Can Cronulla win this year’s NRL premiership?
SEN 1170 The Captain’s Run duo Cameron Smith and Denan Kemp think it’s well within the realms of possibility.
The Sharks currently sit in outright third position through 19 games, behind only the Cowboys and Panthers.
While the two teams ahead of them and the Storm are considered better chances to win it all, Smith and Kemp can envision Craig Fitzgibbon claiming the competition in his first season in charge.
Kemp: “In your mind’s eye, can you imagine the Sharkies lifting the trophy at the end of the year?
Smith: “I can, I can see them doing it.
“I’m not having them as a lock to say they will, I still feel Penrith is the team to be beaten followed by the Cowboys who are playing well at the moment.
“Then you have Melbourne and the Broncos…that’s outside of the Sharks.”
Kemp: “The Sharks beat the Cowboys.”
Smith: “It’s not the craziest idea to see that happening.”
Kemp: “I agree.”
Smith: “As we were saying, those teams whether it be good publicity, poor publicity, everyone’s saying, ‘They’re gone, they’re not the team they were’.
“With Penrith, everyone’s talking them up saying, ‘They’re unbeatable’, but they’ve hit a speed bump at the moment with Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai out.
“Everyone’s talking up the Cowboys and even the Broncos and how well they’re going, but not one thing has been said about Cronulla.
“They’re third on the ladder.”
Kemp: “They’re underrated.”
The third-placed Sharks have a favourable run home as they play bottom-eight teams the Dragons, Tigers, Sea Eagles, Bulldogs and Knights in the remaining five rounds.