Shane Flanagan has endured the heartbreak of grand final defeat before.
The despair, the devastation, the numbness. He’s been through it and he knows how tough it is.
And it is something he is desperate for his players – and Sharks fans – to avoid on Sunday.
Cronulla take on minor premiers Melbourne at ANZ Stadium in their first grand final in 19 years looking to win a first premiership in their 50-year history.
Flanagan has built one of the most enviable playing rosters in the competition in his seven years at the club. A strong, aggressive and experienced forward pack compliments a mostly young and supremely talented backline. Then there are the team’s two clever halves who, in one season, have become one of the best pairings in the competition.
This is Flanagan’s team, and it is the team that could be about to create history on Sunday.
And Flanagan is prepared to use his experience as an assistant coach at the Sydney Roosters and Parramatta to ensure Cronulla achieve the success their outstanding season deserves.
“I was really excited once the [preliminary final] was complete but then a little bit numb with the realisation that we are in a grand final,” he said.
“I’ve been to grand finals with a couple of clubs as an assistant coach and it’s heartbreaking when you lose and that’s in the back of my mind.
“There’s a big game on, we’re there now and that’s great but I want to win it now. The boys have done an outstanding job [to get there] but it’s a big game.
“Hopefully I’ve learnt about the week, we should be excited about it. For me as a whole, the club, our sponsors and supporters they’ve done an outstanding job in particular the last two years.
“To get to where we are, a lot of hard work has gone into it.
“Now we’re in the last game of the year which is a great recognition of all the people that have worked really hard including the players.”
Flanagan was delighted with the support the team received during the preliminary final win over North Queensland last week and expects another sea of black, white and blue at ANZ Stadium.
“You could smell something when you were in the shire just going around,” he said.
“There was people wearing jerseys and when we went to the ground there was buses cued up all the way along Captain Cook Drive and people everywhere.
“I think the wave built this week and all the supporters turned up. It definitely helps. I saw some signs over on the far side that said ‘this is Shark Park’ and it was.”
