Andrew Fifita says he'll be ready to come back and laugh at anyone prematurely writing off Cronulla's chances of back-to-back NRL titles.
The Sharks were beaten convincingly Brisbane last weekend and have lost four of their past seven games, leaving their premiership defence in a precarious position and their top-four hopes in limbo with three rounds to play.
But they also won just one of their last six games leading into last year's finals series - and Fifita said he was certain Cronulla would be able to flick the switch once again.
"We'll get through this little slump patch and move forward, I guarantee," he told reporters on Wednesday.
"This is what everyone was saying last year and we got through it. Everyone said the Sharks are off the table now.
"If I could do media last year in grand final (week) I'd be laughing at half the media because they were writing us off just before the finals series.
"If it's meant to be and we're there at the end, I'll come back and have a laugh at you."
Fifita appeared to have his swagger back in a rare open media call on Wednesday, saying he was 100 per cent confident his own form would turn around.
The 28-year-old was dominant for NSW in the State of Origin opener and while conceding he has not been the same player since, he assured that he will be soon.
"It's a bit of arrogance, it's a bit of cockiness," he said.
"It's about leading my team now. It's time for myself and a few of the other boys in this team to start standing up.
"I know where I messed up and I'll be ready this week."
Fifita said the lead-in to the NRL finals would bring out his best football.
"It's the best time of year," he said.
"I missed out one year (2014) in a finals series ... It was the worst. I never want to miss a finals series ever again.
"To my credit, I don't think I've missed a finals series besides that year since I left the Tigers. I just want to be back in there."
The Sharks take on injury-hit North Queensland on Saturday night in Townsville.
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