More than 10,000 Sharks supporters, many of them children, hailed their premiership-winning heroes following their grand final victory.
The playing surface at Southern Cross Group Stadium, where a portable stage was erected, was almost covered by fans dressed in black, white and blue, and thousands more packed the Monty Porter Stand at the southern end of the ground.
Fans started queuing 90 minutes before the gates opened at 11.30am, and many were still streaming in at 1pm.
The two-hour event was arranged last week to celebrate a great season for the Sharks, regardless of the outcome.
But, the nail-biting victory made the occasion immeasurably better.
The players, some of whom had not slept since their historic victory, were introduced to the crowd and then took seats on the stage while speeches were given.
At the end, captain Paul Gallen and coach Shane Flanagan were presented with a giant key to Sutherland Shire by mayor Carmelo Pesce.
Gallen told the crowd the turnout exceeded their expectations.
“There has got be at least 10,000 here,” he said.
“It is so special for us, but I am sure it’s just as special for you,
We really appreciate your support.”
Gallen praised the support at last week’s preliminary final and again at the grand final.
“A sea of blue last night – it felt like a home game,” he said.
“We actually spoke about that before the game. We said this is our home game – there are 70 to 80 per cent Sharks fans out there – and you really helped get us home”.
Gallen said the win hadn’t quite sunk in, but it was not a surprise.
“I know how hard all these boys worked from November last year,” he said.
“We set goals in November and December to finish top four – we thought we had a good enough side to finish in the top four – and obviously we went on to win 15 in a row.
“We knew we were going to finish top four, so we made it a goal to win the minor premiership.
“We didn’t quite get there.
“When Melbourne beat us that night we all went back to the change rooms and we said, ‘we want to play them’.
“There were a few things said on the field and a few things that went on.
“We thought if we got the chance we could beat them.
“Thankfully, we got to play them in the grand final.
“They are such a terrific side and we knew they wouldn’t go away.
“Leading 8-0 at half time probably wasn’t quite enough, but when we stuck to our systems and got back to what we do best, which is run hard, we put the big feller (Andrew Fifita) over and we scored straight under the posts.
“And, obviously, we held on in those last eight or nine minutes and those last two seconds was heart in your mouth stuff, but we kept turning up for each other and we got there.”
Hooker Michael Ennis told the crowd it was an unbelievable feeling.
“I went home to the house about 6.30 and I was sitting on my verandah and saying, ‘far out, I cant believe this has happened’.”
Ennis said the team was “so hungry”.
“We knew how much it meant to the club, how much we wanted to do it for one another, how much we put in,” he said.
”When they got back in front – Melbourne don’t get beat when they get in front – we found a way.
“And, when that noise came back into that stadium when Fifita went over, I will never forget it.
“It was the best moment of my career. It was unbelievable.
“Then, seeing all you guys at the end of the game lifting the roof off, mate, it’s what you dream about.”
Clive Churchill Medal winner Luke Lewis he was “still feeling a bit numb”, and “words can’t describe how I feel about being part of history, part of this club”.
Lewis said he was surprised to be awarded the medal, and, as as he said when accepting it, “if it wasn’t for these guys, there is no way in the world I would have got that trophy”
“I was just blessed to be in that side,” he said.
“It’s nice to get the medal, but the best thing for me is the [premiership] trophy standing right behind you.”
Coach Shane Flanagan also emphasised the importance of the support given by fans and the wider community.
“I sensed something last Friday after we won against the Cowboys,” he said.
“It built this week.
“Everyone here today, everyone at the stadium, everyone around he shire, you need to be congratulated on how the community came together.
“I am so proud of being part of this community.
“A couple of years ago we struggled to fill that stand over [Monty Porter Stand]. Now it is full on a fan day.”
