Although the NRL grand final is won on the first Sunday in October, a season’s worth of hard work, form, luck and injuries all play their part in a team getting there.
Here are some reasons why the Sharks will – and won’t – break their 49-year premiership drought, based on more than just the 80 minutes this weekend.
Why they will
1. Jimmy Moloney. It’s no coincidence that the Sharks’ reaching the grand final has come with Moloney’s arrival this season. It’s the third club this tough, crafty playmaker has helped take to a grand final – he was part of the Warriors’ unsuccessful tilt in 2011, and won with the Roosters in 2013.
At 30 years of age, he has both the big match experience and current form to get the Sharks home.
2. They have a better record against teams that finished in the top eight this season. Cronulla played the top eight teams 14 times, for ten wins, a draw and three losses. The Storm played the top eight teams 12 times, for eight wins and four losses.
3. They make more attacking metres in the forwards. Both teams have three players that have averaged more than 100 metres per game this season, but the Sharks’s stats are slightly more impressive – Paul Gallen (175 metres), Andrew Fifita (169) and Wade Graham (123), versus Jesse Bromwich (148), Tohu Harris (133) and Dale Finucane (123) for the Storm.
4. They have more attacking flair in the backs. The Sharks’ backs have scored 79 tries this season to the Storm’s 67.
Why they won’t
1. Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk. These two have proven time and again at national, Origin and club level that they have winning in their DNA.
2. They beat the Sharks 26-6 at AAMI Park in Round 26 just three weeks ago.
3. Defence wins premierships. The Storm’s defence has been the best in the competition this year, conceding an average of just 11 points per game in the regular season. They have maintained this in their two semi final victories, restricting the Cowboys ten points and the Raiders to 12.
Cronulla conceded an average of 16 points a game during the regular season, and in their two semi final games, they conceded 14 against the Raiders and 20 against the Cowboys.
4. The clinical, mistake-free, field position brand of football of the Storm is tailor-made for winning grand finals.
Of course, there is always the wild card of a largely unheralded player having a blinder on grand final day to spearhead their team to victory – think Paul Osborne laying the platform for Canberra’s win in 1994.
That’s the beauty of a grand final. Maybe there is an unsung Cronulla or Storm player who will have a similar impact this weekend and write their name into the history books.
There must also be plenty more reasons why Cronulla will (or won’t) win next Sunday. What do you think?
Renegade
Roar Guru
Huh? Do you even watch?
Mcthug
Guest
The sharks have had the easiest run in the finals by far, playing an indifferent Raiders first up and also a tired mistake ridden Cowboys. Brisbane, Cowboys and Raiders would have all challenged the Storm more on GF day. A smug sense of achievement will rob the Sharks of their first GF win. They won't be quite right in the head. Saying that i think it will come down to who gets the 50/50 calls and how the game is refereed.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Yep, you got me on that one. I'll write it out ten times now.
Adam
Guest
Jimmy Moloney? And there goes the credibility of this article. If he is so good, at least know how to spell his name. Amateur hour
bigJ
Guest
you summed that up nicely, thanks.
az
Guest
good one madmax
The Barry
Roar Guru
...and two field goals? I think you're still two points short.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sharks have Barba, Maloney, Lewis, Heighington, Prior and Ennis with GF experience. The Storm obviously have Cronk and Smith. Proctor, Chambers and JBrom played in 2012. Finucane played for the Dogs in the same year. I don't think any of their other players have any first grade GF experience. I think experience between the two teams balances out. Neither 3/4 line has played much rep or big game footy. Both forward packs have a fair bit of big game experience. Then you've got players on both sides (Gallen, Harris) who may not have played in a GF previously but have enough big game experience that they won't be overwhelmed.
bigJ
Guest
I was refering to Grand Final expereince, i think only three players, have been in a gf before (barber maloney and ennis) could be more, not sure. But with experience with, club, SOO, Internattional and GF Storm have it al over the sharks, Storm gf apperances since 1998, 7 sharks 0, that pretty much tells the tale.
Raugeee
Guest
Just got a funny feeling that the home town advantage will get the Sharks home. Both Storm and Sharks have plenty of experience at Stadium Australia (ANZ) so that shouldn't be a factor. Both had a break in week 2 of the finals. Both teams won against Raiders by 2 pts! All in all it's pretty even with both teams winning at home in the regular season. So what's left? The refereeing that's what. There's a huge collective will for the Sharks to prevail and break their premiership drought. No doubt the NRL would prefer to see the Sharks win. It is my hunch that - how shall I put this? - the Sharks will get the 50/50 calls, and will play as if they know this. Paul Gallen will have a blinder but my prediction for man of the match will be Matt Prior. Sharks 16 > Storm 12. Both sides to score 2 tries and James Maloney to kick 3 penalties.
madmax
Guest
That's OK, the Sharks have plenty of drugs to recover with!
Raugeee
Guest
I'm scratching my head over that obstruction call. It happened a clear five seconds before the try. The player who was allegedly obstructed, Elliot Whitehead, had time to get up look the other way and not even attempt to cover Cheyse Blair. Very, very odd decision.
Big Willy TBU
Guest
How many games do you have to play to qualify as experienced? Sharks have plenty of experience, and that, combined with the brilliance of their younger less experienced players will see them conquer the process driven (read boring to watch) opponents.
damo
Guest
I admit I was hoping for something different with a Raiders v Sharks GF, but now that the ultra efficient Storm are there I fear they will smother the Sharks & it will be a low scoring game that never really gets going. As a Cowboys fan I would have been happy to see our boys get up, but was also glad for the Sharks & thought a fast & open match would be the result if the Raiders could win through. Nothing against the Storm, winning is where it's at & they have plenty of exciting players & you can't help but wish Cronk & Smith were in your team, but I can't help but feel they will just nullify everything the Sharks can do & grind out the win. I picked a Storm v Cowboys GF, with Storm winning by a Cronk FG in normal time, so now I'm going for a Storm win, with Cronk still kicking a FG, but just as a safety, 13-6 or similar, to the Storm.
Muzz
Guest
It'll be like a home game for the Sharks with 70% of the crowd wearing their colours. Sharks comfortably imo.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Fifita to be ruled out midweek with a broken leg, arm and cheekbone and the the Sharks to clean it up.... Thats the only way i will support them if he is not on the field, just cant find it in my hardened heart to respect him.
Richard Maybury
Guest
So you were watching the Raiders quite closely in that game then ? The Raiders played a very dirty brand of football last night and fully deserved every penalty they got.
brett
Guest
Well you didn't like the Raiders last night then ,that's Hodgson only tackle the choke. The tackling in no different in every game of NRL these days and i would watch most games each week.
Sharkattack
Guest
Richard!!!! You're out of hiding !!!! Still spreading your unbridled love of the Sharks!!!! Are you Spongebob and BigJ as well?
Bigj
Guest
Hell yeah, best the Sharks take cover there is a storm coming in,