NRL grand final: Cronulla Sharks defeat Melbourne Storm to claim first premiership

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Sorry, this video has expired Video: Cronulla Sharks defeat Melbourne Storm for first premiership (ABC News)

A gritty, lung-busting display from the Cronulla Sharks has seen the club claim its first-ever premiership with a 14-12 win over Melbourne Storm.

A 70th-minute try from prop forward Andrew Fifita helped the Sharks overcome a second-half surge from the Storm in front of 83,625 fans at Sydney's Olympic stadium on Sunday night, bringing to an end a 49-year title drought.

The Sharks had a sensational first 40 minutes but only led 8-0 at the half-time thanks to a Ben Barba try, before the Storm surged in the second term to wrestle the advantage away from them.

Fifita's converted try was enough to take the lead back and some gutsy last-ditch defending from the Sharks saw them send retiring hooker Michael Ennis out a winner and meant captain Paul Gallen has finally claimed some silverware at club level.

Will Chambers, whose brilliant second-half try had put the Storm in front with 15 minutes to go, missed a golden opportunity to win the game at the death for his side when he opted against an inside ball to an open Cooper Cronk who could have strolled over the line.

"I'm just numb," Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan said after the win.

"We got behind then fought our way back with a great try to Andrew and to scramble like we did at the end, it's just unbelievable.

"We fought our way back into it. I thought the Storm were coming over the top of us in the second half but we showed so much resilience, so tough and with a crowd like this it's just unbelievable."

The Sharks built an 8-0 lead by the half-time whistle, but such was their dominance they could have led by a try or two more. A pattern emerged early, and that consisted of Cronulla's big forwards powering through the middle and the Storm players back-peddling as they attempted to keep pace.

James Maloney was superb as he controlled the match from five-eighth, and he played a big part in his side enjoying 60 per cent of possession in the first 40 minutes.

His decision-making about whether to pass, kick or sidestep defenders was spot-on from the get-go, and his combination with Cronulla's speedy backs added some salt to the pepper being provided by the likes of Gallen and Fifita.

Luke Lewis was a worthy Clive Churchill medal winner; offering a constant attacking menace but also put in a huge shift in defence, with his performance epitomising Cronulla's showing on the night.

Melbourne's captain Cameron Smith completed an astonishing 74 tackles, a demonstration of how much pressure the Sharks piled on the Storm across the 80 minutes.

Smith was typically gracious in defeat, acknowledging Cronulla's magical moment.

"On behalf of the entire Melbourne Storm footy club, I'd like to congratulate the Sharks," he said after the game.

"You guys have been waiting a very long time for this moment. It's taken a lifetime ... and I hope you enjoy it."

Cronulla starts with a bang

The first flare up of the game came when Koroibete collected Chad Townsend around the lower jaw with a swinging arm and the bulk of the players piled into an angry scuffle.

The upshot was the Storm winger, who is leaving for rugby union next season, going on report, and the Sharks taking the lead as Maloney converted the penalty.

Lewis came desperately close on a slide to the line after Maloney had sliced through, but moments later Cronulla had the opening try courtesy of an old-school scrum-base play.

Gallen picked the ball up and handed it to a peeled-off Barba, who scooted in for a brilliantly executed try. It was the kind of play you would expect Melbourne to pull out, but on this occasion it handed the Sharks a handy 8-0 early lead.

The team in sky blue had kept up an incredible level of intensity for the first quarter of the game and the Melbourne players already looked exhausted, struggling to keep pace with the play.

A Smith knock-on with four minutes to play in the half meant the Storm were forced into more desperation tackling in order to stay in touch on the scoreboard, and some dogged defending saw them remain within eight points at the break.

Storm stars emerge from their slumber in second half

The Melbourne forwards' lack of impact took its toll on the halves, with Cooper Cronk barely featuring until late in the game.

When the Storm finally found themselves in an attacking position early in the second half, Cronk's rushed attacking kick more sideways than forwards, and the Sharks' line remained unbreached.

Next set, the Storm did cross that line, though, as Jordan McClean smashed his way to within two metres of the tryline before Jesse Bromwich crashed over for their first try of the game.

It was a try out of almost nothing, but after Smith converted, the scoreboard showed the margin had been closed to just two points and Storm had the wind at their tails.

A game of thrust and parry developed as the match entered its final 20 minutes, with both defences hanging on. It was the Sharks, who had so much less work to do in the first half, who seemed to have that little bit more in the tank.

It was the Storm's key players who stood up, however, with Smith finally taking charge through the middle and Cronk finding his passing and kicking rhythm.

The half-back was involved as the Storm took the lead for the first time in the grand final after 65 minutes, but most of the credit must go to the scorer Chambers, who produced the flashiest moves of the Big Dance.

From broken play, the Melbourne centre sent Ennis hurling off in the wrong direction and zipped past Gerard Beale as well to score the try of the night.

That lead lasted just five minutes until, down the other end, Ennis fed Fifita and the huge prop monstered his way over the line despite the presence of five Storm defenders. Maloney's conversion meant Cronulla had a 14-12 lead with 10 minutes to play.

"What a way to end. I thought it had got past me when Chambers scored," Ennis said.

"That Melbourne wall, we just couldn't find a way through. And then, we just did it. It's unbelievable."

Topics: nrl, rugby-league, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, melbourne-3000, cronulla-2230

First posted</s>Good evening, welcome to this grand final live blog, a blow-by-blow account of the Cronulla Sharks’ attempt to overcome the weight of their own historical mediocrity, and the might of the Melbourne Storm, and win their first ever premiership after 50 years of trying!

Alternatively, welcome to this grand final live blog, a blow-by-blow account of the mighty Melbourne Storm’s attempt to snuff out the dreams of perennial losers, the Cronulla Sharks, and win their third (above board) premiership since joining the NRL in 1998!

It all depends of what perspective you take, doesn’t it?

What about the neutrals’ perspective? The overriding perception is that both teams don’t exactly tug on the heartstrings in the way that, say, a puppy dog rolling in toilet paper does. Or is supposed to. So, many neutrals may be apathetic at this stage as to which team to support.

For those who go beyond neutrality, for those who dislike both teams, “hate ’em!” even, well, they’re in a pickle. But at least they’ll have the consolation of seeing one team they loathe lose today. So that’s nice.

Strictly speaking, Cronulla are this year’s obligatory fairytale team and should attract the bulk of the support. Indeed, early scenes from the ground show a sea of light blue. Or that could just be the colour of the seats.

But as I said in my preview on Friday:

Quoting yourself, it’s desperate isn’t it? I suppose I could have spent precious time and said more or less the same thing again but in a slightly different way but sod that, right? So here I go again:

If the Sharks aren’t universally loved then neither are the Melbourne Storm who, in NSW at least, will forever be tarred with the Original Sin of being based in Victoria and of being born out of Super League in the way Damien (Omen) was born of a jackal. Oh, and there’s the don’t-mention-the-war matter of the salary cap rorting that saw the Storm stripped of both their 2007 and 2009 premiership titles.

Bit negative, right? But I feel it had to be acknowledged. To get it out of the way, like.

All this isn’t to say, of course, that there’s no interest in this game. It’s the grand final for crying out loud! I’m interested. You’re interested. It’s why we’re here.*

It’s also not to say that once the game gets underway neutrals may just find themselves drawn into a brief flirtation and cheering on one of the teams, just for the evening. Maybe even the haters might find the cloaks of bias and cynicism reefed from their shoulders.

Well, two things could happen. The Sharks will finally get something to put in their trophy cabinet (Do they even have a trophy cabinet? If so, what for?), or the Melbourne Storm, as relentless as a Terminator with OCD, will cap their sixth grand final appearance in 11 seasons with another premiership.

Join me, email me, tweet me. Share your thoughts, dear reader!

*I may also be getting paid. But don’t worry, it’s not much. You heard of shekels?</s>FINALLY: Bob Little with his sons Andrew and Michael supporting the Sharks at the NRL grand final.

THE FEELINGS of joy Maclean Spar Supermarket owner and Cronulla Sharks tragic Bob Little is experiencing today can be traced back to the club's formation in 1967.

Bob and his sons Andrew and Michael are all mad Cronulla fans who flew into Sydney on Sunday hoping against hope that their team could weather the Melbourne Storm.

History will show a two-point win for the Sharks, but for those loyal fans who had waited almost 50 years for some silverware, the game was a roller coaster.

"After half time when we were eight points up we looked at each and said this could be it, we might win," Bob said.

"Then they scored those two tries and it was 'here we go again'.

"We score again and had to hang on for those last 20 seconds as they threw everything at us. It felt like it was all going to snatched away. It was the worst 20 seconds of my life."

The final siren brought a relief and a sense of disbelief among supporters at the ground.

"People were dumbfounded," he said. "The looks on the faces just said it. This is it, we've done it."

Of the Little trio only Bob has been alive long enough to see them grand finals.

Like many residents of the Shire, the area beyond the Georges River in Sydney, Bob supported St George, which had just won 11 premierships on the trot.

"I can tell you this premiership means 11 times more to me than all the premierships Saints won," Bob said.

"All those premierships just fade into the background compared to this one."

"When the Sharks formed I became a member straight away as did a lot of Saints supporters who lived in the area," he said.

"People who lived in the Shire wanted to have their own team. They felt the Shire was separate to the other suburbs."

Bob said he let his Sharks membership lapse for a while when his family moved to Maclean, but had rejoined about 10 years ago.

"There were a few times when the boys would ask me why I ever started supporting the Sharks," he said.

"But the way we're feeling now it was all worth it."

YAMBA'S Douglas family has tight connections with the Sharks and is enjoying their success, just quietly.

Chris and the late Trish Douglas's oldest son Luke played 146 games for Cronulla and walked around the field on Sunday as one of the group of retiring NRL players.

In 2010-11 Chris and Trish ran the Shark House, a dormitory for young players joining the club from the bush.

Chris, who watched the grand final with Luke, said Shark's centre Ricky Leutele was at the Shark House, but was the only one of the players he looked after to make the grand final.

"Quite a few of them have gone on to play with other clubs," he said.

He said the grand final win was a great reward for the many unsung heroes at the club, who put in countless hours making sure the players and coaches had the maximum opportunity to perform.

In 2011 Chris was recognised as one of those, winning the Clubperson of the Year award.

"It's the title for those who do more than the other for nothing," he said.

Chris and his family have been Sharks supporters ever since he moved to the Shire in the late 1960s.

"We lived over the road from Sutherland Oval, which was their home ground before the days of Endeavour Field and Shark Park," he said.

"There was a hole in the fence about three doors down from our place where we used to sneak in and watch the Sharks play," he said.

While the family never regretted the move to Yamba, the stint at the Shark House came at a good time for the Douglas's.

"When we moved back to be the house parents at Shark House it was perfect for us," Chris said.

"Our three boys (Luke, Kane and Jake) were all living down there in a unit just around the corner.

"One was going to uni, one was playing for the Sharks, one was playing for the Waratahs."

Chris said while the ebb and flow of the grand final made it exciting, on the balance of play the Sharks deserved the premiership.

"The Storm came to life for about 15 minutes and hit the front, but over the whole game the Sharks were the better team," he said.

"I'm not one for a lot of emotion, but like about 100,000 other Sharks supporters I had my heart in my mouth at the end.

"But you have to give it to the Storm, they are clinical in everything they do. They came right back into it.

"Before the game I was saying there could be two points in it. It turned out to be spot on."</s>Ben Barba scores the Sharks' first try during the NRL grand final against the Storm at ANZ Stadium.

BEN Barba finally has the "monkey off his back" after the Cronulla Sharks' historic grand final win against Melbourne Storm, says proud dad Ken Barba.

"It was such a proud moment. It actually brought tears to our (the family's) eyes," he said of the former Mackay junior and his squad's 14-12 win.

"Oh mate, I'm very, very delighted. It was a relief, full of excitement. I remember back in 2012 when he was beaten by Melbourne Storm when he played for the Dogs (Canterbury Bulldogs), but now this year Cronulla (Sharks) have won the premiership - the first time in 50 years.

"It brought us joy and happiness yesterday, and even leading into yesterday. I knew something special was going to happen when the Sharks beat the Cowboys two weeks ago."

Mr Barba said he "always knew Ben would score the first try" during Sunday's match-up.

"I could just see it in his body language and how relaxed he was," he said.

"The first couple of days leading up to the game, having family and friends, his partner and children, around for support, he looked really relaxed and I knew he was switched on. You could see his focus.

"After the win I said to him 'not too many footballers could say they've won a Dally M award, won a NRL grand final'."

Mr Barba said his son "was just overjoyed" at finally cinching an NRL premiership.

"He couldn't believe it when he didn't win it in 2012," he said.

"So, he couldn't put into words how happy he was. He just kept looking at the grand final ring on his finger and shaking his head.

"Last night when I left him at the club him and all the boys were still there, enjoying the moment and soaking up the atmosphere of being the 2016 premiers."

Mr Barba reckoned "the whole suburb of Cronulla" was likely celebrating alongside his son today.

"It was edge of your seat stuff at the stadium. Melbourne had the ball in the last few seconds, I was watching the clock, watching the ball go from one side of the field to the other and I thought it was going to be a heartbreaker," he said.

"But the Sharks stopped the momentum in the last few seconds and I just felt relief, excitement, joy."

When it came to Ben's future, Mr Barba believes the success story at ANZ Stadium in Sydney will be a prelude of things to come.

"I thought to myself 'what more could you do?' but he's determined he's got a lot more football in him yet," he said.

"I think the monkey's off his back, he's got an NRL ring and I think the next few years we might see Ben a bit more older, bit more wiser, with a bit better football coming out of him."

Three carloads of Ben's family were amongst the crowd of 83,625 at the stadium to see the Sharks' heated 14-12 win on Sunday.</s>SYDNEY: Rugby league’s most polarising figure Andrew Fifita helped end rugby league’s longest title drought, leading Cronulla to a 14-12 win over Melbourne in the NRL grand final yesterday.

 Fifita was brilliant in an extended first-half stint in which he ran for more than 100m and produced when it mattered most in the second half to end the Sharks’ 49-year search for a premiership.

 With Melbourne leading 12-8 late into the game after a gutsy fightback built on the back of an incredible defensive effort, Fifita produced an on-field performance at ANZ Stadium for which he will be forever remembered.

 The NSW prop wrestled with four Storm defenders on the Melbourne tryline before spinning his arms free and grounding the ball in the 69th minute.

 James Maloney converted to give the Sharks a 14-12 lead.

 But the game was far from over and the Sharks spent much of the final 10 minutes defending valiantly to secure the club’s first title.

 Suliasi Vunivalu ignored an unmarked Cooper Cronk with two minutes to go before Sharks centre Ricky Leutele killed the Storm’s final attacking play when he tackled Marika Koroibete just short of the Sharks line as the fulltime siren sounded.

 “I can’t tell you how good I feel,” Sharks skipper Paul Gallen told Channel Nine.

 “I can’t believe this, after all the hard work we have put it.

 “It is incredible.”

 The Sharks’ win comes two years after they claimed the wooden spoon after being rocked by the ASADA scandal.

 Fifita made headlines earlier this season due to his support of convicted killer Kieran Loveridge.

 “I am lost for words,” Fifita said.

 “To score the winning try is incredible, I don’t know where it came from. I was just rolling.”

 Cronulla dominated early.

 Marika Koroibete hit Chad Townsend with a high tackle in the sixth minute that was put on report and James Maloney kicked the first points of the match via the ensuing penalty.

 Six minutes later Cronulla cracked Melbourne’s famed defence as Paul Gallen worked a scrum move from 10m out to put Ben Barba over for an 8-0 lead.

 Will Chambers beat Gerard Beale out wide in the 64th minute to put Melbourne ahead for the first time in the game. Cameron Smith converted to give the Storm a 12-8 lead.

 The Storm had held the Sharks out time and time again on their own line in the second half, but finally cracked when Fifita crashed over.

 Melbourne pressed late but the Sharks held on and secured their fairytale win. – AAP</s>It’s not exactly an original saying but the locals call it “God’s country” and right about now Sydney’s Sutherland Shire – The Shire, if you don’t mind – must be feeling every inch of it.

Though always content with their lot, which is part of the problem, residents of this wedge of land – one caught between the glittering fingers of the Georges River to the north, the beaches of Cronulla to the east, the heaving lungs of the Royal National Park to the south, and, more or less, Lucas Heights Reactor to the west – have had to endure outsiders looking down at them for what some see as their tacky, nouveau riche, white-bread ways.

Goodness knows many in their number didn’t help matters during and after the Cronulla riots in 2005 when, it seemed, a knuckle-headed last bastion of white Australia circled its wagons against the “threat” to its way of life. But long before that the Shire had been maligned, laughed at, and derided, as the cast of Sylvania Waters would attest. Could it really be that everyone in the Shire (the place, not the 2012 reality show by the same name) is a cashed-up bogan and a xenophobe, or might we consider that classism has played a part in the Shire’s reputation?

The Cronulla Sharks rugby league team, the Shire’s sporting flag-bearers, have copped similar flak since coming into being in 1967, not all that long after the Shire was considered a part of Sydney as opposed to a holiday destination for Sydneysiders. Just as the Shire grew out of the post-war boom, Cronulla’s birth owed much to the success of its booming neighbour, St George, who had just won their 11th straight title when the wee Sharkies popped up on the scene. Not that St George was happy to share southern Sydney with this unwanted bastard sibling. Nobody loves us, the Sharks learned early on, and nothing much changed.

There were brief flirtations with success, most notably in 1973, 1978, 1997 and 1999, but heartbreak was always the result. Or perhaps it was resignation. There were, too, brief flirtations with glamour when, in the early 1990s, pin-up-pretty centre Andrew Ettingshausen was in his pomp and Elle Macpherson, daughter of then-club president Peter Gow, was sashaying about the joint – but only half as well as ET.

And then, during the Super League war of the late 1990s, the Sharks swam in a mirage of money, aligning themselves early on with the breakaway venture (treacherous, really, considering the NSWRL had bailed the mismanaged club out time and again). But mostly the Sharks have been sandy-haired battlers with hands like feet, a team the competition rarely needed to worry about it, a team simply making up the numbers. It doesn’t get much more dismissive than that.

Those days are gone, at least for now, and now carries a lot of currency in sport. Last night the Cronulla Sharks ended their premiership drought in their 50th year. I was about to write, reflexively, “and no-one can say they didn’t deserve it”, but that would not be true. Not even after all these years of disappointment and failure, not even when the Sharks have been actively building towards this since 2012 when the broom went through the place.

No, as the Shire sunshine was tainted by the riots of 2005, Cronulla’s “fairytale” success will be, in the eyes of some, tainted by the much-publicised supplements scandal that almost brought Cronulla to its knees. It could be argued, with some justification, that the Sharks were never punished harshly enough for their supplements program during the 2011 season. This premiership, it will surely be said, was built on a regime of cheating.

Another way to look at it is that Cronulla took the medicine they were prescribed. The club was fined and the players, and coach Shane Flanagan, were sanctioned and, in Flanagan’s case, suspended for a year. When the dust settled the club endured a rock-bottom 2014 when it seemed possible the team might be relocated or culled. You could say the club deserved everything they got. But you might also note just how well they put the whole mess behind them. A rabble in 2014 to premiers in 2016. It’s been a monumental change of fortunes. The residents of the Shire, fans of Cronulla, have every right to revel in that. As do all at the Sharks.

My favourite part of last night’s grand final came during captain Paul Gallen’s acceptance speech on the dais. In it he made a call out to Sharks players of old, “… all you former players, blokes like ET, guys who busted their backsides for the club and never got to enjoy a moment like this”. I thought of them, too, the likes of Tommy Bishop, Cliff Watson, Greg Pierce, Steve Rogers, Kurt Sorenson, Gavin Miller, David Peachey. None of them managed to get Cronulla over the line but Gallen knew that success does not materialise out of thin air, and the present must pay a debt to the past.

Gallen knew, too, of the debt his team had to pay to the people of the Shire, his team’s fanbase. It may not cancel out all the heartbreak, ribbing and jokes they’ve endured over the past 50 years, but the 2016 Provan-Summons premiership trophy is one hell of a down payment.</s>Tony and Judy Madden with son Sam after Cronulla's historic grand final win at ANZ Stadium.

RUGBY LEAGUE: Rockhampton's Tony Madden now knows nearly every word of the Sharks' anthem, Up Up Cronulla.

In fact, the club song is still ringing in his ears after it echoed constantly around ANZ Stadium as the Sharks played their way to an historic grand final win on Sunday night.

Tony and his wife Judy were among the 83,000-plus spectators on hand to witness the ground-breaking victory and most importantly to celebrate the integral part their son Sam had played in it.

Sam, 30, is the head physiotherapist at the Sharks, who ended their 49-year premiership drought with a gritty 14-12 win over the Melbourne Storm.

Tony said it was a proud moment for himself and Judy.

"It's a dream come true for Sam and for everyone at the Sharks,” he said from Sydney yesterday morning.

"My voice is a little bit croaky and I just about know all the words to Up Up Cronulla now.

"It was incredible to see Sam out on the field at the end soaking it all up with the players, the coaching staff and the board members.

"They were just slapping each other on the back and you just couldn't get the grin off his face. He just couldn't stop smiling.”

Decked out in Cronulla's colours, the Maddens headed to the stadium just after 3pm and settled in to watch the curtain raiser, the State Championship showdown between the Illawarra Cutters and the Burleigh Bears.

Tony said the crowd continued to build during that match, with the tide of black, blue and white supporters filling the stadium becoming a torrent about 5.30pm.

"The crowd was unbelievable, clapping and singing the whole way through.

"The atmosphere was incredible, it was electrifying.

"I've been to State of Origins and Test matches before but I've never experienced anything like that sort of atmosphere before.”

The Maddens had prime position, sitting on the 20m line on the northern end of the stadium where the three tries were scored.

"Cronulla certainly dominated the first half in regards to possession and attack and they really should have had more points on the board to be comfortable at half-time,” he said.

"The Storm had a much stronger half and really got back into the game.

"When Cronulla got the lead back again, the final hooter couldn't come quick enough for us.”

Tony said Luke Lewis was a deserving Clive Churchill medallist, having put in an extraordinary performance.

He was also amazed at how the crowd stayed at the stadium for more than an hour after the final finished to pay tribute to their sporting heroes.

"The crowd just stayed on and on and the team walked the whole way around the stadium.

"It was also wonderful to see the families there joining in.

"It was a great contest and a good outcome.

"We're still on a high.”</s>READY TO WIN: Footy mates David Ahern and Dean Kornbrekke threw a few barbs at each other over the possible outcome of tonights NRL footy grand final.

THERE are only a few hours to go until the NRL footy grand final kicks off and after supporting the Sharks for more than 30 years David Ahern is quietly confidant the boys from Cronulla will get the job done.

Ever since Mr Ahern got a pair of Shark shorts off his uncle as a kid he's stuck by the club and hopes that tonight the Sharks will finally be able to add a piece of grand final silverware to their trophy cabinet.

And if anyone was wondering how devoted Mr Ahern is to his beloved Sharks, the born and bred Queenslander said he even likes Paul Gallen and Michael Ennis.

But his mate, Dean Kornbrekke, a storm supporter, doesn't think the Sharks have much hope of winning tonight, as long as the Storm forwards play well.

With the Storm slight favourites over the Sharks, it seems as though the bookies are thinking along the same lines as Mr Kornbrekke.

For Mr Ahern, he thinks if the Sharks get a few points early then they'll be in with a shot.

"I was pretty confident mid-year but then they started to fault towards the end,” Mr Ahern said.

"I've always been hopeful but I never get my hopes up too much because they'll break your heart.”

Throughout the finals series Mr Ahern said he'd been getting "smashed” by his mates through text messages who kept reminding him how much they hate the Sharks.

"Out of this team I like Luke Lewis and he just seems to be getting better,” he said.

"We'll need our back three to fire...because when they're on they're hard to stop.”

Although Mr Kornbrekke thinks the game will be close, he said the Sharks couldn't match the class of Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk.

Both footy lovers have plans to watch the game at home and will probably knock back a few beers.

But if the Sharks get up, Mr Ahern said he might just have to go on a bender for two weeks to celebrate.
In Australian rugby league, the Cronulla Sharks defeat the Melbourne Storm 14–12 to win their first premiership after 50 years in the competition.