"Can do it": Why Townsend backs Cronulla to win it all

The Sharks on track for a fifth straight finals appearance.

And Chad Townsend believes his former club has what it takes to win their second NRL premiership in the club's 59-year history.

Just like last season, Cronulla are hitting their straps towards the latter stages of the premiership season.

Since their final bye of the season in Round 17, the Sharkies have won five matches in a row, pushing them into the top four and claiming some valuable scalps against fellow finals contenders in the Dolphins, Knights and Rabbitohs.

While their form during the regular season since Craig Fitzgibbon took over in 2022 has not been an issue, there have been question marks about whether they can achieve ultimate success, having failed to make the Grand Final across their four finals appearances under the 49-year-old's tenure.

But with their recent form, the former Cronulla halfback believes the club has what it takes to lift the Provan-Summons Trophy.

“When I watch the Sharks, they've got this ability to score points very quickly,” Townsend explained on SEN’s Saturday League Kick Off.

“But if something happens where they make an error or something goes against them, I feel like they can change their style of football from being really attacking to let's just grit our teeth, get back to our kick, build our completion rate back up.

“The Sharkies have the ability to be really dynamic and then drop back into those gears where, ‘Hey, we're in almost autopilot’.

“We know we can go through the front door with Addin Fonua-Blake and with our forward pack and Blayke Brailey running the football and then (Brayden) Trindall will put the ball into the corner, and we'll try and bash you with our line speed and our defence.

“I've loved what the Sharks have done over the past five weeks. They're playing a style of football that can win the comp.

“I think the Sharkies can do it this year with the way that they're playing.”

The Sharks will play the Dragons at Kogarah Oval on Sunday.

Kick-off takes place 4:05pm AEST.