Jack Gibson – may he rest in peace – was right. Leaving that porch light on is the definition of rugby league futility.
For the uninitiated, the legendary coach – and quote machine – once famously said that waiting for Cronulla to win the premiership was like leaving the porch light on for Harold Holt.
For the uber uninitiated, or younger audience, Harold Holt is deader than Tupac Shakur.
I’m almost certain that’s the first instance that Holt and Pac have been mentioned in the same sentence, and my brain hurts from the clash of pop culture references, but I digress away from the main point. The Cronulla Sharks will not win the 2016 NRL premiership.
Now if you’re expecting some serious analysis into why the boys from The Shire won’t be hoisting the Provan-Summons trophy come October 2, then for now, you may be a little disappointed.
The real reason I believe the Sharks won’t win the competition this year? Because I believe in hoodoos. In fact, I love them.
Some of the saddest sporting days of my life were when infamous hoodoos were broken. The St George Dragons shedding their chokers tag. Collingwood overcoming the Colliewobbles. Queensland finally winning a Sheffield Shield. The Boston Red Sox breaking the Curse of The Bambino.
Those were some dark days in the O’Connell household, as I simply don’t like seeing hoodoos broken.
And hoodoos don’t come much bigger than Cronulla’s.
Since their introduction into first-grade rugby league in 1967, the Sharks have won the same number of premierships as I have. For those counting at home, that’s a big fat zero.
Their lack of success is one of rugby league’s great ongoing narratives. It’s a source of embarrassment for their fans, while conversely, something that provides an opportunity for effortless sledging from their opponents.
To be fair, the Sharks haven’t been a complete laughing stock. They have made three grand finals, most recently in 1997 when they lost the Super League final to the Brisbane Broncos.
Yet even that rare highlight in the club’s history is more a footnote than an accomplishment. The rebel competition, for whatever reason, is the forgotten son of rugby league.
While the Newcastle Knights’ premiership in the ARL the same year is revered (and replayed ad nauseam), the Broncos’ win comes with a bigger Asterix than Obelix.
Settle down Brisbane fans, I didn’t say it was fair, or that I agree, but it is true. Whether it’s anti-Queensland bias, a boring final compared to the ARL nail-biter, lingering News Limited resentment, or something else, the Super League season is widely disregarded by many.
But back to the Sharkies and their premiership cupboard, which is in doubt of collapsing under the weight of dust it has collected.
If you need something a little more concrete and substantial than a mystical hoodoo when it comes to discounting the Sharks’ fortunes this year, there remains one major question mark with Cronulla: I still have doubts over Shane Flanagan’s coaching.
In the past, his gameplans have lacked a Plan B, and he has not made the in-game adjustments that are the hallmarks of great coaches.
So far this season, the Sharks have been very impressive, but I’m not sure how many true ‘shots to the mouth’ they have taken. Essentially, their Plan A has been good enough. That simply won’t be the case once the finals start, when the level of coaching goes up a notch. As such, I’ll be watching with interest to see what Flanagan has up his sleeve at the business end of the season.
Not convinced that’s a big enough reason to doubt the Sharks title hopes? How about any number of the following nit picks.
Mick Ennis seems to have matured, but he’s still got plenty of grubbiness in his game, and can hurt his team dearly. Such lapses in judgment usually prove costly in elimination games.
James Maloney is one of the form five-eighths in the comp, but can still be targeted in defence, and then found wanting.
Andrew Fifita has consistently flirted with dumb penalties his whole career.
The Sharks also have a number of ‘experienced’ players, but Father Time is undefeated. The older you get, the more susceptible you are to injuries, and the Sharks may fall foul of an important one; possibly even more.
Look, I freely admit straws are being clutched at here, and perhaps the hoodoo wish actually has more credibility as a reason why Cronulla will stumble yet again this year.
Yet whatever the reason, all us non-Sharks fans can agree on one thing: long may the Sharks hoodoo continue.
Generalzod
Guest
Up up Cronulla 2016 champions
Simon
Guest
☝?☝?☝?☝? Awks
Deb Allen
Guest
The porch migh is turned off permanently....Up Up The Sharkies 2016 Premiership.... Game was well played and well deserved
curaeus
Guest
Cowboys or Broncs look most likely winners but Sharkies have to be somewhere in the mix at least. They really need to pull it off this year though if they are to do it. A lot of their team are pushing 30 or older and they don't have the attacking brilliance of the two Qld sides at their best.
Griffo
Guest
Can we say perhaps that the swap was mutually beneficial?
Vortex
Guest
Replay of last year GF. June Premiers Sharks will choke when it matters as they always do.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Not bitter. Not twisted. At all.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Or some solid egg on thy face.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Yes! That's a good point! I should have added that theory!
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Perhaps this hoodoo of hoodoos being broken needs to be broken. My head hurts.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I only like hoodoos if they don't involve my teams!
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
Mals, Can't speak for the other clubs, but Souths never bought one single "...highly paid superstar..." between 1908 and 1972. In fact, the first one was Roy Asotasi in 2007.
Chinmay Hejmadi
Roar Guru
Hahaha I was wondering how you missed mentioning them.
JVGO
Guest
They never had to worry about money since all their success came when they were owned by Rupert Murdoch, you know the guy who kicked Souths out of the comp. I think the League already tried being owned by Rupert Murdoch and it wasn't really so popular.
Joe
Roar Rookie
2011 Minor Premiership. 2012 Premiership. Top 8 side since 2003 with majority of those being top 4 side. Bringing the 'over the cap' issue isn't a measure of a clubs success as seen by recent clubs who were over the cap and bottom four. Storm did not buy any superstars even in the years they were over the cap as per your original premise. They developed their own stars.
JVGO
Guest
To tell the truth I'm not really that concerned if we win it all this year, although it would be nice. It's much more important that the club is secured on a long term basis as one of the strongest clubs financially, the brand is revived, and the young stars and juniors are resigned. That makes winning almost inevitable.
Disco Stu
Guest
That's a brave thing to admit. Can you tell us who the lucky new team is? Did you just go next door to the Dragons or go exotic like New Zealand or North Queensland?
AGO74
Guest
That is a fair comment - but having watched the Sharks win 9 in a row, most of those wins have been not that good. They haven't put on a truly 80 minute Masterclass (sorry - I can't include the match against Newcastle under 12B's). What I would say is - last night win is most impressive of season. Sure - dogs probably were better team, however they just continues to hang in there against a good team that was playing ok and plucked tries from nowhere really to Win a game they should never have won. I think they will get even better.
AGO74
Guest
Agree 100%. What's that saying about winning starts on the front office?
ChubbzyK96
Guest
How exactly does one wear a submarine to an NRL stadium?