Cronulla captain Brett Kimmorley insists his halves pairing with Adam Dykes isn't to blame for the NRL club's slide, despite damning statistics to the contrary.
The Sharks have won just four of the last 20 games when both playmakers are on the paddock - including two of 10 this year - with their combination coming under fire following five consecutive losses.
However, Kimmorley refuted suggestions he didn't gel with Dykes.
"I think we've combined well every week, but people seem to be making a big issue of it,"
Kimmorley said.
"We enjoy playing together and I think we'll continue to enjoy playing together.
"People like to discuss things and try to figure out why we're losing.
"When you're losing people try to bring up reasons why and the two blokes that touch the ball the most are going to be the centre of attention."
The former NSW and Australian halfback offered a different reason for the Shire club's recent slide, suggesting opposition defences were getting away with more in the ruck.
"We've unfortunately had to change our style of play a little bit because we're not getting the play-the-balls we want any more ... it's open slather in the ruck," Kimmorley explained.
"That sort of slowed us down and took our effectiveness away a bit.
"We are trying to adapt to it, but when you train all off season on what you think it's going to be and mid-year things change ... that's where we are at the moment."
The Sharks have flown to Auckland to prepare for Saturday's clash with New Zealand Warriors, clinging to a top-eight spot just above Parramatta, Penrith and Canberra due to a superior for-and-against.
"We know we need to win this, whereas the last few weeks it's been `it hasn't come to do or die yet'," Kimmorley said.
"It probably has now.
"Obviously the results have fortunately gone our way in the last few weeks and we are still in there with a chance.
"For the rest of the season, things are in our hands - if we win, we stay in front of all those sides.
"The fact that we won eight or nine in a row will give us confidence.
"We believe when we play good footy we can beat most sides and we've proved that, we just have got to get back onto that bit of a roll.
"We played pretty good footy last week with no result.
"Our main goal is to make sure we make the semis and make sure we play some good football before we get there."
Kimmorley said morale was still high in the Sharks camp despite the recent struggles.
"The boys are still pretty good together," he said.
"Obviously we need to win and confidence is something you can take when you win.
"We're a good bunch of mates and you train hard together and try and win together - win or lose, that doesn't change."
Meanwhile, former Cronulla forward Danny Nutley will know by the end of the week whether Super League club Castleford is prepared to grant him a release.
"He's got another two years to go but his wife's homesick and there is a general consensus he'll probably come home," manager Wayne Beavis said.
"Finding him an NRL club here won't be a problem, it's just a matter of if they release him."
