Cronulla Sharks utility Toby Rudolf has praised captain Dale Finucane for his leadership both on and off the field which has inspired the club to a 3-1 start.
Finucane joined the Sharks in the off-season from the Storm and has lived up to the hype as Cronulla are arguably the in-form team of the competition following dominant wins against the Dragons and Knights.
Rudolf has said the Sharks wouldn’t be sitting in the top four on the ladder without the competitive edge that Finucane has brought to The Shire.
“Dale Finucane is ruthless on the field (and) off the field even more so,” Rudolf said on Sportsday NSW.
“He just never stops moving, never stops doing all the things that he needs to get his body right.
“It’s quite a sight to see and something I’m trying to gain some inspiration from.
“I’m lucky to do a gym session and a running session all week.
“To see Dale performing the way he performs, off the field more than on … it’s very good.”
It has been a year of change for the Sharks with both a new playmaker in Nicho Hynes and a new head coach with Craig Fitzgibbon.
Rudolf said that Fitzgibbon has given the Sharks the new direction that was needed and having a new voice at the club has benefited a number of players.
“His philosophy behind the game and what he’s telling us to work on in translating 100% to our on-field results,” Rudolf added.
“That in itself gives me all the confidence in the world.
“If he tells me to run through a brick wall, I will.
“Everything he has said so far has worked to a tee.
“Hopefully we can keep doing this for the whole year.”
The Sharks host the last-placed Wests Tigers on April 10.