If you’re finally going to break a premiership drought in what is your 50th year, you might as well make it dramatic and Cronulla sure succeeded on that front in the NRL grand final.
All the wash-up from the NRL grand final:
» LORD: Gallen leads Sharks into history books
» Five talking points
» Ten best tweets from the match
» Sharks player ratings
» Storm player ratings
» Match report: Sharks’ wait over
» Re-live the match with our live blog
When I got home from Sunday night’s epic game between the Sharks and Melbourne, I watched a replay of the finish to see just how long that last, desperate play from the Storm took.
It started with the play-the-ball at the 79 minute and 45 second mark, a couple of metres inside Cronulla’s half, and continued to the end of the 80 minutes and then another 13 seconds beyond that.
Twenty-eight seconds that must have seemed like a lifetime to Sharks fans as Melbourne went down the right, all the way across to the left and back to the right again before Cronulla finally snuffed out their light with the last tackle of the match.
What a sensational finish to a grand final!
Sound familiar? It’s the same thing we said last year, when North Queensland scored a try right on fulltime and Johnathan Thurston hit the post with the conversion attempt to leave it at 16-16 against Brisbane, before he kicked a field goal to win it in extra-time.
Obviously not as spectacular this time around, but nevertheless absorbing as the Sharks had the premiership in their hands and the Storm half-pulled it from their grasp before the Sharks grasped even tighter – and for good.
Cronulla played a great first half and probably should have led by more than 8-0 at the break. Credit to Melbourne for tremendous defensive work late in the first half and again early in the second half before they finally got on the scoreboard themselves.
It was like the Storm had crept up on the Sharks for that one. It wasn’t panic stations, but when the Storm took the lead, 12-8, you had to wonder: How do the Sharks get out of this now?
The Storm had them where they wanted them. The team that knows how to hold on to a lead better than any other in the competition, against the team that might now feel the pressure of representing a club that was staring at half a century of outs.
But the Sharks, to their credit, just kept playing the game and when the chips were down they played it better than Melbourne.
Sharks second-rower Luke Lewis was awarded the Clive Churchill medal as man of the match and he did have a terrific game, but the real man of the match was prop Andrew Fifita, who used his incredible bulk to defy multiple defenders and get the ball down for the winning try.
It is a privilege to witness history and it was fantastic to be at ANZ Stadium for this game.
It was also great to be just a couple of metres away when the victorious Sharks players emerged from their dressing-room into the room next to it, full of family, friends and media, to sing the team song.
Close enough to get sprayed by the beer and champagne.
There will be those who begrudge Cronulla winning the premiership because they believe the club shouldn’t have been in a position to advance this far so soon after the ASADA drama, but I prefer to look at it a different way.
This win was as much for the club’s loyal fans and the many great players who went before, without winning a premiership, as it was for the current team.
There will be plenty of Sharks fans waking up with sore heads on Monday morning – those who have actually been to bed yet, anyway – and good luck to them.
They deserve to celebrate, they’ve waited long enough.
Finally, congratulations to the Sharks. At the end of the day it’s a game of footy – and they played a great one.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
ASADA is over ,people will have paid with a lifetime of finger pointing,and in the case of the coach a 12 month suspension. This club has been through more dramas,than a Hollywood Movie set.It has survived by the actions of many who cared with their money,workload,emotions,enthusiasm and the many fans who have stuck with the club. The win (although the last 30 seconds was a heart tester) was justification for all the efforts of the players ,coaching staff and lcub officials who stuck solid.And a special mention to a guy like Glen Wheeler(the club ground announcer and Shark';s tragic) who suffered the traumatic effects of an accident involving a van driven by a drugged woman.This the win ,is for one of the good guys. Gallen showing him the trophy at his home,is one of those emotional moments that makes grown men cry. There will be those(all no doubt who have led impeccable unblemished lives) who will continue to point the finger due to ASADA.Gallen,Graham and Flanno can't change that.But at least they know they have the support of every hooting & tooting,Sharks' fan within the Shire,around this great country and abroad where many from God's country now reside. With apologies to the song writer: We have won And we are many And from around the globe we come We sing with one voice Sharks our new number 1 Numero Uno. Don't forget it,you won't regret it.
Alex
Roar Rookie
It was 5 read that FIVE years ago, it didn't taint anything
Sharkattack
Guest
Nice write up Greg. The press need to leave the ASADA issue alone. That is gone, done and dusted. That was a terrible mistake, but it was dealt with and it is OVER. Long term fans like me DO NOT need it to be brought up OVER and OVER again. Rather than be panned by the likes of Paul Kent, the club needs to be congratulated for how well they have recovered with a result like this. I have followed this club since the late 70s, so many times I thought I may not live to see this day. I even thought they would perish before it happened. Well things have changed. And for the better. All you haters.....TOUGH !!!!! UP UP CRONULLA PREMIERS 2016
Glenn
Guest
Whilst it is great for the Shire and their good people, I am afraid Flanagan along with Gallen and Graham will always have tainted this title. If Justin Gatlin, Sun Yang or any Russian had won gold it would have been the same. No one knows what effect the taking of substances had on their performance into the future. The Coach carries the heavy burden of this taint ... as the Supreme Court indicated that te reckless indifference to the players was immense. The reckless indifference to our game is unforgivable. Well done to the players not involved ... even that grub Ennis who I put above the other 3.
E-Meter
Guest
Top game. Cameron Smith very gracious in defeat. Well done Sharkies, kept their composure after falling behind.
AlanKC
Guest
What a great game and well done to the Sharkies!
AGO74
Guest
Was so happy to see the sharks win last night. Living down in the shire it's been such a great week for the whole community. It would have been crushing to lose. The sharks belief to come from behind against probably the best front runners in the history of the game and after the sharks had so dominated the game. Phenomenal. Their belief was their to see in the win against Canberra the other week but this last night was something else. As for Melbourne there are a lot of things I don't like about that club but their ability and courage to stay in that match and even take the lead when they seemingly had no right to do so was extraordinary. So I will take my hat off to the storm for what they produced last night.