They are sitting in stone cold last position, but despite injuries, suspension and poor form Sharks no.7 Brett Seymour says that the team owe it to Ricky Stuart to start turning things around in 2009.
Ricky Stuart has been the focal point for all the complaints as his side struggle with poor recruitment, non existent attack and the loss of their previously reliable defence.
Things came to a head earlier in the week, with Stuart’s old mentor Gus Gould commenting on the Sharks situation and suggesting Ricky needs to put his hand up for help in the coaching role.
This week in Round 7, the Sharks face an out of sorts South Sydney side at ANZ Stadium – a side that is also strugging for cohesion in the past fortnight.
However, as it stands Cronulla are still only averaging just 12 points per match in attack. Seymour has put his hand up saying the players are to blame, and Stuart is wrongly being pinpointed as the problem.
It’s a big call from Seymour. This guy is quickly regaining respect after his last brush with the drink and pavement. Here is a guy that has not only consistently apologised for his actions, but here he is going into bat for the coach and club that dropped him for 2 games. A big move and one that shows Seymour is well and truly on the path to redemption.
“It’s a lot of stress for the poor bloke, we’re putting him under a lot of pressure,” Seymour confirmed in regards to coach Ricky Stuart.
“We don’t have to (necessarily) go out there and win, we just have to go out there and play some good footy and the result will take care of itself.”
Given the pressure from the media and comment from Phil Gould, Ricky Stuart will draw on every ounce of passion and ability to harness the siege mentality that could allow his side to ambush a coasting Bunnies outfit.