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http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...rk-park-fortress/story-fnbh071o-1226419783973
Shane Flanagan's pre-season speech built a Shark Park fortress
Taylor Auerbach
The Sunday Telegraph
July 08, 2012 12:00AM
Fortress: Shark Park. Source: The Sunday Telegraph
IT'S the secret meeting Sharks players and coach Shane Flanagan are still reluctant to talk about, but it is behind the club's revival.
Flanagan called his players together during the pre-season to deliver an impassioned speech about making Toyota Stadium a graveyard and delivering for their fans following three poor seasons.
After seven games this year, the Sharks have their best home record in 13 years with six wins from seven games.
Only competition leaders the Melbourne Storm can match that success rate.
Going into tomorrow night's game against the Roosters, the Sharks have an 85.7 per cent winning record at home - their best since 1999, when they won 12 from 13 (92.3 per cent).
"We talked about honouring Shark Park, having pride in the jersey and making sure other teams don't want to come here," Sharks centre Ben Pomeroy said.
"(Flanagan) was pretty passionate about it, he was really trying to drive it into us."
Whatever was said has had a remarkable effect as the club is vying for a top-four spot. And with star five-eighth Todd Carney taking on his former Roosters teammates tomorrow night, the Sharks are poised to build on that success.
"I don't want to go into (the speech) too much, that's the sort of stuff that goes on behind closed doors," Flanagan said.
"From my playing experience and coaching experience with other clubs, it has always been a tough place to come and play and we wanted to get that back."
It's a major improvement as the Sharks won less than 40 per cent of their home games in each of the previous three seasons.
Flanagan said it was imperative the Sharks continue their strong home form as they charge towards the finals.
"It's a rolling effect," Flanagan said. "You win footy games, then you get more fans .
"If we create that dominance at home, we'll get more support and that obviously helps us in tight situations.
"(But) it's not just going to be for half a year, it's going to have to be for a whole year and then into next year.
"But (the players) are doing a good job."
The Sharks' only loss at Toyota Stadium this year came in Round 2 against Wayne Bennett's Knights.
Pomeroy said the Sharks are brimming with confidence as they chase a first finals appearance since 2008.
"We want a top-four position, that's what we want." Pomeroy said.
Shane Flanagan's pre-season speech built a Shark Park fortress
Taylor Auerbach
The Sunday Telegraph
July 08, 2012 12:00AM
Fortress: Shark Park. Source: The Sunday Telegraph
IT'S the secret meeting Sharks players and coach Shane Flanagan are still reluctant to talk about, but it is behind the club's revival.
Flanagan called his players together during the pre-season to deliver an impassioned speech about making Toyota Stadium a graveyard and delivering for their fans following three poor seasons.
After seven games this year, the Sharks have their best home record in 13 years with six wins from seven games.
Only competition leaders the Melbourne Storm can match that success rate.
Going into tomorrow night's game against the Roosters, the Sharks have an 85.7 per cent winning record at home - their best since 1999, when they won 12 from 13 (92.3 per cent).
"We talked about honouring Shark Park, having pride in the jersey and making sure other teams don't want to come here," Sharks centre Ben Pomeroy said.
"(Flanagan) was pretty passionate about it, he was really trying to drive it into us."
Whatever was said has had a remarkable effect as the club is vying for a top-four spot. And with star five-eighth Todd Carney taking on his former Roosters teammates tomorrow night, the Sharks are poised to build on that success.
"I don't want to go into (the speech) too much, that's the sort of stuff that goes on behind closed doors," Flanagan said.
"From my playing experience and coaching experience with other clubs, it has always been a tough place to come and play and we wanted to get that back."
It's a major improvement as the Sharks won less than 40 per cent of their home games in each of the previous three seasons.
Flanagan said it was imperative the Sharks continue their strong home form as they charge towards the finals.
"It's a rolling effect," Flanagan said. "You win footy games, then you get more fans .
"If we create that dominance at home, we'll get more support and that obviously helps us in tight situations.
"(But) it's not just going to be for half a year, it's going to have to be for a whole year and then into next year.
"But (the players) are doing a good job."
The Sharks' only loss at Toyota Stadium this year came in Round 2 against Wayne Bennett's Knights.
Pomeroy said the Sharks are brimming with confidence as they chase a first finals appearance since 2008.
"We want a top-four position, that's what we want." Pomeroy said.
