Sharks v Storm: Who should you cheer for in NRL grand final?

DON’T love the Storm, not fussed about the Sharks? You have to cheer for someone on Sunday — so read our guide on who to support in the NRL grand final.

FOURTEEN teams gone, only two remaining. So if you’re not a supporter of the Sharks or Storm, who should you cheer for in the 2016 NRL grand final?

The last two years have been easy for fans whose team bowed out before the first Sunday in October: Johnathan Thurston’s Cowboys seeking a maiden title, as well as JT sealing his greatness with a grand final made cheering for North Queensland the obvious choice in 2015. In 2014 it was all about South Sydney ending 43 years of pain.

Cameron Smith’s Storm or Paul Gallen’s Sharks: who will you cheer for?

It’s not quite as straightforward this time round. As The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Kent outlined last week, Cronulla has quickly become everyone’s second team ... to hate.

In the purple corner, it’s a Storm outfit that — outside of Melbourne — has equally found it tough to garner much in the way of support.

But it’s the grand final, and when the two best teams of 2016 fight it out for premiership glory, you’ve simply got to be cheering for someone.

So, Bears/Broncos/Bulldogs/Cowboys/Dragons/Eels/Knights/Panthers/Rabbitohs/Raiders/Roosters/Sea Eagles/Tigers/Titans/Warriors fans, which team should you get behind on Sunday?

Can you bring yourself to cheer for the Storm?

SUPPORT THE STORM IF YOU LIKE ...

* Wrestling: just don’t mention that word in Craig Bellamy’s company. The Storm boss gets a bit cranky when the topic’s brought up — especially by opposition coaches.

* Winning: the Storm are appearing in their seventh grand final in 18 years, and shooting for their third premiership.

* Flying Fijians: Winger Marieke Koroibete’s been a joy to watch for several seasons, and he’s been joined this year by another excitement machine on Melbourne’s other wing, rookie sensation Suliasi Vunivalu.

Suliasi Vunivalu has been terrific to watch for the Storm.

* Battlers coming good: The Storm have an uncanny knack of recruiting unwanted players and turning them into premiership heroes. This year’s candidate? Former Eel and Sea Eagle Cheyse Blair.

* Queenslanders: the Storm are dripping with Maroons legends. There’s skipper Cameron Smith and champion halfback Cooper Cronk for starters, not to mention Will Chambers and fullback of the future Cameron Munster (who’s already really quite good, now). Plus injured superstar Billy Slater is still helping out from the sidelines.

DON’T SUPPORT THE STORM IF YOU DON’T LIKE ...

* Wrestling: and in that case feel free to mention that word in Craig Bellamy’s company. It’ll get him cranky

* Rule-breakers: salary cap scandal, anyone?

* Queenslanders: The Storm are littered with Canetoads, led by their chief Cameron Smith.

Are you prepared to shout for the Sharks?

SUPPORT THE SHARKS IF YOU LIKE ...

* Droughts breaking: The Sharks have never won a premiership. Not once. They’ve only made three grand finals. Ever. It’s their 50th year as a club. A feel-good story, for sure.

* James Maloney: a terrific player on the field and, by all reports, an even more terrific bloke off it.

* Club greats: Andrew “ET” Ettingshausen, Gavin Miller, Steve Rogers and all the Sharks legends that never got to taste success. This win would be for them as much as anyone.

James Maloney scores a try for the Sharks against the Cowboys.

* Southern Cross tattoos

* New South Welshmen: There are Blues legends everywhere at the Shire club. The Sharks are led by NSW stalwart Paul Gallen, and backed up by fellow NSW guns James Maloney, Andrew Fifita, Wade Graham, Jack Bird and Michael Ennis.

DON’T SUPPORT THE SHARKS IF YOU DON’T LIKE ...

* Villains: Andrew Fifita. Paul Gallen. Michael “The Menace” Ennis. Andrew Fifita. Did we mention Andrew Fifita?

* Rule-breakers: peptide scandal, anyone?

* New South Welshmen: The Sharks are crawling with cockroaches, led by their chief Paul Gallen.

STILL UNDECIDED?

Can’t split them? Toss a coin. Go Sharks! No, wait, c’arn Storm!

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