Rd 27 Player Press Interviews, 2026 - Brailey, McInnes and Burns plus latest from Sam!

[00:00:01] The Royal Motor Yacht Club Port Hacking is a hidden gem of the Shire, situated on the banks of the beautiful Port Hacking. It's a great place to catch up with friends, celebrate your birthday or any special occasion, and they always show the NRL live on the big screens. The RMYC Port Hacking, proud sponsors of this podcast and big supporters of the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks. Check out their website rmycph.com.au

[00:00:26] They've got a Facebook page or you could go old school and call them on 029523 9300 Back in the Shire, turn your port slides off because we're coming home with a trophy.

[00:01:03] Hey there, welcome to SharkCast, part of a podcast dedicated to the greatest sporting club in the history of the world, the mighty Cronulla Sutherland Sharks. This episode is brought to you by Dyson Logistics, The Royal Motor Yacht Club and Port Hacking and Jason Hawes at Cripps and Cripps Real Estate. And we get our coffee from Mr. Paisley's in North Caring Bar. Short Shark Press Conference based episode featuring chats with Billy Burns, Captain Blake Braley and Captain Cam McInnes.

[00:01:28] Facing some harsh realities from the press given what's happened over the past month of footy. Sharks winning one of four games, just beating the Titans, losing to the Dragons at Dragon Land. Boo! The Raiders at Shark Land, Ocean Protect Stadium and of course just recently, most recently losing to Parramatta at Parramatta Land.

[00:01:52] Not good enough and clearly something not going right as a whole when top two's on the line at one point and we say, mm-mm, let's go for fifth place. Possibly sixth. Possibly sixth. Now, this week we have lots of changes as we've discussed in the team list episode yesterday. Please go back and watch or listen to that.

[00:02:15] Revealed in the moment, but we know that we have three club debutants, two NRL debutants amongst that. Riley Pollard, Michael Gabriel getting their first start and Riley Smith getting his first start with the Sharks. All three though are rookies and that needs to be remembered when they go out there and play, but also I'm expecting them all to go out and have decent games. If not more, they're all very talented in their own way.

[00:02:42] Riley Smith's found his position after searching for it, I would imagine. He's a handy center. Michael Gabriel's got explosive speed and power and youth on his side and been at his trade for a while now in lower grades. And of course, Riley Pollard, who we think is just wonderful. He is going to get his NRL debut after coming through the Penrith system and then being with the Sharks and the Newtown Jets for the past couple of years.

[00:03:10] In pressing all on and off the field, it has to be said. Whether there's more changes, because you do have Liam Eysen, Sam Stonestreet and a whole bunch of other guys listed, we shall wait and see. Newtown play around one o'clock on the same day. So there might be a bit of crossover there. We will wait and see on that one. But interesting time for the Sharks. It's not all over, done and dusted as many people would like you to believe. However, it is pretty difficult from fifth place to win a comp.

[00:03:41] It's almost impossible, but it doesn't mean it can't be done. I'm not suggesting we're in the current form to go do it. But you never know your luck after a week off and who knows what's going to happen in the finals. I am thankful we're in the finals. It means something. And I have to believe that we can win week one to go to week two and see what happens there.

[00:04:01] We did address the Moses Suli rumors, which Dave Riccio, a journalist, expressed yesterday on his code question and answer session that Moses was chasing the Sharks. The Sharks weren't chasing Moses. It doesn't mean that they're not interested, but he came to the party and they're maybe going to have a chat. But the fact that he's kind of desperate to come here is a lot of pluses for the club means a player wants to leave the current club and go somewhere else.

[00:04:31] And that somewhere else is us. It means that we can get him for a decent price should they want him. We'll see what happens should it go forward. It may not go forward by just putting it out there because I know a lot of people are a bit negative on it. But I just want you to know that it's not a done deal. And also the Sharks haven't pursued it. He's pursued the Sharks, according to our good friend Dave Riccio. 7.35, Ocean Protect Stadium, Melbourne Storm coming to town. They're always great battles. You know that for a fact.

[00:04:58] As recently as the past few years, we've seen some great battles at Ocean Protect Stadium. Famous win or two down their way as well the past few years. But they've won, I think, three of the past four against us. So it's time to turn the tide a little bit and get one against them. It's going to be difficult. Their full spine is playing and they're unbelievable. We've got some kids out there. So I'm hoping the emotion of being on debut, the emotion of the shackles being released a little bit, and probably the pressure valve being off this week because we won't be favorites.

[00:05:26] I'm hoping that will all send positive vibes our way. Today, Old Boys Day, over 160 guys in the house, plus the majority of the Premiership winning team, plus Premiership winning coach, etc. If you're going down there and you should be going down there, I believe Old Boys will be doing the walk around about 7 o'clock. And I'm at this stage led to believe the Premiership winning team will do half-time Lab of Honor,

[00:05:53] but stick to your official channels on that one and hope you get down there and have a good time. A whole bunch of us will be down there if you see us. Say g'day. Stay tuned to our socials in case we organize something at this stage. I'm not really sure we've got a function beforehand until about 5, 5.30. So we'll see what happens. But I want you to keep an open mind about what's going to happen this weekend and let's see how it plays out. And the week after, let's see if the resting was a good thing, a bad thing, and a different thing.

[00:06:22] It's going to be hard to kind of tell because there are different reasons why teams win and lose. I mean, at this point, if you say they're going out to play as a team to GL and get their connections back, you go, okay, cool. If you say like they are doing, having a big rest to reset, you say, okay, cool. Like there's positives in both those things. I personally don't think it's actually a right or wrong answer. This is what we're doing. We shall move forward. We'll get more eps to you throughout the week.

[00:06:49] Make sure you subscribe on all the platforms you listen to, whether it's Spotify, Apple, Acast, any podcast app, whether you watch us on Facebook or Instagram, YouTube. Make sure you subscribe. It's free. It's free. Click subscribe and you'll get our content as soon as it's released on that particular platform. If you're on all the platforms, you get it all at once, baby.

[00:07:16] Here come some chats with Blake Braley, with Cam McInnes, and with Billy Burns. Up, up. Braley for Hines. Hazelton slips a pass away. Kafushi, he keeps it alive. It's scooped up by McInnes who dives over next to the upright. How many alarm bells started to ring it after the last month? Nah, not alarm bells.

[00:07:39] Like, obviously, for us, we had a real goal of trying to make that top four and it was there for us and unfortunately we've let that slip. So, that is what it is. Nothing to do about it now. But in saying that, it's more important that we just get back to our footy. Yeah, the last month hasn't been good enough.

[00:08:05] We've had halves or even at times 20 minutes where we're like, yeah, this is us again and then we let ourselves down. So, nah, we're working hard at that. But in saying that, footy is a hard game, maybe, because it's all attitude and effort and anyone can win on the day. But it's also simple, you know, the fix.

[00:08:32] But, you know, finding that as a group can sometimes be challenging. So, nah, we'll keep working hard at that and try not to dwell too much on what's happened and go out and attack the game. Pitsi was obviously, we all saw how Liberty was in the press box and the attitude of effort is probably too non-negotiable to Pitsi. How is he in that? I don't think that's what you guys agree with me. Yeah, disappointed and frustrated as we all are.

[00:08:55] And you've got to be careful when you talk about effort because for the last month, the effort's been there, but effort's non-negotiable, as you said, and it's effort in the right areas. And sometimes you can want something so bad and you get uptight and it actually paralyzes you on the field. And that's in any walk of life. I think you guys would know that too. You want something so bad and your mind gets clouded and things like that.

[00:09:23] So, yeah, I can't knock how badly we want it, but sometimes you've got to get over your own way. And that's what we need to do. Does confidence or a lack of it sometimes impact that? Well, confidence for me, obviously, and it's the same, comes from your preparation. So we're preparing well, but it's about just doing those actions over and over. And that confidence can come in five minutes of footy. That's the beauty of our game, isn't it? Like you have a hot five minutes.

[00:09:54] You look at power on the weekend, take nothing away from them. They're outstanding. But the way that started that game, I'm sure they all would have been having plenty of confidence across the board. And so for me, that's less a part of it. It's just going in with a clear mind. You know your plan. You know how you want to play and just attacking it wholeheartedly. Not holding on to what's happened last week or even what's ahead of us. What's at stake? It doesn't matter.

[00:10:23] And that's the sweet spot of footy. And at periods of this year, we've been in that. So we know we can do it. But yeah, it's go time now, isn't it? You said that you were uptight. You mentioned it there. How do you try and clear your mind and I guess, free yourself up a bit? Yeah, it's about, like we're in an outcome-based business here.

[00:10:48] So that pressure is always there of wins and losses and records and things like that. So you always got to be aware of that because that's the business. But when you can step aside of that and understand that in footy, it's play-by-play, moment-by-moment, and you really get into that space, that's where you thrive and play your best as a team and an individual. So that's the space we need to get into.

[00:11:17] Would you be surprised to see Fitzy take his anger out of the monitor? Nah, because he's such a passionate man and he works so hard. It's his life as all of us. And for him, we're on the field, so we're... And on the weekend, we're doing a great job of trying to do something about it, whereas he, unfortunately, all he can do is watch us and try to give us some messages. So, yeah, I can't blame him for that reaction. Are the boys missing Tricky out there, would you say?

[00:11:48] Well, you always miss high-quality players, don't you? But I think Nephi's... You know, he worked his socks off on the weekend and, yeah, it wasn't because we didn't have Tricky that... Yeah, the performance. But obviously, having high-quality players come in is always going to help your side. But, yeah, no excuse, sir. How do you, as a leader, go about it? Because, like you say, we get into that really important time of the year, but we still want to force the issue and put more pressure on the boys.

[00:12:16] Because, like you say, that's kind of been the problem, is getting uptight with the pressure. So, as a leader, how do you go about sort of fixing things? Yeah, no, that's exactly right. Like, the pressure's there, you all know it. It's about just, yeah, making sure the boys believe in what we've done all year, what we've done for five years, really. That, you know, we're a good side. We have everything we need there.

[00:12:46] So, just go out and do it. And in the game, every game there's going to be times where another side's going to have you under the pump because it's the best comp in the world. You know, this week, Melbourne haven't had the season they want, but, you know, look at the names in that team. There's going to be times where something good's going to happen for their team, and we just have to be okay with that and strike back again. Can I ask you, Cam, if you've got a view on, like, getting tricky back for Melbourne

[00:13:15] and being full strength and hopefully getting a win and just being together again in a spot. The risk of maybe bringing him back too early, like, how do you view that? Do you want him back for Melbourne just to get going yet, or do you want to give him another week and be safe and get him right for the final? I think, like, I think the priority ultimately is making sure that his shoulders as strong as possible for week one of the finals. So, like, I don't know what the physios and the medical will say for that,

[00:13:43] but, like, yeah, like, Tricky's played with us, like, all year. Like, we know what he'll bring. He's a competitor. So, if we don't have him this week, it's okay. Like, I just think that that's probably the best thing is to, and that him or anyone is as healthy as possible for that week one of the finals because we've always pride ourselves as a squad that whoever steps in can do the job. So, that doesn't mean that we disrespect this last game because, firstly, it's Old Boys Day.

[00:14:13] We're celebrating the grand final team of 2016. And, as I mentioned before, Melbourne. Yeah, I have huge respect for them as a club. They're coached. They're players. So, yeah, whoever gets to take the field will be going after us for sure.

[00:14:36] Yeah, like, there's been a bit of talk about that, but for me, I'd like to, you know, push that to the side because, like, the Sharks will go on. They're 1967 to now, and they're going to keep going. And there's guys that are here this year that are going to be here next year for the next five years, some for the next ten years. The coach, like, the club's going to go on. Like, guys like me that have been fortunate enough to wear the jersey and be a part of it.

[00:15:07] Yeah, it's sad for me that I'm going on with the clubs going on. The club's going to keep going like that. So, for me, I don't think we need to really dwell on that. It's just about this year and the opportunity that we do have. Sam, there's been a bit of suggestion that if the club, well, the club's going to get a home final for the first week, that may or may not be at Shark Park, possibly depending on the opposition. What's your take on that? I mean, since I've been able to chat every year about whether Shark Park's good to those finals. What's yours?

[00:15:33] Yeah, I was under the impression the rule was that if, yeah, you earn a home semi, whether you're first or second or fifth or sixth, you get to play it at your home. Our home is Shark Park. So, yeah, I didn't know if there was a rule change that they can just put in. But then again, the NRL changes rules all the time, don't they? Without any, you know, any sort of warnings there. So, we'll just be ready for anything and it doesn't really matter where you play, does it? It's a little unfair though, because it's at AC home, you play there.

[00:16:03] As I said before, the rule changes just happen at the drop of the hat now, don't they? So, as a player, you just have to adapt, don't you? And get on with it. Can I just ask Cam on that? Like, I've asked a lot of players across the game over last week about their thoughts on the kickoff for the clean child of last Thursday night. And the general consensus is that, yeah, that's really annoying. But what's more annoying is the constant war change. And it feels like a lot of you guys right across the water just fed up with the team during the game. Is that fair to say?

[00:16:31] Yeah. Like, it's how much do you need to change? Like, I understand at the end of the day it's entertainment, I get it. But it's like, it's just like someone's constantly sitting there going, oh yeah, the game's going really well. Oh, but now let's change something else, let's change something else. And yeah, like, as a player, it's never been faster, never been a more intense game, which is cool. That's fine. Like, that's where you want to test yourself.

[00:16:59] But yeah, there's just, it feels like there's no consulting with players or even if there is, it doesn't really matter anyway. So yeah, you sort of just have to go, oh well, and get on with it because it doesn't seem like anyone cares anyway. Just one more for me on that. Is there one or two in particular that you like, why have you got this rule again?

[00:17:26] Um, well, I, I just think that, say, I think the six again rule, like, to be honest, like, has just gone way too far. Like, particularly with the, in the 20 meters, like, you get, like, you get one, like a six again on the 25 there on play one, because the team just wants to slow it down. It doesn't actually impact anything, right?

[00:17:52] But then also with the six again, because it's such a gray area. It's like, how do you, like, like, like, there's no consistency across the game. Like on the weekend, we had one on play five opening set. In the second half, the exact same thing happened and the person just goes back and plays the ball. It's like, and that's hard for the refs, isn't it? Because it's, it's so subjective. Whereas someone gets hit in the face or there's offside, that's clear as day.

[00:18:16] But with the six again, it's just sort of a lottery. And then, so, yeah, I just think, yeah, when you bring that in, I get it to speed the game up and have the speeds to score on long range tries with fatigue. But then it also creates an inconsistency in the game. And as a fan, as a player, you sort of, you don't know what you're going to get. And, um, yeah, it can be really frustrating. Yeah.

[00:18:52] The alarm bells ringing, mate. It's been a tough month. Yeah, it has been a little bit. I think we've gotten away from, uh, the footy that we planned to play and, look, the energy around the club's been good. Like we're still trying to learn off our mistakes and our losses and where we can improve, but, um, we just really haven't been hitting the mark at the moment. And, uh, it's just not acceptable for, for our standards and where we want to be playing and, uh, especially the back end of the year, it's, it's not ideal.

[00:19:17] How hard is it to let go of it, just kind of missing the top four now and just reset, accept where you are and go from there? Yeah, I think, um, look, it was always on the back of our mind there for the last couple of rounds. Um, maybe a bit of hindrance there to the way we're performing as well. And maybe we can just drop that and be a bit freer and not have to worry about that and really just knuckle down our performance and not worry about other games and, um, other teams, how they're travelling either.

[00:19:43] So, um, yeah, look, you'd be lying if you said we weren't thinking about it, but, yeah, it might be good just to drop, drop it now. You're kind of touching it there, but Fitz, you said that you've been playing up tight. How do you go about loosening up and playing football for years? Tough fun, like, a bit of chopping and changing with our spine maybe, but, um, yeah, I think it's just dropping our shoulders and not really worrying about the result and more worrying about our process and how we get through our games rather than winning or losing.

[00:20:11] I think maybe being worried about too much winning and winning the game too much and other teams losing and that might affect the way we're playing. So, um, yeah, I reckon that we just have to get back to our process during the game and during the week and that might free us up a little bit. You saw Fitzy take out of Lota during the game. Were you surprised to see that? Not really. Like, for you guys, I guess you could say he's quite reserved, but he's definitely, um, a passionate guy and we love that about Fitzy.

[00:20:36] So, um, yeah, I think it might have got to him a little bit, but we love that about Fitzy. He wears his heart on his sleeve and he does it for us every week with the media and with the way he coaches, so, um, it's fine. Does it show how much frustration there is in the group at the moment? I don't think it's in the group at the moment. Probably definitely during that game. I think, um, the way we were playing, I could definitely see how Fitzy would have been a bit frustrated and we'll definitely feel that as well.

[00:21:03] So, uh, just got to get back to it this week and improve for the weekend. The 2016 Sharks dropping in this week ahead of the game against Melbourne. I guess it's lovely to be able to chat with some of those guys. They're the only Sharks team that's gone all the way. Yeah. Gets a bit of inspiration this week. Yeah, obviously, uh, Old Boys Day is massive for us and especially 2016. Um, we always refer back to that year and, um, we have a few guys fighting in about the club already. So, um, yeah, we definitely want to put on a good performance against them and, ah, for them, sorry.

[00:21:32] And then against the Storm, they're always going to turn up and they're in some good form as well. So, um, yeah, it'd be good to put on a performance for them. Atkinson goes to the air. Tracy take, oh, he took it okay and then lost it. There's a nice bit of skill. It's with Braley. Braley scores for the Sharks. They're gaining in confidence. The men from the Shire are ahead of the finals. Like, obviously not the last kind of month of footy that, um, you wanted.

[00:22:01] Fitz, you said after the game you think you've been playing up tight. Um, do you agree? If so, how do you? Yeah, I think we always go out there with a game plan and, like you said, the last month of footy haven't been up to our standard and, um, yeah, I don't know what to put it down to. Yeah, we're training well. Uh, we're close as a group. Just not performing on the game and on the weekend. And, um, yeah, we need to turn around pretty quick because we've got a good game this weekend and the final's right around the corner. Do you feel like you might have already been looking at the finals? Yeah, I know personally I'm not myself.

[00:22:31] I can't exactly speak for everyone else, but, um, NRL's a tough game and if you look too far ahead it can bite you in the bum. Um, so, um, yeah, hopefully no one is and I know I'm not and, um, I'm taking a week as it comes and, um, yeah, like I said, if you do that, yeah, you lose some games like probably we have been in the last few weeks. Is it alarming, Blake, like, the teams you've lost to the last three or last four, we've all been bottom four, you obviously, you know, like teams are in five out of four

[00:23:00] in the game, like, you've also missed a chance to go top four. Is it alarming? Yeah, I think probably the worst part is probably missing that top four opportunity and, um, um, we had an opportunity there to go into that fourth or third spot and, um, yeah, to let it slip. It's, it's disappointing, but the situation we're in now is, uh, we're in that bottom four and, um, you know, we're the only people that can get ourselves out of that. So we're going to stick close, we're going to stick tight and, um, we're going to push through

[00:23:25] and, um, yeah, hopefully string some wins together and make a real good run into the finals. So I think he can take out a motor off the weekend? Yeah. Is that just a sign of what the group is feeling at the moment? Oh, I think he just shows his passion for the group, um, shows how close we are as a group and how close, you know, our team and how good it can be. Um, he obviously puts a lot into our side and into our team week in, week out. And, um, yeah, I'm disappointed that it come to that because, um, Sharr's not doing our job. He's doing everything he can.

[00:23:54] And, um, he just shows a passion for the Sharks and for our team. And, um, hopefully we can use that and show that passion on the field this weekend. Like, obviously, you know, historically it's been hard to win the premiership from that bottom half of the eight. But we know this team as recently as a month ago was one of the four intents in the comp. What is it of confidence that you guys can make a bit of history and go all the way to see it from the bottom? Yeah, I think, uh, you know, we're a good footy side. We know what we're about. And that patch there, like you spoke about it, we showed that we can be a great footy side.

[00:24:23] And, um, yeah, we've probably steered off that direction a little bit, but, um, we haven't lost, you know, the personnel. We've got the same people in the four walls. Our identity is still the same. Uh, we know what we're about and hopefully get back to that. And, um, yeah, hopefully this, this rough patch brings us closer. Um, I think we are close, but it could even bring us even closer. So, um, excited for that. And like I said, we're the only people that can get ourselves out of it. And, um, yeah, I'm looking forward to that challenge.

[00:24:50] We just talked to Cam about, um, there's a little bit of doubt whether Shark Park will be the venue for that first week of the finals. You guys have locked up that home final. What's your thoughts on that? Is it a little unfair to maybe not get the chance to post one at Shark Park? Yeah, oh, my preference is to play there. I love playing at Shark Park and I know my family loves going there and the fans love attending there. And, um, yeah, I think if we finish in that, um, that four and we earn a home final, um, I'd love for it to be, to be played there. And that's our home. That's our, our place.

[00:25:19] And, um, yeah, I like to think we probably deserve to play there. Yeah. How much of an advantage is playing? You know, there's small suburban grounds, a field club between these days. How much of an advantage is it for you guys running out? Yeah, it's, um, at the end of the day, it's how you turn up on the day and all the fields are pretty much the same, same grass, same hundred meters. But, um, yeah, to us that's our home. That's our, um, spiritual place. And, uh, I know all the, the community and the fans here love going there and they get right behind us.

[00:25:45] So, um, yeah, I don't know if I'd say a big advantage, but we definitely enjoy playing there. Like, given like, what's that? I haven't got, have made, probably haven't made the most of them. And given the guys that are leaving this year, like Cannes in particular, do you sort of acknowledge that there's a moment in time right now where you guys have to deliver on the group? Yeah, I think, uh, we're at no illusion of people leaving and this group won't be together forever.

[00:26:10] And, uh, we've had conversations about that and, uh, spoken about how much, uh, we want this year to go, uh, the way, not only for ourselves, but those people leaving too. And, um, I think a lot of players leaving have, uh, changed our club for the best and, um, you know, they deserve to, to go out on a high. And, um, I don't want to be sitting around in a couple of weeks time, um, you know, disappointed we missed out on the opportunity that we probably won't get ever again.

[00:26:34] So, um, yeah, there's a lot on the line, but, um, hopefully not, not to, uh, you know, let them down, but rather do them proud. Um, that's my goal and, um, that's what I want to provide to them. How's your knee looking this week? Hey, he's looking good. He's, um, got a smile on his face. He's bouncing around. Uh, he's ready to go. So, uh, yeah, I'm not sure if he'll play. I'm sure Fitsi will make that call, but, um, yeah, if he does, it's a great boost and he's a great player. So, um, excited for his return.

[00:27:03] You've got an old boys day this Sunday, 2016, Sharks out of the underworld and right to the finals in the world. Have you spoken to any of the other blokes about how they managed to turn the world? No, not yet. I'm sure they come to training and we can have those conversations and pick their brain a little bit and, um, hopefully interview them, you know, internally and ask them about that series. And, uh, I'm sure we have to lean on that. Obviously they were the first side to, and the only side to win a grand final. So anything we can take from them, we'll take on board. And, um, I'm excited for them to come in and to pick their brain.

[00:27:32] Is this something that can be fixed, I guess, internally, like in terms of the play group or something that fits? He has to be leaving. How do you feel it's going to go? Yeah, I think it's a player thing. Uh, the coaches and staff are doing everything they can. It's essentially us there out in the field, um, you know, executing the game plan, playing the way we want to play. So, uh, yeah, I think we all probably need to look at our games personally rather than, uh, pointing fingers and looking out outside and elsewhere. And I'm sure everyone will do that and get back on the right track.

[00:28:02] SharkCast is supported by the best and most honest real estate agent in the Sutherland Shire, Jason Hawes from Crips & Crips Real Estate. He's an expert in the Carring Bar region and has his eye all across the Shire. Lifelong Sharks fan and supporter of this podcast, if you're looking to buy or sell in the region, the person you need to be talking to is Jason Hawes from Crips & Crips Real Estate. Call him on 0410 417 450. That's 0410 417 450.

[00:28:31] Jason Hawes, Crips & Crips Real Estate. SharkCast! Back in the Shire. Turn your porch lights off because we're coming home with a trophy.