A-Z of reasons to cheer for Cronulla Sharks in NRL grand final against Melbourne Storm

STRUGGLING for reasons to go for Cronulla? We’ve got you covered with an alphabet full of reasons to don the black, white and blue on Sunday.

Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen looks on during a training session at Southern Cross Stadium, in Sydney, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. The Cronulla Sharks will play the Melbourne Storm in the NRL Grand Final, in Sydney on Sunday. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING

STRUGGLING for reasons to go for Cronulla in the grand final?

We’ve got you covered with an alphabet full of reasons to don the black, white and blue on Sunday.

A is for Amco Cup: It’s the only piece of silverware currently in the Sharks’ trophy cabinet, and could do with some long overdue company.

That 1978 Amco Cup is awful lonely.

B is for Bishop, Tommy: The nuggety little Pommy halfback of the 1960s and ‘70s epitomises everything good about Cronulla. He’ll be cheering home the Sharks come Sunday.

C is for Chad Townsend: The only Cronulla junior in the Sharks grand final team.

D is for Drought-breakers: They own the unwanted title of longest streak in the NRL without a grand final victory. That can change on Sunday.

E is for ET: As in Andrew Ettingshausen, the Sharks superstar of the late ‘80s and ‘90s. 328 games, 165 tries — Cronulla through and through.

Ettinghausen was one of the Sharks greatest players.

F is for Fifty years: Or first-time premiers, take your pick. The Sharks are shooting for their maiden title, 50 years in the making.

G is Gallen, Paul: The Sharks skipper has waited longer than any other player to reach his maiden grand final. And after a decade of toiling for his state, NSW fans can get behind the warhorse as he seeks another famous victory at ANZ Stadium.

H is for Harold Holt: As in Jack Gibson’s famous quote — “Waiting for Cronulla to win a premiership is like leaving the porch lamp on for Harold Holt”.

I is for Isemonger, Sam: “The Iceman” — and the only player (apart from his namesake, Peter) in Sharks history who has a surname that starts with I.

J is for Jimmy Maloney: Three clubs, three grand finals — and just as good a bloke off the field as he is a player on it.

Who doesn’t love James Maloney?

K is for King Wan: The Chinese restaurant at Sharkies Leagues Club.

L is for Lewis, Luke: One of the NRL’s good guys, and a champion player to boot. He’s looking to snare his second premiership ring — 13 years after Penrith’s legendary 2003 triumph.

M is for Menace: As in Michael “The Menace” Ennis. After more than 270 matches, the crafty, niggly hooker is ready to leave it all out on the field one final time.

N is for Northies: They’ll lift the roof off on Sunday night if the Sharks get up.

O is for Old Boys: Gavin Miller, Cliff Watson, Greg Pierce, Mark McGaw, Steve Rogers, Andrew Ettingshausen, Mat Rogers, Tommy Bishop, David Hatch, David Peachey — the list goes on. A win on Sunday would be for them as much as anyone.

P is for Porch Lights: See Harold Holt.

TOP FIVE: Who dominated the Dally M’s at your club?

DRAW: Top honour split again

Q for Quartet: As in four grand finals appearances — 1973, 1978, 1997 and 2016. Fourth time lucky?

R is for Rogers, Steve: The greatest Shark of all.

S is for Shark Clap: Those sneaky Sharks fans have stolen the Viking Clap from Canberra, and are ready to roll out their own version on Sunday.

T is for Terry Hughes: The first winner of the Rothmans Medal, way back in 1968.

U is for Up Up Cronulla: The team song that players and fans sing with gusto following every Sharks’ success.

V is for Valentine Holmes: What a talent. If the Sharks speedster can cross the stripe once more, he’ll grab the record for most tries in a season for Cronulla.

W is for Wade Graham: Tough as nails, with the skill set to test opposition defences. A future NSW State of Origin staple.

X is for X-Factor: Ben Barba, Jack Bird and Val Holmes have it in spade.

Nick “Mr Worldwide” Youngquest.

Y is for Youngquest, Nick: Sure, he’s appeared more times on magazine covers than for Cronulla, but he’s part of Sharks history all the same.

Z is for Zzzzz: The sound of rugby league fans falling asleep if the Storm bore their way to victory. Up up Cronulla!

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