The 2016 NRL Grand Final

Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks – Sunday night (7.15pm AEDT) – ANZ Stadium

The Melbourne Storm

What a team they have been, and what a team they are. I was taken with something on the weekend. While watching the AFL preliminary final between the GWS Giants and the Western Bulldogs it was obvious to everyone who had the most crowd support. There were 21000 at that game, and 11000 of them flew in from Melbourne to support the away team. The home team were booed when they came out for their warm-up. It was a peculiar thing to watch. On the same weekend 28000 people were at AAMI Park for the Storm/Raiders preliminary, and while the Raiders had a fantastic group of travelling supporters, 25000 of the people in that crowd were decked out in purple. Granted the Storm have been around a while longer than the Giants, but it's clear to me that the city of Melbourne have embraced the Storm as their team in that game they don't really understand. Bellamy, Smith, Cronk and Slater can't walk down to the shop to get a sausage roll without hearing a chorus of 'Go Storm'. The Storm workforce may be all FIFO workers, but Melbourne has accepted them as a part of the flock. Meanwhile the Giants are not seen as a team representing their region but as colonial representatives of the AFL. Perhaps that will change in time...but I have my doubts. There's not a chance in hell the AFL would punish the Giants like the NRL did to the Storm following the salary cap saga. Amazingly, the Storm have come through all that and are as resilient as ever. Their supporters are more fervent than ever. In a strange way, that salary cap scandal may have been a positive for the purple machine. What a team they are.

The Cronulla Sharks

50 years and not a premiership to show for it, most of the experts have them pencilled in as the winner on Sunday night. Here's another team that have battled their fare share of controversy. Several times in the history of this game those in charge have wanted to kill off the club altogether, or at least relocate them. Two years ago the club were penalised over their illegal supplements program, and here they are in a grand final. Like the Storm, the Sharks and their supporters are as resilient as ever. To think the Essendon Bombers have the wooden spoon in 2016, and the Sharks could have a premiership. Love them or loathe them, their success this season has been an extraordinary achievement.

The verdict

The team that wins the grand final will do so by defeating every other team that finished in the top four this season. Whoever lifts the trophy on Sunday night has got there by beating the best of the best.

On face value it looks like the Sharks have all the momentum leading into this grand final. That was a dominating performance over the Cowboys, but there are a few question marks about the win for mine. Many of us feared the Cowboys would struggle to perform after their extra time victory over the Broncos, and struggle they did. In the early period their completion rate was 2 from 10. Nothing went right and the Sharks could smell blood in the water. They ran riot and the home crowd pushed them on. What I wonder is how much of that poor performance was a result of pressure from the Sharks, and how much of it was a result of the Cowboys previous game? The answer is probably a little bit from column A and a little bit from column B, but how much from each column? I just don't know. The Sharks were great, but I suspect every other top eight side (except the Broncos) would have done much the same thing to the Cowboys last weekend.

As for the Storm, I'm not the only person that thinks they were lucky to win that game over the Raiders. Note that both grand finalists played the Raiders during the finals and both teams defeated the Raiders by two points. Of course, the Sharks beat the Raiders away from home and with players unavailable, so on that form line alone you'd be leaning their way. Lucky or not, the Storm have an uncanny ability to win close games. They execute a game plan better than anyone else and the wins follow. Their senior players have plenty of big game experience to draw upon, and it's usually winning experience. Paul Gallen has plenty of experience in big games too, but in almost every big game he's played he's lost. The round 26 clash between these sides was a fairly big game too. The minor premiership was on the line, and the Storm won 26-6. The game was closer than that, but the Storm won 26-6. Obviously the grand final isn't at AAMI Park, and the Storm haven't actually played a game at ANZ Stadium all season, but when they do play there they win 71% of the time. The Sharks have only played their twice this season for a narrow win over the Bulldogs and a loss to the Rabbitohs. Their win rate at ANZ is a paltry 32%. Not a lot of happy memories for the Sharks at Homebush. Sharks coach Shane Flanagan is in his first grand final. It seems like Bellamy has been doing this forever. Experience matters. It's hard to measure what's it worth, but it's worth something. I think it's worth plenty.

Prince died in April this year. Love live Prince. Purple Reign...Purple Reign...

Scoreline – Storm 19 : Sharks 18

First try scorer - Kevin Proctor

Clive Churchill medallist - Cooper Cronk

Result - Sharks 14 defeated Storm 12

Wally Lewis - Grand Final (in bold)

Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

  • Storm vs SHARKS

Comments

Coach Potato's picture

Rugby League's equivalent to a ghost town.
Tuesday morning and nothing happening til Sunday.

... Is this the calm before the ... ?
Sure feels like it.

christine's picture

Bring it on ...

christine's picture

Seeing I have a bet on them it's sharks for me ...

Rick's picture

Me too Christine me too.

Jack Starky's picture

damn it, should have been Raiders v Sharks

christine's picture

Your right about that it should have been raiders v sharks

mark ashford's picture

Hi all
While I would love to see the Sharkies lift their maiden trophy (see that Coach I'm supporting a Sydney team) I do believe the Storm GF experience will get them home.
The Sharks really gave it to the Cowboys and if they can repeat that they'll win.
Bellamy is the cagiest of coaches, Cam Smith, Cronk and others have so much big game experience and the will to win is huge.
Go the Sharks and put some silverware in the cupboard.

christine's picture

Mark yes storm do have more big game experience but I just want to see someone else win it for a change ...

Coach Potato's picture

I think there's definitely more that Qlders don't get.
Whereas with northerners, support seems to always gravitate towards the State team still left, in the case of this year, the Cowboys.

But that's not how it is at all in Sydney.

Most (if not all) combinations of Sydney teams are bitter rivals and despise each other. No way they would want the other to win the comp just because they are from NSW.

Moreso, they would be happy for an interstate team to win, depending how bitter a rival they are.

As far as Sydney teams go, I can only name Wests as a team I would want to win in front of an interstate team.

Any of Parramatta, St George, Canterbury, Manly, Cronulla, Souths, Roosters, I would prefer not win.

This isn't State against State.

There's no doubt the Storm will have huge support from those that don't like the Sharks.

mark ashford's picture

Coach I see what you are saying.
RL (as we know it) began in NSW with terrifying rivalry between the clubs. The (before NRL) games were brutal and much blood was spilt.
I guess it must be hard to let that history go.
Had it started in QLD I would feel the same.

I hate this time of the year as we only have one game to go.
Then a 6 months wait until it all begins again.

Coach Potato's picture

Conversely in the AFL game, a team who has not been in a Grand Final since 1961. Not ever as Western Bulldogs, only as Roosters.

Yet here is a Melbourne team, against the despised Swans. This game will be 85% home team support no doubt, and that may decide the game. Last time Swans played a Melbourne team (Kangaroos) in the GF, the crowd was just too much.

At ANZ, it might be in favour of the Sharks, but I would only rate it 60/40.

Coach Potato's picture

Footscray turned into "Roosters"?!!

I just tried it again and it turned into Root Day (well maybe for some)

Tried it again and it turned into Bootstrap.

What the hell is up with this thing?

mark ashford's picture

Coach do you mean Footscray? Don't think the Western Bulldogs were ever known as the Roosters?
I'm a Doggies fan and hope they can win a GF after so many years.
No doubt the Melbourne crowd will be behind them against the despised Swans.

mark ashford's picture

Coach spell check can be a bastard

Coach Potato's picture

Hey Footy Chick, Rick has tipped the Sharks.
Would love to see you win.
You know what to do to guarantee it.

Just Do It.

mark ashford's picture

Is "footy chick" married to Coach?
Stranger things have happened on this site.
Coach giving "footy chick" last minute advise.

christine's picture

C'mon we all know footy chick will take storm mark that's obvious ...

Coach Potato's picture

Certainly some high grade weed some are self-medicatimg with on this Grand Final Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve.

Johnny Ray's picture

Awesome. And it all comes to down to this, Cronulla Vs Melbourne, Storm Vs Sharks in Grand Final. You know in my life I have seen some incredible things, Alf, Al Capone Vault, the fall of Berlin Wall, the collapse of Soviet Union, the continued dissolution of United States as single country (Just you watch - if this current election cycle back home has proven anything to me about the place is that there won't be much of America anymore the way we're going so don't be surprised guys in twenty years you'll see California and Cascadia as it own independent nation states. Seriously if Trump becomes president, god, could you blame them ?) still nothing as incredible as Sharks being one game away from winning their first grand final in fifty years ! More than just destiny this is fate. More than just fate this is divine intervention. Do you believe in miracles ? I do. That's why I'm picking Sharks to win this game in magical fairytale ending for their club. Cronulla by four points. Go Sharkies !!! ;-D

christine's picture

Coach that better not be in reference to me I gave up a long time ago thanks ...

a's picture

O do not want Gallen to win a premreship

fortresseagle's picture

Ok folks here we go the grand final the sharks against the rorters the storm it should of been the raiders but the dog mart checcin him put paid to that I hope ur eating dog shit checcin.

Ok so the sharks never to win a title a magnificent year with 15 wins on the trot all this done with grit and determination they brutally took out the cowboys and the final before that were gutsy in beating the raiders.

The storm tough win against the cowboys nothing flash but they won and one of the most pathetic refereeing displays got them through to the grand final, they have been consistent and experience has showed in most of there wins.

So who wins:

The sharks: ................ With a massive crowd support and having the chance to lift there first title I believe the sharks will be too hungry to let this one slip. Yes the storm do have the edge in experience. But Ennis. Gallen , Maloney all have been In grand finals or big matches. I think the backs of the sharks will win this grand final as the forwards should cancel each other out ,

The sharks will play a free flowing game , while the storm will play there usual grind dirty tactics of slowing the game down . Barring any repeat refereeing cheating to give the storm the win, if it's fair than the sharks will win there maiden premereship.

It's the sharks by 14.

Go the sharks go sydney bring it home.

Good luck to your team everyone and a very good evening to you all .

The fortress eagle home of the always magnificent and mighty sea eagles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coach Potato's picture

Nothing much said about Barba and Ennis.
Both played in the 2012 Grand Final for the Dogs against the Storm.
Being the Sydney team didnt count for too much that day.

Coach Potato's picture

Wow.

Paul Gallen owns a current losing streak of nine straight losses against the Storm. The start of that streak, Preliminary Final 2008.

The Sharks have beaten the Storm only twice in those 8 years, Round 4 this year and back in 2012, but Gallen was was not on the field for either.

His longest losing streak against the Maroons is 6, if that puts this into perspective.

fortresseagle's picture

Ok everyone time for a revolt can someone tell me that mart checcin is not refereeing the grand final can someone please come on and tell me it's not true.

This is the most pathetic inept dog of a ref sack him and that stupid low life idiot tony archer what are they boy friends or something his performance of the raiders storm game was the worst with the eagkes and parramatra game I have ever seen he is a rorter he is a dog and god help the sharks this is do sure a set up and if it happens the shire will riot and they should flood the ground and hang checcin in public with tony archer in Martin place.

Why is he refereeing the grand final surely not please everyone let's stop this he does not deserve it he is out of his depth the worst ref having the biggest game of the year what a farce what a joke the nrl should be ashamed of it's self disgusting stooping to the lowest ebb my god !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coach Potato's picture

Why would the media promote the fact a referee has been in charge of Sharks x-games and they have won each time.

Does that really give that team confidence?
It should give them the opposite.

If the referee wants to be viewed as impartial, surely he will endeavour to even things up, not keep the skewed tally going.

christine's picture

Coach stats are meant to be broken ...

The Thinker's picture

From the filing cabinet:

The last time the Storm were in a grand final, that knucklehead 'The Thinker' predicted the winning team, the first try scorer (at $26) and the Clive Churchill medalist.

Interestingly, Barba played fullback and Ennis played hooker in that game four years ago:

https://the-thinker.org/nrl-tips/2012/grand-final

nola's picture

hey mark so who are you going for your tip says storm your comments sort of differ

nola's picture

hey potato coach
what would that be for footy chic to guarantee??
would like to know what you mean; [ just do it means?? ]

Doggie's picture

Vale Max Walker,champion cricketer, footballer, commentator, author and great bloke, met him a couple of times. RIP Tangles.

mark ashford's picture

Hi Nola
Yeah that was a bit confusing. I would love to see the Sharks break their drought purely for their fans.
I don't like a few of the Sharks players but wouldn't deny them a premiership on that. (my heart speaking)
Now lets hear from the head.
Storm to win by a narrow margin based purely on their "big game" experience. Hope that's cleared it up.

mark ashford's picture

Christine fear not I believe Coach's comment was meant for me after my "footy chick" indiscretion.
Wish I had some Coach make a nice change from the Sauv/Blanc.

The Thinker's picture

Interesting streak stats about Paul Gallen there Coach. It looks like every time he comes up against a team that includes Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk...Gallen loses.

In fact, the 2014 NSW Origin series victory was the year Cronk broke his leg.

Coach Potato's picture

Sure, he's not known for his point scoring but Michael Ennis has played a total of 23 games against the Storm - 2 playing for the Knights, 2 playing for the Dragons, 3 playing for Broncos, 12 playing for the Bulldogs, 4 playing for the Sharks - and in all those 23 games v the Storm, his total points tally is .......... zero.

He was the goal kicker at Dragons, Broncos , and occasionally with the Bulldogs don't forget.

Gallen can't win a game, Ennis can't score a point, and the bloody weight of expectation on a team that can't win a Premiership isn't helping.

christine's picture

Mark I know it wasn't directed at me I was just putting him in his place in case it was .

Coach Potato's picture

Analyse this tale of the tape and tell me who wins.

Ashley Taylor
22 games
10 wins
5 tries
25 goals from 35 attempts - 71%

Nathan Cleary
15 games
10 wins
3 tries
52 goals from 65 attempts - 80%

Tell me?

fortresseagle's picture

Hope mart checcine the dog and that grubby dog team the storm lose both are pathetic .

Go the sharks bring it home for nsw and sydney !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coach Potato's picture

fortress, you don't fool me. This isn't about Sydney and NSW, it's about whichever team can beat the Storm because Manly fans just won't be able to stomach a Melbourne victory lap. Not about who wins, it's about who doesn't. Am I right?

The Thinker's picture

Taylor wins Rookie of the Year....a Coach killer.

Coach Potato's picture

Just about every award has raised an argument about whether they were deserving or not. Why can't it be more black and white?
Why can't they bloody just use SuperCoach scores each week and then at least there would be stats to back it up instead of leaving it up to a bunch of cronies.

Coach Potato's picture

16 teams honestly put your hand up and say you would have Taylor as your halfback over Cleary?

Will Taylor be facing off against Cleary in Origin in the coming years?
Not unless Qld are in dire straits I would suggest.

a's picture

So Cooper Cronk and Jason Tauloumo are joint winners

The Thinker's picture

Top ten for the 2016 Dally M

1. Cronk (Storm - Queensland)
1. Taumalolo (Cowboys - New Zealand)
3. Smith (Storm - Queensland)
3. Thurston (Storm - Queensland)
5. James (Titans - NSW)
5. Milford (Broncos - Queensland)
7. Moses (Tigers - NSW)
7. Hodgson (Raiders - England)
9. Norman (Eels - Queensland)
9. Barba (Sharks - Queensland)

fortresseagle's picture

Coach yes us manly people despise the storm come on coach can u blame us or blame anyone just have a look at the raiders game. Was that fairly reffed if u wanna be fair dinkum they should not be there and matt checcin is the worst ref in living memory .

The sharks will win and win well it's there destiny !!!!!!!!!!!

Coach Potato's picture

Things went against Penrith at Canberra by just as nuch. Not a ruck penalty our way. They did what they wanted to us in the tackle. They also took one of our forwards out with some kind of accidental hit, were super quickly awarded a try where pressure on the ball from Croker was sideways at best. If that was Penrith putting the ball down they would have looked at it 48 times then correctly disallowed it. Fairness is a blanket that needs to cover all the teams, not just keeping warm, the higher profile team on the night. Two weeks ago in Canberra was like The Junkyard Dog getting the same breaks up against Hulk Hogan. Forgive me for not being convinced that my team shouldn't be there again, twice in three years now.

fortresseagle's picture

Coach I agree your team was robbed but why do we keep going with a ref that is out of his depth surely there is better let's look at matt checcin during tge year I would say at least 95 percent of his games were pathetic he is agar gang towards tge players and when the pressure is on he goes to water coach this is the nrl not park football the best rugby league comp in the world . So why can't we have the best refs.

Look if the matches were refffed fairly we would have a different top 8 and a different grand final yes ur team was dudded in Canberra but in your heart of hearts the storm did not deserve to beat Canberra and I don't think they will beat the sharks. Yes I don't like them why should i , but I just think the sharks have more to play for they know they won't get too many more chances for me they want this just a little bit more, that's not to say the storm can't win

But I think the sharks need this more and paul gallen who has been the brides maid to cam smith so often in there matches will want to get one up on him .

The storm might be favourites but that will count for nothing on Sunday , because it's a grand final and it's a fight to the death .

Go the sharks .

The fortress eagle one eyed but fair!!!!!!!!!

fortresseagle's picture

Coach I meant to say matt cecchin is arragant and rude towards the players .

A ref shouldn't take centre stage it's the players that should we don't want to go watch the refs. We go a Nd watch our stars .

He is not up to standard sack him sack tony archer and bring in refs that can keep up with the game not a poo pushing drip.

That's my opinion coach have a great morning!!!!!!!!!!!!

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