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NRL grand final: Storm plot to end Sharks fairytale

Melbourne star Cooper Cronk admits rugby league would be the victor if Cronulla end their premiership drought in Sunday’s NRL grand final.

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Cameron Smith has a whole swag of grand finals under his belt.

Melbourne captain Cameron Smith is pleased long-time nemesis and rival skipper Paul Gallen will get a shot at an elusive premiership for Cronulla in the NRL grand final.

The 34-year-old is keen on one more year in the Shire before retirement and hopes to get that sorted out this week.

“When it comes down to grand finals, it’s whoever handles the occasion the best, goes out and executes their game plan to the best”.

“It’s something our team wouldn’t do”, Smith said at the time.

Cameron Smith and Michael Ennis tangle during Storm’s win over the Sharks earlier this month.

“Nothing is going to change with Mick”.

“We play in different positions but I see him a fair bit because we play in the middle”.

Club great Andrew Ettingshausen believes Cronulla’s 2016 squad possess the supreme self confidence crucially missing from previous Sharks sides that failed in the quest for maiden premiership glory.

Smith said Melbourne was used to being the outsider, but also encouraged supporters to make the pilgrimage to ANZ Stadium. He works hard every time he pulls on the jersey.

But while it’s been a long time between drinks for Cronulla, Cronk, who played his 300th NRL game in the win over the Canberra Raiders in Saturday’s preliminary final, said with the likes of Ben Barba, James Maloney, Michael Ennis, Matt Prior, Luke Lewis and Chris Heighington all playing in grand final sides, they were a risky proposition in the decider.

“I have to take my opportunities when they come, check myself when I need to and get my hands on the ball as much as I can”, Munster said.

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“But at the end of the day, the crowd isn’t going to have an influence on the game, for us it’s there to be won and we can control what we do”.

WARY OF SHARKS Melbourne Storm star Cooper Cronk