Slater’s Shark warning as grim finals hoodoo hangs over must-win clash

League legend Billy Slater says the Sharks will “need to go up a couple of notches” if they are to upset the Roosters and reach a third NRL preliminary final in four years.

The Shire side has developed a habit of finishing high on the ladder, but then failing to make it to the big dance.

Braydon Trindall was brilliant against the Cowboys depite being injured. NRL Imagery/Brett Costello

They finished second in 2022 and went out in straight sets, finished sixth the following year and lost in week one, then made it to back-to-back preliminary finals but lost both times in 2024 and 2025.

Now Craig Fitzgibbon’s men find themselves in familiar territory, after finishing the regular season in fifth place.

A win over the Cowboys last week sets up a semi final clash with the Roosters in Sydney on Saturday night.

And while the Chooks have several players walking wounded and lost to Penrith on Sunday, Slater says the standard they set was several levels above what Cronulla needed to beat North Queensland.

“They haven’t convinced me yet,” he said of the Sharks on Nine’s The Billy Slater Podcast.

“They’ve got a good team, and they are capable of doing something, but they just aren’t showing me enough.”

Cronulla have endured a difficult month, losing to four teams outside of the top eight.

Slater acknowledged they have “found a little bit of their mojo”, but said their win over the Cowboys “wasn’t overly convincing”.

Braydon Trindall’s return was a highlight.

Playing his first game in a month after dislocating his shoulder, he impressed Slater with his physical courage.

“You could see right from the moment he ran out onto the field that he was in some discomfort,” Slater said of Trindall.

Siosifa Talakai of the Sharks in action. Getty Images

“He was brave, and he had to make those tackles, and he did his job.”

Slater believes Cronulla will need to lift significantly, highlighting the Roosters v Panthers game as “a class above the rest of the finals games on the weekend”.

Cronulla’s attack has shown flashes of brilliance this season, including their earlier winning streak, but Slater warned Trindall may become a target this weekend.

“You’ve got a guy there that’s basically playing on one arm. You want to get your game right so you can put him under pressure and isolate him with bodies in motion,” he said of the likely Roosters’ plan.

Trindall’s presence appeared to settle the side, with Nicho Hynes’ running game returning as he scored the try that sealed the match under the posts.

Slater also praised Siosifa Talakai coming off the bench, saying he “added a bit of spark”.