Sharks young gun Jayden Brailey made the trek out to Homebush today, where he took part in an NRL media promotion for this weekend’s double header at ANZ Stadium.
Brailey was joined by Kirisome Auva’a from the Eels, as well as Manly’s Shaun Lane and Damian Cook from the Rabbitohs, with the quartet posing for photos and answering questions from the media in relation to Saturday night’s matches and each team’s start to the 2018 season.
The line of enquiry for Brailey centred around the Sharks slow start, before focusing on the clash with Parramatta.
“It’s a matter of staying tight, staying confident,” Brailey said. “Every team goes through these little patches, but we’re a tough side and here’s hoping we can bounce back and play with some confidence.”
The local junior, who made the number nine jersey his own with a series of consistent performances in 2017, was then forced to defend some of his big named teammates after sections of the media questioned their performances in the Sharks opening two matches.
Predictably, Brailey was quick to defend his teammates, fully realising such criticism from within would achieve nothing for a team looking to get their season on track, starting this Saturday night.
“It’s not just one player, we’re all in this together and we’re just trying to pick each other up,” he said. “If one person’s not going so well, the bloke beside him needs to pick him up and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
As for Parramatta, on the end of a 54-0 shellacking at the hands of the Sea Eagles yesterday, from Brailey and the Sharks it was a case of beware the wounded Eel.
“We know Parra will come out firing and we’ve got to be prepared for that.
“(The game will) probably be a cracker, two sides with a lot to play for, trying to get their first win of the year. I’m sure both teams will turn up and it’s going to be a pretty tough game.”
Brailey made the trip to ANZ following a morning field session, held in warm conditions at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
Tomorrow the squad will take part in some individual skills and extras, before another full day of training on Wednesday.
The Sharks are the second game of the double-header on Saturday, with their match against the Eels kicking off at 7.30pm.
The first match between Souths and Manly gets underway at 5.30pm.
