Parker puts the spotlight on Sharks pack ahead of do-or-die final

Former Queensland Origin forward Corey Parker has called for a rocket to be delivered to the Cronulla Sharks ahead of their do-or-die elimination final against the North Queensland Cowboys this weekend.

The Sharks pack was dominated in their loss to the Storm last week and face a strong Cowboys frontline with the likes of Reuben Cotter, Jason Taumalolo and Jordan McLean.

While all the pressure has been on Sharks playmaker Nicho Hynes, Parker said the pressure was on the forward pack to lay a platform for the Dally M Medalist.

“You see the best halfbacks in the competition, you’re normally playing on the front foot, not a lot of them are off the back foot,” he said on SENQ Mornings.

“Until that middle part of the field is going to be won, it makes it extremely difficult and then heightens some of the other things.

“You look at the outside backs for the Sharks, some of the best in the competition and they do a lot of the heavy lifting coming out of their own end, yes their forwards need to put their hands up but if they don’t… it’s going to play havoc with the halves.

“They get Addin Fonua-Blake next year, who will make a huge difference in that football side, but that’s not until next year and they’re right up to their eyeballs in it at the moment.”

Parker said Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon should challenge his pack to deliver when it matters most.

“There should be an absolute rocket lifted up under those forwards,” he said.

“Look at any team that’s won a competition, it’s normally a representative halfback and a representative front-rower.

“That middle part of the field has just been owned.

“They need to have a real mentality of owning that middle part of the field and give their outside backs and their class and creative players enough time and space.”

Kick-off on Friday night is at 7.50pm.