Trindall's patience pays off

Braydon Trindall has had to get used to playing second fiddle over the years but right now he can deservedly call himself the Sharks' first-choice five-eighth.

Having played 47 NRL matches as a back-up utility since making his debut in 2020, Trindall has had to bide his time behind a string of quality playmakers including Shaun Johnson, Chad Townsend, Matt Moylan and Nicho Hynes.

Trindall started the 2023 season at halfback when Hynes was injured but once the Dally M Medal winner returned in Round 4 it was back to playing patience until late last month.

After the Sharks had been handed a 44-12 reality check by the Warriors in Round 20, coach Craig Fitzgibbon knew something had to change before the finals dream slipped away.

He turned to Trindall to partner Nicho Hynes in the halves and the 24-year-old hasn't looked back.

“I was in and out of the team for a bit there, but I got my opportunity after we had some losses and now I’m just trying to put my best foot forward heading into finals,” Trindall said.

“The first two games there with Nicho we were a bit off in our attack but we’ve worked hard on it during the week at trainings and I think we're starting to gel a bit there.

“We just simplified things really. We had a bit of a chat with Fitzy when I came in and he just said I needed to focus on my defence.

"We were struggling there for a bit, we had a bit of a slump with our defence and let too many tries in.

“But he just said focus on your defence and your attack will come and I think it's starting to go along well now.”

Moving from Queensland to the Sharks as an 18-year-old, Trindall quickly made a name for himself as a member of the premiership-winning Jersey Flegg team of 2018.

And despite having never had the opportunity to call a jersey his own in first grade, Trindall’s loyalty to Cronulla remains unquestioned after signing a two-year extension at the start of the season.

“It's always a goal as a young kid, you want to be starting somewhere for an NRL team but I'm just putting happy to put my best foot forward when I can,” he said.

“I signed the contract here and I want to stay loyal to the Sharks. I just love how we've been building over the years.

“The last 18 months that Fitzy has been here we have built something special and I just want to be a part of it.

“As a club we're going in a good direction and I’m just loving it at the moment.

“This opportunity is really important for me, they're great players here and I'm just loving being around them and being a part of it.”

The last time the Sharks and Cowboys went head-to-head in Round 9, Trindall was 18th Man and came on for the last five minutes of a comprehensive 44-6 victory.

On Thursday night he lines up as first-choice five-eighth opposite the halfback who taught him his trade, Chad Townsend.

“I’ve played the Cowboys a few times over the years and, this year I was 18th man and I got on in the last five minutes,” he said.

“So I haven't played much against Chaddy (Townsend), I’ve played a few games with him but so it will be a good challenge.

“He's a veteran in the game, and I learnt a lot off him over the years he was here. And he's going really well there for the Cowboys.

“It's very tight on the ladder at the moment so it'll be a good opportunity for us. They're a good side and we can see where we're at.”