Nicho Hynes claims Cronulla don't get the respect they deserve, accusing critics of unfairly writing the Sharks off before the NRL finals had even began.
Cronulla have seemingly adopted a siege mentality in this year's series, with players making continual references to the fact no-one believes they can win.
That was evident after Saturday night's victory over the Sydney Roosters, where Ronaldo Mulitalo told media to "shove that up ya pipe" in a radio interview.
Hynes also quipped that awaiting reporters had written the Sharks off as he exited the sheds on Saturday, while coach Craig Fitzgibbon hinted at his team being overlooked in the post-match press conference.
The Sharks will head to Canberra on Saturday with a genuine chance of knocking off the minor premiers and reaching their second straight preliminary final.
They have won eight of their past nine, and have the best record of any team over the past two months.
Part of the narrative will also be that Canberra are coming off a 94th-minute heartbreaker against Brisbane on Sunday, and have a shorter six-day turnaround.
But Cronulla are sick of what they believe is their own efforts being overlooked, after years of talk of soft draws and a poor finals record.
"We feel it. I just don't think we ever get any respect," Hynes said on Monday.
"No one ever gives us a chance. No one speaks about us. It's always anyone else's fault if we beat them.
"They're injured, or their players are missing, or they didn't play well.
"We've been in the finals the last four years in a row now. Still no one gives us a chance."
The 2022 Dally M Medallist said there was only one way to change the external commentary.
"Win a comp," the halfback said.
"The only thing we haven't done in the last three years since Fitzy's been here is play in a grand final.
"We've just got to win a comp I guess. If that's what it's going to take then we want to do that anyway.
"If it's going to shut some people up then we're going to have to do it. Only one team has done it in the last four years. Hopefully we're the next."
Hynes' halves partner Braydon Trindall admitted the critics were continuing to motivate players.
"You definitely hear about it," Trindall said.
"Using it as a bit of a motivator to shut people up once we get the job done is a big thing for us.
"And for myself personally, I like to prove people wrong. So that's why I get a bit of motivation out of it."
