Saturday’s round four NRL clash between the winless duo Cronulla and Gold Coast has become do or die for both teams, says Sharks representative back-rower Luke Lewis.
The former Penrith star plays his second game back from a knee injury against the Titans, who have spluttered along at the start of 2015, much like Cronulla.
Gold Coast were expected to struggle this season, even before they were hit by off-field drama.
The Sharks, however, were expected to improve plenty upon a 2014 in which they claimed the wooden spoon, now they were free of the ASADA scandal that has plagued them for the past two seasons.
Lewis admits the Sharks have started the year far worse than they could have expected and need to get things kick-started now.
Since the NRL began in 1998, only four of the 19 teams that have started the season at 0-4 have gone on to make the finals.
“It’s really is must-win for both teams and we know they are going to be as desperate as we are,” Lewis told AAP.
“We haven’t started the season the way we wanted but it is a long season and if we can put a few wins together all of a sudden people will be saying ‘how good are the Sharkies going’.
“We haven’t been playing with confidence, but once we get a win that will come.
“We need to be desperate against the Titans, we need to want it more than them and things will turn around.”
The Titans were thumped 40-0 in round two by Penrith, but suffered two late heartbreaking losses to Wests Tigers in round one and Newcastle last start.
“They haven’t been going too bad at all,” Lewis said ahead of the Remondis Stadium clash.
“Nate Myles has been going along as we all know he can, he is so important for them and you throw Dave Taylor and Greg Bird in there and they have got a forward pack capable of threatening anyone.
“They are the kind of guys we need to limit their impact on the game if we are to come away with our first win of the year.”
“We don’t think we deserve to be down where we are and I’m sure they feel the same.”
KEY STATS
*The Sharks haven’t won a game in the Shire for almost 12 months, losing a club record equalling nine straight matches at Remondis stadium since round 10 last season.
* The last two teams to start the season 0-4 have gone on to collect the wooden spoon.
* This will be the Titans 200th Premiership match and they will be trying to avoid losing their opening four matches to start a season for the first time in their short history.
* Chris Heighington will play his 250th career match after making his debut for the Wests Tigers in Round 1, 2003 against the Dragons.
The Titans have now lost their past five away matches, and will be trying to avoid losing six straight away matches since losing a club record seven straight in 2007-08.
Source: Fox Sports Stats.
