

[00:08:50] So I really like what he said in the press conference. I liked the fact that he didn't address too much of the contract situation. Because he knows that's just going to create headlines. Yeah, we're all interested in what Cam McKinnis is doing. We're all interested in what Will Kelley is doing, etc, etc. But the day before a game is not the time to really discuss it in the press. And I really respect the hell out of him for not falling into that kind of dialogue.

[00:09:15] Looking like, as he said, Ramien will be closer to fit next week for the Magic Round clash. Ronaldo is very close. It's not a guarantee, but he's very close. And I think our back line will obviously look a lot better with those two regulars starting for us. Playing the Bulldogs up there, which will be a test because they're in such a crisis. We know we're a better team. We know we can beat them. We just got to go out there and do it. But first things first, South Sydney.

[00:09:45] It's going to be a really interesting clash. I did an episode with Matthew J. Bungard, our favourite ESPN person in Australia and also big South Sydney supporter. And as usual, mate, I had a lot to say. Opinionated as usual. But check that out when you can before game time. But it's all about South Sydney in the next 24 to 30 hours, depending when you hear this.

[00:10:13] If you want to go watch this press conference, go to sharks.com.au and they have the full visual video up for you as filmed by our good friend, Jess Chich. Up up Cronulla. Let's go.