Storm or Sharks? Six big issues to

1. History weighs heavily on the Sharks

Boy, do they want this one, the players and the fans. For Cronulla, it’s all about how they put the emotion aside and produce their best when it counts.

Grand finals do deliver fairytales: you only have to go back to South Sydney’s breakthrough in 2014 and North Queensland’s stunner last year against the Broncos. Both teams were the sentimental favourites and both managed to get the job done.

But Souths had been the best team all year, while the Cowboys were well out of the Sydney bubble and could make their own running. Cronulla have been in the spotlight from the moment they won last weekend and coach Shane Flanagan has done his best to counter some of that external noise by clambering for underdog status.

2. What’s on the chalkboard: the tactical battle

Simply put, don’t expect either the Storm or the Sharks to come out and pitch a curve ball at ANZ Stadium on Sunday. That may have been part of the issue for the Sharks in their 26-6 loss to the Storm in round 26. This time, the Sharks are expected to hit Melbourne with the same power game plan they unleashed against the Cowboys.

3. A big day whistleblowers

‘‘The referees are as excited as the players to be appointed to the grand final,’’ said retired referee and now Member for Everton in Brisbane Tim Mander.

‘‘It’s not just 12 months of hard for the work, but years of training physically, mentally and honing your man-management skills. Most referees will have routines for the week and the day of the game. It’s important that they don’t change. They won’t have any trouble being focused because the atmosphere of the game ensures your concentration is laser-like.’’

Referees are always under the pump in grand finals. And referees that officiate grand finals involving Cameron Smith and Michael Ennis will feel the heat more than most, while Paul