Only four days ago Paul Gallen wasn’t rated good enough to be a nominee for the Dally M captain of the year.
All the wash-up from the NRL grand final:
» PRICHARD: 13 extra seconds, but the Sharks did it
» 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
Raider Jarrod Croker took out the honour, from Stormer Cameron Smith, Bulldog James Graham, and the co-captains of the Cowboys – Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott.
So stuff the judges.
Paul Gallen has won a whole lot more than a captaincy Dally M, he’s captain of the NRL premiers in the toughest rugby league competition in the world, ending 50 long years of waiting.
Bloody marvellous.
But it took a lot more than Gallen’s captaincy to break the drought.
Four stand out – Michael Ennis in his retirement game, Luke Lewis, winner of the coveted Clive Churchill Medal for best on ground, James Maloney with his attack and goal-kicking, and the quicksilver, Ben Barba.
Ennis is a pain in the butt to every opponent, but his dedication and passion is mighty hard to compare with anyone.
Lewis was non-stop all season in attack and defence, and just as big an inspiration as his skipper. Last night was his ultimate as he very nearly scored twice in sniffing distance of the chalk.
Maloney is the complete professional, he’s the one calling the shots, and he does it superbly well.
He made a couple of busts last night to prove the point, while his goal-kicking is always money in the bank.
What a pity Barba doesn’t see more of the ball. Every time he touches it, something is likely to happen.
He scored the first try of the decider by locking into the scrum from fullback. Gallen took the ball at the base and ran wide, before passing inside for Barba to touch down untouched.
Bloody brilliant thinking.
In fact it was a great game, played at a cracking pace.
The Sharks led 8-0 at the break, but should have posted far more points with so much possession – 59 per cent to be precise.
Only non-stop defence by the Storm kept the Sharks to just eight points, making 222 tackles to just 158, with Storm captain Cameron Smith accounting for 36 of them.
Just 8-0 was never going to be enough in such an open game, but nobody would have given the Storm the ghost of a chance to not only score first in the second half, but take the lead 12-8.
Jesse Bromwich barged over for the Storm in the 41st minute, and Will Chambers somehow managed to evade the tight Shark defence in the 63rd, and it looked as though the Sharks had blown it.
They were no longer in control, bit by bit the Storm regained their clinical structure and the Sharks were stretched.
Step up to the plate the Sharks bad lad Andrew Fifita, one mighty tough campaigner.
From five metres out, somehow Fifita kept ploughing for the line with four Stormers hanging onto him like grim death, then he managed to intricate the ball from a mass of arms and legs to touch down under the posts.
Maloney added the extras and the Sharks were back in the lead 14-12 with 10 minutes left on the clock.
For the Shire representatives, that would have been the longest 10 minutes of their collective lives – there was so much at stake.
But the Sharks lifted, and despite three chances of the Storm raging back, the Sharks snuffed out the dangers.
Even the last Storm play was intense with seconds left on the clock.
Treating the ball like a hot potato, in excess of 14 hands kept possession alive until the tackle was eventually completed with the siren in the background.
Then all hell broke loose. The reception from the 83,625, predominately Sharks fans, was deafening – and with every good reason.
Of the many emotional moments that followed, one will stand out for me forever.
There was the Sharks’ greatest footballer Andrew Ettingshausen who retired in 2000, tightly hugging Paul Gallen with both of them caring not that their tears were flowing like Niagara Falls.
History had been made, and it was left to Paul Gallen to have the final say after lifting the Norm Provan-Arthur Summons Trophy.
“To all the fans back in the Shire, turn the porch lights off, we are coming home with the trophy.”
It was bloody worth the wait.
Jacko
Guest
To mods. Which part is rubbish? and why cant I have an opinion side was proven and banned for it so what is your issue with it? You allowed discussion on Maria Sharapova and also on the Chinese swimmer so please explain to me why this is a problem as I am completely bamboozelled as to why I cant state what I did.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
If they were official fireworks, why were they trying to put them out . . .
correct sometimes
Guest
and why do you care? that media is so unfair t sokkah
peeeko
Guest
so before the game they should announce, the following players cant receive the man of the match medal?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Ditto Squidward.Is Bob Brown reporting from Tasmania? Mention in the press of one arrest out of 83,600 attendees and film shown on ch7.nothing to hide when it comes to rl off field these days . Did see a lot of pent up emotion ,shock horror,grown men cry.Rugby league in crisis.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
The official fireworks? I did not see a single flare but those
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
Did anyone notice the blue and white flares set off at the NRL grand final yesterday? Any mention of it in the press? No.
Jacko
Guest
Keep posting the same rubbish, and we'll just keep removing it. Mods
Rob
Guest
Happened last year with Thurston winning CC. It's all about image, selling a fairytale and little to do with the best player on the day. For mine Maloney did the critical things best. Across the field Sharks were better than Storm but Smith was outstanding again.
steveng
Roar Rookie
That's what I'm saying 'Dean - Surry Hills' Fifita hasn't got a good image with what he's been doing and maybe that is why he didn't get the CCM, its unfortunate but there has to be a standard that these guys have to abide by and come up to besides their playing abilities.
MAX
Guest
Australian team announcement deferred until tomorrow morning. Panel: Meninga, Fulton and Lockyer. Chairman Grant. Second thoughts on the big fella?
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
The Clive Churchill medal has nothing to do with the rest of the year. The award is for the best and fairest on ground in the Grand Final. The judges are more concerned with the image of the NRL, than in awarding the medal to the worthy recipient. Clive Churchill would be turning in his grave. All punters should be awarded a refund - otherwise betting should cease in 2017.
theBait
Guest
Can someone give Gallen some hair so he can pull his own ... lol what a joke
steveng
Roar Rookie
Fifita's discretion with that stupid writing on his wrist 'had allot to do with it', to be awarded the CC you have to be clean, Fifita wasn't and that is why he didn't get it. But Lewis has been a champion player all year and Fifita hasn't for mine.
Albo
Guest
Must be the same panel as in 1991 that robbed Royce Simmons of his medal ! I am a Lewis fan, but last night I would have had Fifita, Ennis, Maloney, Prior, Smith, Green, Harris & Chambers ahead of him. Take just one comparison of Fifita / Lewis - Metres run - Fifita 201 / Lewis 149 , Tackle busts - Fifita 12 / Lewis 2, tackles Fifita 35 / Lewis 28, winning try - Fifita 1 / Lewis 0. In fact the only stat that Lewis had over Fifita and most others on the field, was the payout odds with the bookies on the Churchill medal winner ???
Tony
Guest
Historically it has been the Kangaroo selectors.
Sharkattack
Guest
Well said Hard Yards. It isn't hard for me; UP UP CRONULLA
MAX
Guest
Panel of judges for Clive Churchill Medal? Who are they? Many of us would like to know.
Drum Line
Guest
Congrats to Cronulla after such a long wait. Good to see them and the Wbulldogs win for their faithful fans. I don't understand the surprise in Gallen not being considered good enough to be nominated for Captain of the year though. Glad his rep career is now over so we don't have to witness his boorish unintelligent carry on and whining to referees. Such a poor example across the board from an average man and even poorer captain. Congrats to Cronulla but get yourself a decent captain and you'll be a whole lot easier to like
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Good on em. It was only a few years ago that there was serious talk of Cronulla having to exit the NRL altogether. The empty shirts in ASADA will be drinking orange cordial today. Obviously their win was good for the big slab of Sydney that supports them, but it's also good for the game. Never thought I'd be able to choke these words out but, 'Up, Up Cronulla.'