The porch light of Cronulla supporters may soon be switched off forever (search 'Jack Gibson and Harold Holt' if you are unsure what this means), as the Sharks again eye off what would be a drought-breaking rugby league premiership.

There have been grand final appearances — including a midweek replay — and minor premierships that have given diehard Sharks fans hope but ultimately left them crestfallen since their entry into first grade in 1967, although there is renewed optimism ahead of Sunday's clash with Melbourne.

Grandstand takes a look at some of the heartbreaking moments in grand finals and play-offs endured by the men from the Shire.

1973 grand final but ...

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When speaking about the 1973 grand final between the Sharks and Manly, the words brutal, ugly and shocking come to mind ... and we are just talking about the haircuts.

On the field, the game has probably never seen a more violent season decider, described by rugby league historian Steve Haddan as "unrestrained mayhem".

Fights broke out like spot-fires at the SCG, with the Sharks' British pair Tommy Bishop and Cliff Watson among the prime culprits, adding to an engrossing affair, which the Sea Eagles won 10-7.

The Sharks wasted several scoring chances in what was their first grand final in just their seventh season, but it could be argued it was the silky skills of Bob Fulton that proved the difference, with the legendary Sea Eagle touching down for the premiers' only two tries of the afternoon.

1978 grand final (and replay) but ...

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The Sharks endured the heartache of missing out on a grand final victory twice in 1978, having drawn with the Sea Eagles 11-11 before backing up three days later on a lonely Tuesday afternoon at the SCG to go down 16-0 in a replay to their nemesis.

Their chances of victory were perhaps greater than 1973, having beaten the Sea Eagles 17-12 in the opening week of the play-offs before becoming the first team to advance to the 'big dance' with a 14-10 win over minor premiers Western Suburbs in the major semi-final.

The Sharks were missing their captain and Australia international Greg Pierce because of suspension but their line-up still contained the likes of the 'prince of centres' Steve Rogers, who had kicked a penalty goal to level scores at 11-11.

The deadlock could not be broken and there was no extra time held in 1978, as opposed to the previous season, and the Sharks were no match in the replay with the Sea Eagles comfortably winning 16-0.

1988 minor premiership but ...

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Jack Gibson had coached the Sharks from 1985 to 1987 and, while they did not make the finals during that period, he had helped put together a solid roster — including star centres Andrew Ettingshausen and Mark 'Sparkles' McGaw — who took out the minor premiership in 1988.

Under the coaching of Allan Fitzgibbon, the Sharks finished on top of the table, two points clear of Canterbury following a 10-match winning streak heading into the play-offs, but their talented yet inexperienced squad was outclassed 26-8 by the Bulldogs in the major semi-final.

They had a second bite of the cherry the following week at the Sydney Football Stadium when they met the Ellery Hanley-inspired Balmain in the preliminary final, however it was not to be with the Tigers triumphing 9-2.

The sense of what might have been for the Sharks in 1988 was reflected by the fact Barry Russell won the Rothmans Medal and Gavin Miller claimed the Dally M Medal, while Miller, Ettinghausen and McGaw all made their Test debuts for Australia.

1997 Super League grand final but ...

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The heart had been torn from rugby league by 1997 when the Australian game was split in two amid the ARL vs Super League war.

The Sharks sided with the News Limited-owned Super League and they progressed to the grand final of the 10-team competition where they faced off against the might of the Brisbane Broncos.

The Broncos had hosting rights, courtesy of defeating the Sharks 34-2 in the major semi-final, and in front of 58,912 spectators at the QE II Stadium they made light work of their opponents in the grand final, winning 26-8.

The Sharks had trailed by only two points early in the second half when Russell Richardson scored their lone try of the evening, but the Broncos skipped well clear to win the only ever Super League premiership.

2002 preliminary final but ...

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The Sharks had finished as minor premiers in 1999 but exited the competition at the preliminary final stage and two years later again fell one match short of the grand final.

They reached the penultimate weekend of the 2002 season as well, and with two-time premiership coach Chris Anderson now at the helm, confidence was high in the Shire that the club could go the whole way.

The Sharks played out a thrilling preliminary final against the minor premiers Warriors and set up a grandstand finish when Brett Kimmorley dived over for a converted try that levelled scores at 10-10 midway through the second half.

The Warriors, however, nudged ahead in the 75th minute when John Carlaw scored from a clever Stacey Jones grubber kick and they eventually won 16-10 to consign the Sharks to what was the third of four consecutive preliminary final defeats prior to last Friday's victory over North Queensland.