A remarkable resilience and turn-around in the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Football Club’s fortunes has them on-track to end their half-century wait for a maiden rugby league premiership.
The Sharks currently sit on top of the ladder for the first time in 16 years and with two-points already secured from this weekend’s bye round, they look set to stay there for the short term. But with coach Shane Flanagan keeps putting out each week and the squad at his disposal, it’s hard to see them falling far from the position they currently occupy.
Sharks’ fans who have ridden-out the tumultuous period over the last few years and been through the historical humps and bumps of the club will no doubt be enjoying the view at the top.
They could be set for a season end like never before.
Critical to the Sharks’ chances at claiming the sport’s ultimate prize this year will be the way they come through the State of Origin period. With three of their side’s best players – Paul Gallen, James Maloney and Andrew Fifita – set to start the series for New South Wales, the Sharks face a nervous wait over the next couple of months to see if the trio comes through unscathed.
While no doubt the influence of representative footy will spur the group on to come back ready to achieve something special for their NRL side, the risk of a significant injury to any of the three has the ability to de-rail the Shark’s journey.
The key to Cronulla’s success in season 2016 has been the side’s mix of youth and experience. Un-earthed during last year’s season, youngsters Jack Bird, Valentine Holmes and Sosaia Feki have provided the much-needed exuberance and flair to the one of the NRL’s toughest sides.
While the Sharks have always had the grit and the grind with their hard-nosed forward pack operating under Paul Gallen’s leadership, they’ve been able to add the glamour to their side with their emerging superstar-backline.
Complimenting the balance to the side has been the re-discovery of form by 26-year-old ex-Bulldogs star, Ben Barba. The flashy custodian has managed to return to the style of the play that saw him win a Dally M Medal at the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2012.
While Barba’s freakish breakout year playing under Des Hasler was one of the best in a long time, he had been unable to emulate those performances for both the Brisbane Broncos – who he played for in 2014 – and the Sharks in 2015.
With the enigmatic fullback now back to approaching his best, Cronulla’s chances of taking out this year’s competition will increase with every two points that gets added to their tally as the weeks’ go by.
The biggest battle for the side to progress through, and past September, won’t come from the few top-clubs that continue to dominate the rest of the pack, but from the pressure they place on themselves.
Having already beaten the Melbourne Storm, Brisbane Broncos, and gone down in a tight one to the Cowboys with an understrength side in Round 1; Cronulla have already proven they have what it takes to beat the best in the business.
In their 50th season of first-grade rugby league, the Sharks have an opportunity to re-write their own script and change the club’s history forever. On the verge of breaking one of Australian sport’s longest running-droughts, the club that looked destined to fall to the commercialisation of the game and shipped off to a far-flung relocated region just a few short years ago, now appears ready to take their destiny into their own hands.
A passion and pride that has always burnt brightly in the Shire could be set for ignition into a fully-lit march towards ANZ Stadium and the first weekend in October. With a deep web of rusted-on, hardcore fans across the game, opposition sides should be weary of the club that last year charted a plane to their elimination final in Townsville with the marketing tag of ‘Sharks on a Plane’.
No one will be laughing if the Sharks manage to overcome the tag the rest of the game’s fans continue to lamented them with. Jack Gibson’s famous quote: ‘Waiting for the Sharks to win a premiership is like leaving the porch lamp on for Harold Holt’ usually sums up the consensus that outsiders give the Sharks of ever lifting the trophy.
But hang on, didn’t a sporting side just win a competition at the astronomical odds of 5000-1?
Didn’t their run build from the belief of the players, the spirit of the fans, and finish with a winner’s tag that no-one, absolutely no-one, ever thought was possible?
That team showed a togetherness, determination, and sense of teamwork that Cronulla could do well to try and emulate.
The skies the limit, nothing’s impossible.
Clear your porches.
rebel
Guest
Is it September already, I thought it was still May.
Albatross
Guest
I'm both shocked and outraged that this rather obvious expression of amusement has NOT been moderated. Beachart my friend, it must be the subtlety with which you delivered your statement that has helped it slip through the net. Well done ol' boy.
madmax
Guest
Doubt it!!!
Griffo
Guest
Last year before origin there were four teams 7 and 3. NQ, Bris, Melb and StG/I. Two of them were terrible during origin but one of those recovered well after. The other two teams were strong throughout and played in the grand final. Hard to say how the teams at the top will go through and after origin this year. It does seem that if you can have a decent run through origin then it takes the pressure off your back end of the season.
Richard Maybury
Guest
Thing is though, Broncs, Cowboys and Melbourne all have a strong record post Origin whereas Cronulla tend to stumble. There is a long way yet and not a lot in that top 4.
Richard Maybury
Guest
I think that the improvements in the club are down to him but on the field ......
Richard Maybury
Guest
Its easy to break improvement records when you start from a low base.
Clinen
Guest
LALALALA NOT LISTENING LALALA TOO EARLY TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT LALALA DONT JINX IT
Renegade
Roar Guru
Agree Griffo.... the matches between the top 4 have been outstanding and all four appear equal at the moment.
steveng
Roar Rookie
The Sharks look good and hopefully they will give the Cows and Broncs a go for their money, the NRL completion is and will be boring with these two teams having it all their own way, but then again the Storm are also contenders and I wouldn't just say that the Sharks are the only contenders to the Cows and Broncs.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Harold was there, I saw him in his red and green' wet suite!
Griffo
Guest
They're a good chance but so are the other 3 in the top 4. In the matches between these sides the largest margin has been 8 points (Cro 14-6 Mel). The other matches were NQ 20-14 Cro, Bri 21-20 NQ, Cro 30-28 Bri, Mel 15-14 NQ and NQ 19-18 Bri. Not a lot in it between the top 4. With origin and post origin to come it will be interesting to see what kind of shape they're in come finals and who has an extra gear to go up.
beachart
Guest
Kidding.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
We really still have yet to see this team up against an opposition who played top 4 quality footy for 80 minutes -- and unfortunately until round 26 we probably won't (unless the Cowboys fire up mid Origin period, which hasn't been the case historically). They've shown themselves to be a contender though.
Richard Maybury
Guest
They will be telling us next that the Blues will win Origin and that Harold Holt was at the Bunnies game on the weekend.
Midfielder
Guest
How much of the turn around is due to Lyal Goreman's appointment as CEO.
Renegade
Roar Guru
This is a much better side than the 2008 team though. And everyone said the same thing about the Cowboys last year... can't win in Sydney, can't beat the storm or roosters in a final, etc, etc.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I remember back in 2008, the Sharks had just smashed Canberra in the qualifying final, they had a home preliminary final against the Storm and everyone said that was going to be the year, Ricky Stuart was going to lead them to the promised land. Storm obliterated them 28-0 and that was that. 2009, normal service resumed with a terrible performance throughout the season, just missed the wooden spoon and the financial house of cards the club has always been built on collapsed with a thud. I can't see the Sharks winning it, they would need so much to go right for them. And honestly, can you see them beating either the Cowboys or Broncos in a final? Not a chance.
AnuddaMuddafarker
Guest
They still need to improve. Getting rid of Robson and Ayshford has been a blessing, Chad Townsend's improvement and James Maloney, as a long suffering Shark I can now actually watch them !!!! I used to switch off from the dropped balls early in the tackle count, giving away penalties on the fifth, the wrong options in attack (yes, ROBSON), good to see those disgusting things disappearing gradually. They are still behind the Broncos and the Cowboys, they are the mountain they need to climb. I remember many Cronulla sides in the past often caused upsets against good sides, especially at home, but would unravel everything by losing to a bottom side. I hope they make light work of all lower sides this year, so far so good. I hope if they get to the Preliminary Final, there is no stage fright!!!! I still have bad memories of 88 and 99. Not to mention losing to the Warriors in 2002. After that match, they were called "destiny's doormats" and what followed was over a decade of rubbish football where the tryline suddenly seemed to grow razor wire around it. They seem to have got the bolt cutters out this year, but they are still fading and allowing teams back into games. They should have buried Penrith, they gave them a sniff. Going well, but need to get better!!!!
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
We've already had one miracle this year, Leicester City. The sporting Gods won't allow another. Keep that porch light on...