How dominant bench is changing the game for Cronulla

Hamlin-Uele is leading the charge, embracing the opportunity to batter his opponents just as fatigue is coming into the game. 

"It's so much fun," Hamlin-Uele says with a wry smile. "I'm loving the role I'm playing and the boys I'm doing it with. 

"It's exciting watching the starters lay the platform and make our job easier. We can come on and raise the intensity and it's what we aim to do every week."

At 423kg, the Cronulla bench is the biggest remaining in the competition and one of just two that cracks the 400kg mark.

Brisbane rolled out a bench weighing 405kg in last week's win over the Raiders.

Canberra's interchange will total 396kg in Saturday's sudden-death clash with the Sharks, marking a 27kg disparity. 

Unsurprisingly the Bulldogs have the smallest bench of the six teams left, at 377kg. Canterbury have prided themselves on their mobility and versatility, with the pack built to suit the modern game's breakneck speed.

Penrith's interchange sits at 398kg, while Melbourne's totalled 396kg in their qualifying-final win over the Bulldogs. 

The Roosters rolled out a young bench weighing 391kg against Cronulla last week and the difference was clear both in impact and experience. 

The Sharks were on the back foot and struggling when Hamlin-Uele and Oregon Kaufusi were injected into the fray after 26 minutes. 

Their impact was immediate, with Cronulla scoring two tries in the final six minutes of the first half to take a 12-4 lead at the break. 

"It's pretty powerful to be out there in the middle when Addin finishes his stint and those guys come on," Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey said. 

"They talk about their role as bench players is to make an impact. It hasn't just been the last few weeks, it's been the whole year they've been doing that. They've swung momentum in our favour and brought something different to our side. We're going to need that from them again this week."

Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon's use of his bench is focused on getting quality minutes out of all of his forwards, rather than stretching players out for extended stints. 

All four interchange players were on the field for less than 30 minutes last week, but they made every minute count. 

As a result, the impact stretches far beyond the time the quartet is on the field. The starting middle forwards can punch out a high-energy 25–30-minute stint to open the game, safe in the knowledge the bomb squad will build on their foundation. 

The inverse is true in the second half and this may be where Cronulla's strategy will have the biggest impact against a tired Raiders side playing six days after a 94-minute epic. 

Cronulla's bench forwards typically start the second half and empty the tank before Fitzgibbon turns to his starters for the final quarter of the match. 

Again, the results were clear last weekend. The game swung when Fonua-Blake and Rudolf returned to the field shortly after Angus Crichton scored to pull the Roosters back within two.

"I know we've got quality coming off the bench and I can go as hard as I can for as long as I can to start the game without worrying about the minutes," Fonua-Blake said.

"The boys coming off the bench are doing a great job. When they come on and change the game, you get a bit envious sitting on the sidelines watching. 

"It motivates me when I get back out there in the second half and makes it a lot easier for me to come on and finish the game after they've knocked the door down."

While the forwards are the ones doing the hard yards through the middle, the Cronulla backs are the biggest beneficiaries of their teammates' work. 

A dominant forward pack is a vital ingredient for winning football games, with backs able to attack with time and space against a retreating defensive line.

The Sharks halves were suffocated throughout the opening 20 minutes of last week's game before space opened up after Fitzgibbon turned to his bench. 

Centre Jesse Ramien said the benefits aren't just physical, with rival teams dropping their heads when they see Hamlin-Uele and co warming up on the sidelines. 

"It's a big relief when they get on and swing momentum our way," Ramien said. "I'm glad they're on our side when they get on because it doesn't look like fun. 

"Over the back half of the season the way they've come on and changed the game for us in crucial moments has been massive. Hopefully they can do it for three more games."

The Sharks are under no illusions of the challenge they face this weekend. They may outweigh the Raiders bench, but Canberra is not lacking firepower or quality. 

Simi Sasagi and Ata Mariota have been two of the form forwards this year, while Owen Pattie brings an X-factor to the field and Morgan Smithies is a hard-nosed Englishman who never takes a backwards step. 

While some players are desperate for more playing time and will seek opportunities elsewhere, the Cronulla bench have embraced their roles.

All four men could start at other clubs but have instead bought into Craig Fitzgibbon's plan for a premiership bid. Talakai said it's a sign of a playing group willing to do whatever it takes to help the team succeed. 

"My job is to take the intensity to another level and change the momentum or swing it back to our side," Talakai said. 

"That team-first mentality is what our squad is built on. We have that connection throughout the whole side. On the field, off the field, we understand our game and understand our role for the team."