Luke Lewis says the inspiration of the makeshift Cronulla side who almost pulled off one of the biggest boilovers in NRL history can be a catalyst for lifting the beleaguered club from the doldrums.
Hard-hit by doping bans and injury, a never-say-die Sharks team containing seven players with only 10first grade appearances between them made a huge impression when they lost by only one point - 21-20 in golden-point time to star-studded North Queensland in Townsville on Monday.
Bookies gave the Sharks an enormous +30.5 start to win - the biggest to any side since 1999 - and they were denied only by a Johnathan Thurston field goal in the extra period.
Lewis, who missed the game because of hamstring and knee problems, said yesterday the performance of a team rated as no-hopers lifted the whole club in a season that has lurched from one crisis to another.
"It was awesome to sit back as a player and watch the boys, the way they have come together and then played so well on Monday night," he said.
Reluctant stand-in coach Peter Sharp quit mid-season leaving rookie under-20s coach James Shepherd to take the reins.
Skipper Paul Gallen, Nathan Gardner, John Morris, Wade Graham and Anthony Tupou were then suspended after the long-running probe by the Australian drugs agency Asada.
"I haven't experienced a season like it," Lewis said.
"I think you have to go through tough times to enjoy the good times. But the good times are ahead."
