When the Melbourne Storm hung on in their own grinding, methodical boring way to edge past the Canberra Raiders last Saturday night, my worst fears were realised.
A Sharks-Storm grand final, to take place next Sunday. It’s like our own version of the U.S. Presidential race – the unpalatable versus the unthinkable.
While residents of the Sutherland Shire will be rightly working themselves into a pre-final lather of anticipation, and Storm fans will be rightly smug at another Storm appearance in the finale, the rest of us don’t know what to do.
A quick potted history doesn’t help. First, the Sharks entered the competition in 1967, made their first grand final in 1973. It is known as the most violent grand final of all time. Lost.
Made it again in 1978. Drew, and then lost. Spent most of the 1980s on the brink of oblivion, got hauled out of the financial mire by the governing body at least twice. Bit the hand that fed it (or, as Sharks, mauled it) by joining Super League and making the grand final no-one counts in 1997.
Lost. Became a heartbreak for their intensely loyal and long-suffering fans by becoming known as the side that “always loses their last game.” Spent more recent years once again peering down at the financial abyss.
Got tarnished with the label of systematic drug cheats in the infamous peptides scandal. Led by a threesome of pantomime villains in Paul Gallen, Mick Ennis and Andrew Fifita.
And then to the Storm. Entered the competition in 1998 as the compromise team after the Super League war tore the game apart. Won the premiership the following year with a last-minute penalty try.
Glen Lazarus did a cartwheel to celebrate. Became a competition heavyweight with the backing of owners News Limited, making four successive grand finals from 2006-2009. Lost two on the day, including being beaten by the biggest margin in GF history in 2008.
Lost the other two in 2010 when they were caught out massively rorting the salary cap. Still insist that they should be recognised as winners in ’07 and ’09 which is like Ben Johnson doing a speaking tour as the 1988 Olympic 100-metre gold medallist.
Won again in 2012, their first legal triumph since ’99. Led by the hard-to-like Cameron Smith who spent part of his post-match press conference last Saturday taking potshots at his beaten opponents, he spends most of the game talking to referees about decisions that don’t go his way.
Maybe there is one shining light in this dilemma. Cooper Cronk. Apart from having the best rugby league name since Ziggy Niszczot, Cronk is a bit of an ornament. A 300-game veteran, well-spoken, thorough professional, quick to commiserate with beaten foes or congratulate triumphant ones (unlike his captain). Perhaps he is the hook in which us neutrals can hang our caps.
All right, cancel Netflix, I just might tune in this Sunday after all.
apaway
Roar Guru
I am the last person that would repeat ANYTHING News Ltd reported.
Scum Hater
Guest
The only clubs that are hated are the traitor Super league News Limited clubs,Melbourne and Brisbane. Id rather support Netball then the named scum.
steveng
Roar Rookie
JVGO, your No1 is totally incorrect, '1 Birthplace of the Nation, Captain Cook knew where the best spot was'??? get your history right pal, and I quote '1770 April 29 - Captain James Cook first sets foot in New South Wales at Botany Bay' Botany Bay is our part of the country 'South Sydney Rabbitohs' country, how dare you include that into the Southerland Shire???
bigJ
Guest
Just make sure you replace the bulb each time it burns out, I think the Sharks are going to be waiting a little while longer.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Speaking as someone who's seen quite enough of the Storm in grand finals; I'll be cheering the Sharks until I'm blue in the mouth. My team didn't make it; fair enough, but it's not a matter of being bitter but rather the Storm are just kinda rubbish to watch if you're not one of their supporters. Combined with Cameron Smith's arrogance and manipulation (and the odd knee drop into injured opponents) it's easy to see why so many people don't like them. The Sharks are no better, Fifita's referee abuse and fraternization with murderers coupled with Ennis' general play against the spirit of game don't make them easy to cheer for but they're a lot better than Melbourne. Plus their long suffering fans deserve their big win; in their 50th year in the competition no less. My porch light will most certainly be on this Sunday night.
bigJ
Guest
Marco, The storm sacrificed a number of people in 2010 and they all took pay cuts to get under the salary cap and have already won another premership in 2012 since then, so what is your point? as for the Sharks, Two players were caught along with the coach and they where all moved on. This is nothing more than people havign a whinge cause there team got beat by the storm or the sharks, nothing more. Collingwood and Essondon and the two most hated clubs in the AFL, yet when they have games especially ANZAC DAY game, the house is packed with people to enjoy the game. People who wont watch the game because their team is not in it are just sad and whinging about it is worst. We have a great game coming up on Sunday with the best two teams of the year, what is not to like?
Ken
Guest
No the flashiest team In the comp got knocked out lol ,so what's your point ? ,does flashy mean better ? Being brave is strong defence or wood, you prefer a game where no one tackles and lots of points ? ,let's just agree you Like to repeat Nsw bias reporting , leading try scorer ? Wow must be boring lol ,just nonsensical bias but hey who cares we made the grand final an your team obviously wasn't good enough ,wonder how bored they are watching at home lol.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Alex - you've missed the mark by so far continually singling out Paul Kent as somehow being anti-Sharks. He tipped them for the premiership in the pre-season and hasn't budged since. It's the perfect example of someone seeing what they want to see and hearing what they want to hear and then blaming the media for the message.
apaway
Roar Guru
There's no questioning the Storm's talent, Tim. They are very very good at what they do. But let's be honest, they are hardly the flashiest team in the comp.
apaway
Roar Guru
Lucky I'm not an NRL media type then...
Rob
Guest
Long ago from the 70's- 90's I had a soft spot for the Sharks with Rodgers, ET, Gavin Miller, Docking and Peachy being among my favourite players. But in the last 10 years they have become one of my lest liked. Gallen, Bird and now Fafita in my opinion are beyond liking. The peptide rubbish should have been the end of Flanagan like it was for Hird in AFL and the senior players should have paid a price for being drug cheats. Much as I'd like Sharks to break their drought, I'll support any team that plays against Gallen and Fafita. It would be an embarrassment for the game if Flanagan is involved with winning a Premiership as well. Go Storm.
Marco
Guest
bigJ, C'mon mate The Storm and the Sharks were both caught cheating. And it wasn't that long ago. My team missed out on many chances because of the Storm . The Storm were still allowed to field pretty much the same team after being caught cheating the system for years. Cronulla were busted cheating with drugs only a couple of years ago. What do you expect. The NRL will look a bit suspect no matter who wins. Fans of the game don't have to like this situation. Fans of the teams probably don't care what others think. That's the way it is.
Bigj
Guest
No I mean 07, 08 never should of happened, storm flogged 40 nil that never happened. But you're correct storm manly 08.
Norad
Guest
"It was all done a little tongue-in-cheek" seems to be the motto of every NRL media type. Trouble is it all adds up as negative vibe on the NRL. Being funny at the expense of the sport adds up in the end. No wonder AFL is triumph.
Tim Reynolds
Roar Pro
I can't believe this stuff about the Storm being boring. The game itself is based on a tedious 5 one off tackles around the ruck then kick it. Every team does it. Then there'll be a flash of inspiration on the odd occasion, and it's often Cooper Cronk who supplies it, and something different happens. This year the Storm has a rookie wing who has scored the most tries by a player in his first season. That doesn't happen when a team is playing boring league. Unfortunately the Roar site is dominated by Sydney siders who can't believe, at rugby or league, that their teams are not good enough. Surely after the State of Origin domination by Queensland, it's starting to filter through that there's plenty of talent outside of Sydney.
apaway
Roar Guru
Great history, Pratley. It was also 1973 that marked a shift to a top 5, and that was the first year the Sharks made a Grand Final. They were also part of a Grand Final first in 1978, the first GF to be decided on a weekday.
apaway
Roar Guru
I think you meant Sea Eagles-Storm '08, because, as we know, '07 never happened!
bigJ
Guest
I can see something it that, everybody wants to old good v evil story in every sport, Clay(bad) v Liston (good) Ali v liston roles reversed, brock v johnson, andre a v pete sampress and more recently dogs v bunnies and last years cows v broncos, but this year it is bad guys v bad guys (though i disagree) the cheats v the drugoes (very harsh names). But if everybody would calm down a bit and remember that some of the best matches are bad guy v bad guy (some of us may remember nintendo's spy v spy) tyson v holyfield 1 and 2 and storm v manly 07, broncos v dogs 98 then everybody will enjoy the game.
Pratley
Guest
Talk about the Shire - manufactured because it was a growth area and to lessen the grip that St George had on the premiership - 11 in a row? But next year is the 50th anniversary of the 4 tackle rule and the post season Cronulla tournament for the non semi finalists meant a change to the post season trial of 6 tackles in 1971
Pratley
Guest
Is Botany Bay in the Shire?? The Shire TV participants were the most appalling people you could meet - (subject to TV editing of course) but nothing to be proud of. The Storm may wrestle, grapple, hug etc but they still play some good footy hardly boring. Use their assets to the max.