Stumbling slowly out of the starting blocks to begin the season, the Cronulla Sharks were in unconvincing form entering their match against the heavy-favourites Melbourne Storm.
However, the Sharks came through for a hard-fought unlikely win that was the catalyst for the rest of their season.
Sound familiar?
In Round 4 last year, the Sharks held a 1-2 record before taking on the competition favourites, the Storm.
And similar to yesterday’s resounding 11-2 triumph – for their first win at AAMI Park and first in Melbourne since 2008 – Cronulla claimed a 14-6 victory that ignited their historic 15-game win-streak on the way to their historic maiden premiership.
Could it be history repeating?
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Could the black, white and blue go on another mad tear that captivated the rugby league audience over a 16-week unbeaten period?
Traveling to Melbourne, the Sharks held a flattering 3-2 record with lacklustre wins over the Parramatta Eels and Newcastle Knights last week, which they were fortunate to obtain via a last-gasp 19-18 victory. They produced mainly flat efforts in defeats to the Brisbane Broncos and St. George-Illawarra Dragons, and a comprehensive 42-16 win came over the Canberra Raiders, who similarly spluttered their way through the start of the season.
After the loss of Ben Barba and the retiring Michael Ennis from their grand-final side, a shortened preseason featuring a tolling World Club Challenge in the United Kingdom clearly took its effects on a sluggish Sharks outfit.
With Valentine Holmes missing the opening of the season with injury, they were a shell of last year’s side, lacking the energy or spark that carried them through an unforgettable season.
Many pundits dismissed the Sharks and felt it wasn’t early enough to dismiss their premiership defence.
The Sharks entered their grand final rematch with a point to prove against the unbeaten Melbourne Storm and kickstart their premiership defence in 2017.
In difficult slippery wet-weather conditions, the execution was lacking but it didn’t take away from an absorbing physical contest, particularly between the two forward packs who showed there was no love lost since their cliff-hanging premiership decider that went down to the wire.
Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan stated it was a performance the Sharks had been waiting six weeks for.
While it’s no secret that the reigning premiers have become the hunted, what’s to say they haven’t got more of that in store for the rest of the season?
They take on the Penrith Panthers, Gold Coast Titans and Wests Tigers before another local derby against the Dragons.
It’s almost impossible for Cronulla to replicate that unbelievable and magical record-breaking streak of last year, but there aren’t many sides capable of matching up with them on a regular basis.
It was a statement victory for the Sharks – they will not easily relinquish their title. They won’t give it up, it must be taken from them.
And they won’t go down without a fight.
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