The Sharks have been dealt a cruel blow in their 21-12 loss to the Roosters at Allianz Stadium, with back-rower Wade Graham tearing his ACL. He was sent for scans on his right knee and will miss not only next weekend's clash with the Panthers but be out until early next year.
Graham helped create the opening try of the night for Sosaia Feki but twisted his right knee awkwardly while attempting to stop Cooper Cronk from scoring in the 12th minute and immediately dropped to the ground in agony.
Play was held up for a couple of minutes while trainers assessed Graham and then helped him from the field and took him straight to the sheds.
The Sharks are likely to turn to Scott Sorensen to take Graham's spot. The 25-year-old made 13 appearances during the season, averaging 70 running metres per match.
Kurt Capewell is another option for Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan.
Speaking after Saturday night's match, Flanagan said the attitude and effort from his team was second to none - it was the opportunities they didn't take throughout the match that cost them the game.
Match Highlights: Roosters v Sharks – Finals Week 1, 2018
"Fantastic game and fantastic effort from my blokes, we just didn't nail those three opportunities to score," Flanagan said.
"There were some tough 50/50 calls but I'm sure they had some as well.
"If Luke [Lewis] gets that ball down [in the 72nd minute] we could be winning the game, that's how close it was. It was just the grounding of a football.
"They had some similar ones - they catch in the air and they batted it back and it lands into someone's hands and they nailed them. That was the difference."
The Sharks' reward for finishing fourth in the regular season is a second bite at the cherry next week and Flanagan does not foresee any drastic changes to his side.
"If we have that attitude and effort that we had tonight than I'm sure we'll be OK," Flanagan said.
"I don't have to turn them around too much, we just need to turn the result by nailing those three opportunities."
