Braydon Trindall's steely self-belief and knack for producing momentum-shifting plays are why his Sharks teammates have every faith in the popular pivot to make his mark on 2024.
While Trindall continued preparations to represent the Indigenous All Stars on Friday alongside club halves partner Nicho Hynes, Cronulla guns Ronaldo Mulitalo, Blayke Brailey and Toby Rudolf sung his praises at a mid-week media session.
Having tallied 51 NRL games since his debut in 2020, Trindall is set to enter the upcoming season as the team's preferred five-eighth for the first time after unseating now-departed veteran Matt Moylan towards the end of last year.
Tricky comes up with big moments. He can kick a 40-20, he can show-and-go and score a try when we need it.
Blayke Brailey on Braydon Trindall
According to Brailey, who won a NSW Cup premiership and State Championship title for the Newtown Jets with Trindall in 2019, the 24-year-old is primed to succeed.
"He's obviously a great player," hooker Brailey said after helping to announce the club's exciting national partnership with Quest Apartment Hotels on Tuesday.
"Nicho is the controlling player and 'Tricky' comes up with big moments. He can kick a 40-20, he can show-and-go and score a try when we need it. That shows in our training - they're working well together, their combination's growing."
Mid-week media: Blayke Brailey
Flying winger Mulitalo also foresees a breakout season for Trindall.
"He's going to get better and better with every game. He's been unlucky the last couple of years coming in and out and hasn't really built momentum," Mulitalo said.
"And when he has, it's kind of been taken away from him by (returning) starting players. It's his spot to lose, I think, and I back him in.
"He's one of those players that backs his ability and everyone from the coaching staff all the way down to the playing group backs him as well.
"He's got All Stars this weekend, so really looking forward to him showcasing what he's got there and then bringing it back, hopefully filled with a lot of confidence."
Mid-week media: Ronaldo Mulitalo
Rudolf is another card-carrying member of the Trindall fan club.
"I've been watching the first side train against the Jets boys all year," Rudolf said.
"He's like a magician out there. He's calling the right plays, making the right moves and making the right tackles. I have all the faith in the world in Braydon Trindall."
Brailey, Mulitalo and Rudolf won't feature in Saturday's opening trial clash with the Knights in Gosford, instead being kept on ice for the second and final pre-season fixture against the Bulldogs at Belmore on Friday, February 23.
Spirits are high after a tight-knit training camp at Lennox Head last week, with the squad settled and ready to achieve another level of output.
"When we're at our best, we can beat just about anyone in the comp," said Rudolf, who recently rejoined full training after managing a chronic turf-toe injury.
"But then the difference between our best and our worst is large. I think this year it'll be about minimising that gap between our best and our worst.
Mid-week media: Toby Rudolf
"Fitz (coach Craig Fitzgibbon) knows the group that we currently have can get the job done; it's just about actually putting those performances together and minimising the gap between best and worst."
Brailey added: "We know what we're about, we know our structure, we know how we want to play and we have another year to do that. We've got pretty much the same team as last year and hopefully we can go one step further."
