Stuart Paterson has bled black, white and blue for most of his life.
And if his beloved Cronulla Sharks do manage to break their famous premiership drought on Sunday he might be in for a busy week.
Paterson has been a passionate surfboard builder for more than 30 years and is the owner and founder of PCC Surfboards at Miranda.
Paterson, from Cronulla, has found a way of combining his two passions over the years by using the Sharks’ famous colours in his designs.
A fan since 1973, Paterson remembers heading to the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1978 to watch Cronulla’s grand final against Manly. He has been a season ticket holder since the late 1980s and regularly follows the team away from home, with this year’s away trips including Campbelltown, the qualifying final in Canberra and the preliminary final win over North Queensland.
Paterson will be at ANZ Stadium for Sunday’s grand final and reckons this is the best Cronulla team he has seen.
“I think so. ‘78 could have been the team,” he said.
“There’s definitely some similarities [between the ‘78 team and the current side]. I think the difference this year is they’re in a lot better shape.
“In ‘78 they had suspensions and injuries. This year they seem raring to go.
“If you’ve got a team with experience you want it to be in your forwards like we’ve got. And the backs to do that job they need that bit of flair which we’ve got as well.”
Paterson has lost count of the number of black, white and blue boards he has made for people over the years. But he might have to make quite a few more to commemorate Cronulla’s maiden premiership – if the Sharks get the result on Sunday.
Paterson’s gut is telling him that – after years of coming close – this is finally Cronulla’s time.
“I think we’ll win,” he said.
“Cronulla are capable of putting a score on anyone. I don’t think Melbourne will put a score on us like they have before.
“Anyone who is a passionate supporter I think has made the effort to go [to the game]. It’s a once in a lifetime thing, I know for me it definitely is.
“I don’t know what I’ll do [if they win]. Probably cry.”