Cronulla face a yawning experience deficit against Penrith, compounded by fitness doubts over their sole surviving player from the last time they played in a preliminary final.
Centre Jesse Ramien is the only Sharks player named in their 17 to play the Panthers on Saturday that featured in their 2018 loss to Melbourne.
By contrast, 13 players of Penrith’s 17 have previously played in a preliminary final at the club.
But even if Ramien shakes off a lingering ankle injury to play in the Sharks’ grand final qualifier against the Panthers, there’s not much he can tell his teammates about the experience.
So long has it been since Cronulla have made it this deep into finals, the 27-year-old has forgotten what it feels like.
“I can’t really remember it, to be honest,” he told AAP.
“It was a fair while ago, I guess a lot’s really changed since then. I remember obviously playing Melbourne in the game but I was probably so young – it was my first full year of first grade – so I probably didn’t really take it in.”
The 22-6 loss to the Storm in 2018 was the then-21-year-old’s last appearance for the Sharks before moving north to Newcastle.
But things didn’t work out in his one year stint in the Hunter.
Coming back to Cronulla felt like coming back home again, he said.
“I love the community, I love the fans, I love the club,” he said.
“My little girl loves it here and my little fella was born last round of last year here. It’s pretty much a home away from home.”
One thing he has learned from experience is that he could be waiting a long time for the next opportunity to play in a prelim.
“I guess I’ve grown as a player and the way I approach the game,” he said.
“You’ve got to make the most of these opportunities. It’s a hell of an opportunity we have in front of us and they don’t come around too often.”
