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Why not us?Its a curious question for a club, seeking to break Australias most famous sporting hoodoo, to be asking. But its the catchcry driving Cronullas quest for a maiden NRL title.Drive into the Sutherland-Shire area of Sydney and the saying is plastered across billboards and signage accompanied by pictures of the clubs heroes.What originated as a rhetorical question posed by senior players in the inner sanctum during a team truth-telling session, has grown to become their slogan and de facto marketing tagline.While its been pilloried in some quarters as corny and passive, to those that matter, the 17 players who will take on North Queensland in Fridays preliminary final, it makes an important point.People see these other sides are doing really well because they have your Thurstons, your Taumalolos, your Cronks, your Smiths, youve got that Canberra side that is just rolling, says Sharks fullback Ben Barba.I just dont see why it cant be us.It would be unreal for this area.It started creeping in when we started going on that (15-game) winning run, everyone started saying they should lose this next game. So we sort of said why cant we keep winning?. Nothing says we cant win it. It stuck with us.So here are the Sharks, one game away from a grand final, and you cant blame the blue, black and white faithful for daring to dream.After 50 years without a premiership, losing their first grand final appearance in 1973, drawing with Manly in the 1978 decider and then losing the replay three days later, winning the 1988 minor premiership and then going out in straight sets, falling short in the 1997 Super League final - Sharks diehards have had to wear a lifetime of heartache and Harold Holt jokes.Why cant we do it? Theyve been minor premiers, theyve made grand finals. Its just something different, prop Sam Tagataese says.We believe we can do it. Its just twisting the words - I believe we can do it.So Shane Flanagan has them believing and in recent weeks the coach has been bringing in some of the clubs greats to address the players and instil in them the depth of their passion that comes with half a century of falling short.He invited the likes of former halfback and Rothmans Medal winner Barry Russell, who spoke of his lifetime of regrets at not doing that little bit extra to win the clubs maiden title.Theyve come in and theyve been really passionate. I think its put a bit of passion into the boys and its stuck in them, prop Matt Prior said.(Russell) just said he wishes he could go back and just couldve done something a little bit more, done something better, because he feels like hes regretted that moment ever since. Thats coming from a bloke whos 50-years-old and still looks back.It resonates with us, we dont want to be in that position in 20 years thinking what if we had done this?. We dont want to be like that.So why not Cronulla? . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Tom Trbojevic and another bunker howler have officially put South Sydneys finals hopes to bed, after the Rabbitohs went down 20-12 to Manly at Allianz Stadium on Monday night.The defeat was Souths seventh in a row and means they will miss the finals for the first time under coach Michael Maguire.The Rabbitohs were poor in a first half dominated by Trbojevic and trailed 18-0 at the break.They surged back into the contest in the second stanza through tries to Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker before the bunker controversially disallowed a Joe Burgess try in the 59th minute before 8,273 fans.The four-pointer was referred as a try but the bunker turned it down, claiming Burgess dropped the ball, despite no clear evidence he did.That stopped Souths comeback in its tracks.A Jamie Lyon penalty goal soon after gave Manly an eight-point buffer they held for the rest of the contest.The win was Manlys third in a row and keeps intact their September dreams.They are are four points behind eighth-placed Penrith but face Newcastle and Parramatta over the next fortnight.Manly skipper Lyon could find himself in trouble with the NRL after he appeared to question the integrity of the match officials when he remarked to referee Henry Perenara after a series of penalties against Manly: It seems like you are trying to get them back into the game.Manly completely dominated the first half, as Souths struggled for momentum on the back of a series of handling errors, in particular by Joe Burgess.Lyon crossed first for the visitors from a Daly Cherry-Evans pass in the just the fourth minute.Lyon added a penalty goal minutes later before a Jorge Taufua try in the 24th minute gave Manly a 12-0 lead.ddddddddddddTrbojevic was the best player on the field in the first stanza and scored a deserved try five minutes from the break for Manly to lead 18-0 at halftime.But Souths came surging back in the second half, with halfback Adam Reynolds leading the way.The NSW playmaker scored himself in the 46th minute and then grubbered for Cody Walkers try five minutes later.Joe Burgess then had his try disallowed and that was Souths night.Souths coach Michael Maguire couldnt believe the no-try call against Burgess.They are defining moments in the game, he said.We made it hard for ourselves in the first half but we achieved what we wanted to in the second half, getting our completions up but those sorts of things in the game are defining moments.You say you thought it was a try and I did think the same.Manly coach Trent Barrett found it hard to keep a straight face when he said he thought it wasnt a try.The last month we have been terrific and tonight was an extremely important two points for us, he said.It was an extremely important game for them in terms of keeping their season alive.We still have some work to do, we cant be looking at the table.Our first half tonight was really good. The second half was a scrappy affair but we defended our tryline well.Souths centre Bryson Goodwin injured the arm he broke earlier this year.Manly winger Matt Wright suffered a second half ankle injury. ' ' '
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