South Sydney started the trend in 2014, ending the club’s 44-year NRL premiership drought with a comprehensive 30-6 win over the Bulldogs.
The Cowboys won their first premiership last year, ending a 22-year drought with a 17-16 golden points win over the Broncos.
On Sunday, the Sharks are poised to win their first premiership in 49 years of history when they take on Melbourne.
The trend is there – the third time to prove it?
In the lead-up, one of the best sights has been the hordes of school kids in the Shire proudly wearing their Sharks jumpers, and genuinely excited about their team being in the decider.
And their best chances rest with Michael Ennis, Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita, James Maloney, Valentine Holmes, and Ben Barba.
Ennis isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but – for this game especially – he’s mine. (Click to Tweet)
In fact, he’s the most important Shark on the park. His niggling tactics are bound to keep opposite number Cameron Smith busy in the hope his usual commanding game will be restricted.
Yes, Ennis can be a right royal pain in the butt, but he’s vital to Cronulla’s chances of creating history.
Gallen is the inspirational skipper. Every minute he’s on the field he will lead from the front in attack and defence, that’s his bag, and he does it well.
The head-to-head clash between Fifita and Jesse Bromwich will be worth the cost of admission alone. There won’t be any prisoners taken, and both will be knackered by full time – the collisions will take their toll.
With equal possession, the backs will come into their own.
James Maloney, Cooper Cronk. Valentine Holmes, Suliasi Vunivalu. Ben Barba, Cameron Munster. It doesn’t get any better than those three match-ups.
This is Maloney’s third grand final, having been the playmaker to get the Warriors into the 2011 decider, the Roosters in 2013, and now the Sharks. And the bigger the game, the better he plays. No better example than his two-try performance against the Cowboys last week.
Cronk has been a top-shelf performer for 300 NRL games, he doesn’t need any further introduction as an Immortal-in-waiting.
If you were selecting a track relay team, Holmes and Vunivalu would be the first two picked, both expressmen with superb ability to beat defenders pointless.
Barba is back to his sensational 2012 form, when he captured the Dally M. He’s electric and can turn a game on its ear.
Munster is no longer the replacement for the injured Billy Slater, he’s a quality fullback in his own right.
So the scene is set for a classic decider, with the drought-breaking trend in the Sharks’ court.
bigJ
Guest
Do yourself a favour, at go and watch 1994, 1998, 2012, 2014 again, you may like the result i know i did.
bearfax
Guest
No love for the Sharks. But I hope they win their first title. Good for the game to share the spoils
The power of Will
Roar Pro
David Lord is my favourite writer ever... NOT!
db
Guest
The answer is 42.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
The key question is: When does a drought become a drought? 5 years, 10 years, 15 years?
The Barry
Roar Guru
I wonder how much the round 26 game will play on the Sharks minds? They created a lot of chances and made a lot of line breaks but couldn't convert and got pumped. There was one in particular where Barba created space. The Sharks had a 3-0 overlap 10 metres out as the Storm outside defenders jammed in. Holmes ended up getting smashed over the sideline by Korobete. It was almost mind boggling to watch that they couldn't score.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I wasn't alive in 1938. Can't remember any of those other years...
andrew
Guest
The Storm coaching staff (I imagine) have a fair bit more GF experience than the Sharks.. that could be important toward preparation..
MAX
Guest
Excellent TB, The contest that will decide the premiership. Hope the NRL have the right sized rings for Luke and Wade.
Albo
Guest
Yep ! I think this will be a great Grand Final in the old tradition of "slogging it out in the trenches", where there will be few opportunities and if one team misses out on capitalising on the rare chances, they will miss the prize. I have just felt all year that there has been a sense of inevitability and destiny about the Sharks finally taking their first premiership this year. They have reached a consistent level throughout the year, been kindly treated on the injury front, they have got out of jail a few times and even had the obligatory end of season slump that they have now arisen from. Reminds me a lot of the Panthers in 1991 who had the same sort of year and with a similar mix of young & experienced campaigners. As a fan, I always thought they were destined to win that 1991 GF against a mighty successful Raiders team, and I am sensing the same for Cronulla this year also up against an equally successful Storm side. The Ennis / Smith clash in the middle , along with the Lewis & Graham v Harris & Proctor on the edges, and Feki & Holmes v Koroibete & Vunivalu out wide, are the clashes that hold the keys for me, and these battles will be intriguing !
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Mainly a lot of the Melbourne and Brisbane grand finals were boring excluding 1999&2015
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
I dunno bigJ, it could be that Richard may live in Melbourne and every year feels like 5 years, so for Richard the Storm drought feels like its gone for 20 long years.
DH
Guest
I think it's the depth of the Storm in the forwards and the talent of the wings in both Vunivalu and Koroibete, both capable of turning matches, that will decide the match. Cronulla need to be more than a try in front at half time to go on with it. If the Storm go to half time leading, Cronulla will have to roll the dice, which the Storm love the opposition to do.
bigJ
Guest
Barry, do I detect at bit of Bias towards the Bulldogs there??? what about, 1994, 1998, 2012, 2014 ??and you forgot 1938 and you call yourself a dogs supporter
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
100% Even as a one eyed Qlder i Cant see how any of them are Immortals... Only JT, Locky and Smith would make it of the current era say 2005-2015. Explains Origin, having 3 Immortals in your team.... Inglis, Slater, Cronk for Hall of Fame.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Nah, you were just expressing an opinion Sheek and I had no problem with your comment. I was listening to Sterlo last night on Triple M and he ranked his favourite 5 grand finals and he had 2015 in the top 5 (from memory he had it ranked 4th). I think a few of the repliers need to be sent to the hyperbolic chamber for reassessment.
The Barry
Roar Guru
1995 1988 2004 1984 1985
The Barry
Roar Guru
Fantastic match ups Joe. Add Lewis/Graham v Proctor/Harris. All four in great form.
bigJ
Guest
i agree, i had the chance to watch that 1989 gf last weekend, brillant, Squiddy so you have lost memories for anything invloving the broncos- storm and warriors??
bigJ
Guest
Richard mate, four years aint a drought, I m storm supporter (number one team for those playing at home), look at my list above those poor buggers are in a drought. But if you still think storm are still in a drought, fear not they will be well hydrated on sunday night.