Sharks enforcer Andrew Fifita has warned the doubters to write off Cronulla at their peril after a turbulent off-season for the 2016 NRL premiers.
After losing try-scoring superstar Valentine Holmes to American football and having title-winning mentor Shane Flanagan de-registered, the Sharks will open their 2019 campaign against Newcastle on Friday night as somewhat of an unknown quantity under rookie coach John Morris.
The club has also provisionally cut former Dally M hooker of the year James Segeyaro to start the year under the salary cap, meaning they're one man down before a ball is even kicked.
But Fifita and fellow representative front-rower Aaron Woods are adamant Cronulla can overcome the off-field dramas and controversies to once again emerge as a premiership force.
"A lot of it's just outside noise, to be honest," Fifita said of the critics on Tuesday.
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"We know we have a really good team here. We could be the underrated.
"The last few years we've been two from six and everyone always writes us off.
"Then it comes finals time - crunch time - and we're always in the top four or somewhere up there and it's no different this year."
Fifita noted that co-captain Wade Graham, due to return in round 12 from a knee reconstruction, was the side's only injury concern.
The firebrand prop is also excited about what electrifying half Shaun Johnson can bring to the Sharks following the former world player of the year's off-season defection from the Warriors.
"I feel more than confident that our team can get the job done and I'm really excited to see where this season takes us," Fifita said.
"Losing Val to follow his NFL dream, I'm excited to see how goes, but to get a pick-up like Shaun Johnson is massive for the club."
Woods admitted the Sharks were still smarting from last year's preliminary final loss to Melbourne.
"We got injuries at a poor time - losing 'Wado' in the first semi and then 'Gal' (Paul Gallen) in the second one," Woods said.
"So there's still a bit of frustration there with the way we finished our season, but it's a new year.
"We've got a different coach, some new players have come in, we've lost a few.
"So we've spoken about what we want and we just want to play some consistent footy."
