Dale Finucane trains hard enough to make onlookers uncomfortable and leave them wondering whether he might actually be insane, according to Craig Fitzgibbon.
Now, on the eve of Finucane's 250th NRL appearance, the Cronulla coach has lauded a player he credits with lifting the standard at the Sharks.
Finucane will reach his milestone against Canterbury, the club where he made his NRL debut, in the Sharks' first home game of the new season on Friday night.
His rugby league resume boasts two State of Origin series wins with NSW and two premiership victories at Melbourne from six career grand final appearances.
But mostly the lock forward has become known as an effort-first player, always ready to roll his sleeves up and put his head down.
Fitzgibbon made Finucane a priority signing after being named Sharks coach in 2021, and paid tribute to the 32-year-old on Thursday.
"You'd always hear the Melbourne Storm, and the Bulldogs before that, mention (his) preparation and the application to the hardest parts of the game," he said.
"You hear stories about a guy like that, and when you see it, it's kind of uncomfortable sometimes. He just won't relent.
"Some days you're watching training where you're thinking, 'My gosh, is he unhinged? Is he crazy? Or is this just who he is?'
"His breaks don't work. He constantly needs to be controlled a little bit."
Fitzgibbon said Finucane's dedication extended from the field to his diet, his sleep and everything in between.
"I sit in my office and the way he charges through the door, he even walks in with an intensity," he said.
It's an approach to the game that has rubbed off on teammates.
"Dale's recruitment to the club has changed the way a lot of players think about their preparation," Fitzgibbon said.
"The way a lot of players think about how you approach a game and the meticulous detail in getting yourself to the best state you can be, he just does not have a day off on that."
Finucane could theoretically reach the coveted 300-game milestone by the time his current contract expires at the end of next season if he stays injury-free and the Sharks have at least one deep run through finals.
But Finucane, who will be 34 by the start of the 2026 season, has not ruled out playing on past his current deal.
"If I'm obviously passionate about playing and the body's feeling good, I'll play as long as I feel I can," he said.
