SharksJack Bird, the reluctant SharkFROM his battle with rheumatoid arthritis to walking out on the Sharks days into his first pre-season, there are many reasons Jack Bird should not be lining up against the Storm.
StormCronk still has mountains to climbCOOPER Cronk has a grand final ring, two handfuls of Origin series’ wins and World Cup success. And he says he still hasn’t fulfilled his potential.
Sailor responds to Mundine’s boycott callsFORMER NRL player Wendell Sailor has responded to controversial calls from Anthony Mundine for players to protest the national anthem at the AFL and NRL grand finals.
Five burning questions: Now or never for Sharks?IS it now or never for the Sharks? Can they trouble a clinical Storm side or will the purple pride prove too good? The five burning questions ahead of the 2016 NRL grand final.
Sharks v Storm: Everything you need to knowFIFTY years of history up against the best team in recent history. Melbourne and Cronulla square off in what’s set to be a cracking decider — Here’s everything you need to know.
SharksEnnis’ final crack at elusive premiership ringMichael Ennis doesn’t want to die with the music in him. Around 6pm on Sunday night, deep in ANZ Stadium, the Cronulla hooker will lace up his boots one last time.
Thanks for the memories: The 2016 NRL retireesWE’VE counted a total 13 players who will farewell the NRL on Sunday. From representative veterans to forced exits, these are the 2016 retirees.
‘Despise thee’: The two villains to shape NRL GFCOMMENT: Every great script stirs your insides and every great script needs a villain — and there’s one on each side in Sunday’s NRL grand final.
Sharks10 commandments to supporting a sports teamWITH the Cronulla Sharks and Western Bulldogs on the verge of drought breaking premierships, we take a look at the key rules governing the support of a sporting team.
StormA year’s worth of beer: How Storm came to beTHEY sold a year’s worth of beer the first night they were in town. But they didn’t become a true football club for another two years. Melbourne pioneer Greg Brentnall talks the Storm’s rise.
The black marker questions that launched SharksSHANE Flanagan always knew he had a talented bunch but he needed to make them great. And the only tool he needed was a whiteboard in pre-season.
The Storm chink Sharks must exploitTHE Storm have boasted a near-impenetrable wall this season. Greg Alexander identifies the chinks in their amour and how the Sharks can exploit them. BRANDY’S BREAKDOWN
The ‘big three’ legacy that Tohu wantsTOHU Harris has got a long way to go in his NRL career but if he finishes it a Storm player, Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater can take significant credit.
Greenberg opens up on NRL challengesFROM the bunker to Robbie Farah to the Eels and everything inbetween, RICHARD HINDS asks NRL boss Todd Greenberg to sum up his first six months in the job.
Roberts reportedly checks in to rehabTROUBLED Broncos centre James Roberts has reportedly checked in to a Thailand rehab facility as he battles personal issues. Media Watch.
SharksThe sacrifice that made Matt PriorMATT Prior has revealed the sacrifice that has resulted in him producing the best form of his career in 2016.
Heighington: ‘I saw the worst in everyone’CHRIS Heighington will never forget his first pre-season at the Sharks. Two weeks after he signed, the ASADA scandal hit.
Cam OK with not being No.1, but not SundayCAMERON Munster is on the cusp of being a premiership-winning fullback, but the Storm star says he’ll gladly hand back the No. 1 jersey to Billy Slater next year.
StormStorm got better by getting biggerTHE Storm rebuilt their dynasty by getting bigger and their forwards hold the key for Sunday’s grand final against Cronulla.
RoostersRoosters sign bad boys Tetevano and KnightTHE Sydney Roosters have signed trouble-plagued youngsters Zane Tetevano and Liam Knight as they seek to rebuild their NRL dynasty.
13 years on: Night Storm shot to wrestling fameMELBOURNE have been the master wrestlers of the NRL for a long time. But exactly how long? This match report, from 13 years ago, started it all.
Sharks star puts grand final before weddingJAMES Maloney says fans should thank his brother for booking his wedding on GF weekend: “As soon as he booked it ... (I knew) Cronulla was going to be there too”.
The contract that had Parker fumingCOREY Parker headed into contract negotiations after the best season of his life. He was Brisbane’s best and fairest, Dally M Lock of the Year ... yet the Broncos’ offer shocked him.
Video: Dally M funniest momentsRUGBY league awards night + free drinks = zingers. Check out this collection of classic lines and banter from Wednesday’s Dally M Medal.
Where Chad’s got Dally M star coveredIT’S a game of inches and while Cooper Cronk dominates his opposite number in almost every aspect of the game, there is one area that Chad Townsend has the edge.
Cronulla v Essendon: Deal or no deal?CRONULLA took the ban. Essendon didn’t. Cronulla could be premiers. Essendon came last. The contrast between respective fallouts from the ASADA scandal couldn’t be more stark.
AFLSwans, Storm conquering foreign landsTHE Sydney Swans and Melbourne Storn are fighting their codes’ battles deep in enemy territory — but despite sustained success they have to fight tooth and nail for hometown recognition.
Feel good factor: 2016’s warm, fuzzy momentsNO sport does a black eye quite like rugby league. But the smiles the game creates outnumber its controversies 10 to one, and 2016 had plenty of both.
The moment that made an unlikely grand final starCRONULLA’S 15-game win streak came to a dramatic end on the night of August 1. But that game sparked the emergence of a grand final star.
‘Drop the shoulder’: Sharks war cry revealedBIG PICTURE: There’s one catchcry that’s been ringing out at Cronulla training in recent weeks. And an entirely different spin on a rugby league classic is the Sharks secret weapon.
Harbour dunks and ‘tiegate’: GF mind games beginFROM threats of throwing a club official into Sydney Harbour, to what we’re dubbing “tiegate”, the mind games have officially kicked off. Media Watch!
SharksMaloney favourite for Churchill MedalHE doesn’t stand much taller than Clive Churchill. Now James Maloney is firming to win the prestigous award named in honour of The Little Master.
13,000km to watch the SharksFormer Cronulla star Dean Treister is digging deep to fly his wife and three children from California to watch the Sharks in the NRL grand final. And he’ll be joined by a host of former players.
Rival codes fighting for MiaMIA Wood, the eldest daughter of boxer and former NRL player Garth Wood, is the fresh face of a new rivalry between Australia’s waring footy codes.
StormCronk moves on from Dally M gloryMELBOURNE Storm star Cooper Cronk says the magnitude of winning his second Dally M medal will not affect his mindset before the NRL grand final.
Bad guy Smith laughs off the hateRICHARD HINDS: Even against Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita and Michael Ennis, Cameron Smith is this year’s Grand Final villain. And he doesn’t care.
Sam explains hilarious Matty Show gate crashSAM Burgess caused plenty of mirth with his unscripted appearance on live TV during the Dally Ms, but he’s responded to speculation from some bemused viewers.
The 86 per cent GF trend Sharks must overcomeTHE Cronulla Sharks are going to have to buck a pretty damning grand final trend if they are to win their first-ever premiership after 50 years in the competition.
Back injury forces Dragon to retire at 25AN ongoing back issue has forced Dragons centre Dylan Farrell to hang up the boots and end his NRL career at the age of 25.
Kezie Apps bags female Dally M medalIT has to be the most circuitous road to a Dally M medal in the history of the awards, involving a decade in a different sport and just three seasons playing rugby league at the elite level.
TitansTitans exits continue, more expectedTHE exodus at the Gold Coast Titans has continued with an experienced prop the latest to part ways with the club. However the departures may not be over just yet.
Hulk Taupau back into heavy liftingNRL Confidential: The season might be over for 14 clubs but that doesn’t mean all the players are kicking back and on the drink. Several stars have been hitting the gym!
Rugby snub, Tagataese waits for SharksOFF-CONTRACT Cronulla forward Sam Tagataese looks set to shun interest from rugby and overseas in hopes of finishing his career with Cronulla.
Most thankless job in the grand finalBEN Hampton started grand final week feeling conflicted and might finish it feeling empty. But the man with the decider’s most thankless job has made peace with his difficult role.
Smith eyes history-making contract extensionMEDIA WATCH: He might be preparing for another NRL grand final but Cameron Smith’s mind is partly focused on the end date for his epic career and an unprecedented milestone.
The incredible hoodoo ended by Dally M winnerIT’S a record older than Dally M winner Jason Taumalolo and Cooper Cronk says beating it shows just how special his rival is.
Croker steals show with three gongsTHE Raiders are finally being recognised. Dally M Awards flowed for Canberra And the big winner was centre and skipper Jarrod Croker.
Magic Milford moment tops the lotTHEY played the three best games of 2016 so it’s no surprise that the Broncos-Cowboys grand final rematch was named Headline Moment of the Year.
Ash burns rivals in NRL’s top rookie raceTITANS ace Ash Taylor has held off a hot field including Nathan Cleary, Suliasi Vunivalu and Latrell Mitchell to be crowned Dally M rookie of the year.
Re-live: Cronk, Taumalolo share Dally M MedalSTORM superstar Cooper Cronk and Cowboys wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo have drawn the Dally M Medal count. Re-live the night!
