Excitement abounds as the young Sharks aim to complete a remarkable revival and deny the Bulldogs back-to-back Jersey Flegg premierships in Sunday's grand final at CommBank Stadium.
It's been an unlikely journey to the big dance for Cronulla, who won their last seven matches of the regular season just to snare the fifth and final playoffs berth.
Not content with simply qualifying for the finals, the under-21 Sharks have torn apart the Knights, Panthers and, most recently, minor premiers the Raiders to set up an enthralling meeting with the defending champions for all the marbles.
"From where we were 10-15 weeks ago to now, it's amazing what we've achieved," said halfback Riley Pollard, who can replicate the 2018 feats of current NRL star Braydon Trindall by guiding Cronulla to the Jersey Flegg title.
"We're very excited, happy and keen to get out there."
Coincidentally, it was a Round 19 clash with Canterbury that sparked the Sharks to life. While they lost 24-22 – despite scoring five tries to four – the performance proved the boys from the Sutherland Shire could hang with the competition's elite.
Cronulla haven't lost since that fixture, reeling off 10 straight victories over which they've averaged an incredible 44 points per match.
"If you have a look at our results previous to the run, we were very close. We were there or thereabouts," Sharks coach Andrew Dallalana said.
"It was just a few small things that were costing us in games. We came together as a group and identified a few small things that we wanted to work on. It was just a bit of a mind shift and an understanding of what we needed to work harder on.
"And credit to the group, they identified that, they understood it and they worked hard around it ... Nothing too much has changed, believe it or not."
On that season-shifting defeat to the Bulldogs in July, Dallalana reflected: "It certainly gives us confidence. That was one of the turning points there when we really thought, you know what, we're pretty close here to where we want to be."
The Sharks will enter the grand final as underdogs, but they brushed aside that tag last week when they stunned the Raiders 38-18. Five-eighth Taj Ford scored a hat-trick, with Cronulla never looking in doubt after absorbing early pressure.
The Bulldogs are coming off a week's rest, having beaten Canberra 15-14 in a gruelling extra-time encounter a fortnight ago to book their place in the decider.
Sharks centre Michael Gabrael, a member of Cronulla's NRL training squad, will face off with his brother Danny in a sensational backline battle.
The siblings, who both possess blinding speed and elusive footwork, played together at Canterbury before Michael's departure to the Shire over the summer.
The under-19 NSW Origin representative has enjoyed a superb finals campaign, bagging three tries against Penrith and having a key hand in two last week.
Dallalana believes the opportunity for players such as winger Kristian Dixon, fullback Siteni Taukamo and forwards Felix Faatili, Lachlan Crouch and Salesi Ataata to gain experience in the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup with the Newtown Jets – who are gearing up for a grand final against the Bears – has paid dividends.
Others, including playmaker Pollard, Gabrael and skilful back-rower Dylan Coutts, have benefitted from training full-time with the NRL squad.
"We've got to thank the Newtown club and also the Sharks' top side for the development of the players," Dallalana said.
"We're seeing guys come and down in grades and get experience through the system ... You can see later in the year that obviously helps with their development.
"That's all you can ask for as a coach – to see guys progress with their career and take the opportunity. I say to the group all the time, if you get an opportunity to play in a higher grade you take it with both hands."
Dallalana and his troops are hoping for a swell of Sharks and Newtown supporters to flock to CommBank Stadium and cheer their teams home.
"I encourage everyone to get out and support the club as a whole," he said.
"It is an exciting time for the club to have multiple teams competing at this time of the year. I think it's a just reward for everyone.
"I think we punch over slightly with how we achieve. It'll be great to see everyone out there and I'm sure we'll get a decent crowd out there for all the grades."
Flegg Sharks' run to grand final
Round 20: Sharks 40 def Knights 16
Round 21: Sharks 50 def Silktails 0 (game rescheduled after washout in Round 5)
Round 22: Sharks 58 def Rabbitohs 16
Round 23: Sharks 54 def Storm 16
Round 24: Sharks 62 def Silktails 2
Round 25: Sharks 54 def Dragons 10
Round 26: Sharks 20 def Warriors 4
Finals Week 1: Sharks 22 def Knights 6
Finals Week 2: Sharks 40 def Panthers 26
Finals Week 3: Sharks 38 def Raiders 18
Lead image: Sharks captain Sam McCulloch and Bulldogs captain Luke Smith. Courtesy of Gregg Porteous, NRL Imagery.
