Haha, I understand where you're coming from pwn, I admit it's pretty weird but aside from 08 I never gave a damn when they eliminated us. We were practically dead on arrival as far as I was concerned in 07 & 09.
Then I really pitied them and their fans in 2010. I paid witness to a lot of taunting from fans like St. George that really rubbed me the wrong way and made me want to see the Storm rise up and claim the recognition at least I believe they deserve.
I also highly respect that trio. If Smith was a Bronco, he'd easily be my favourite player in the competition and be right up there as my favourite of all time, that's how high I regard him. Slater is just a human highlight reel and still the best gamebreaker as far as I'm concerned. They're a yin/yang combination and when they get it right, it's fantastic to watch. Cronk is the lesser of those two players but just a consummate professional who is living proof that hard work and dedication will pay off. That field goal in Origin deserves all the praise it can get, for me, it's the best field goal in Origin history (Lockyer's in 2010 probably had more distance but was under no way near the amount of pressure) & one that belongs in the folklore of Origin history. Also earned a lot of respect in my book for telling Quinn to STFU in the 2008 prelim.
There is a lot to hate about them too but the field is pretty lean.
It annoyed me how big a deal they made out of the 2010 being a Sydney grand final and how it somehow seemed better than other grand finals. It's Rugby League media at it's worse and exposes just how narrow minded the game can be.
Of those Sydney teams I really don't like any of them, at all. If the Dogs win they basically just manufactured their own premiership which annoys me, to a similar degree same with South Sydney. Cronulla has Gallen which already rubs me the wrong way but add in Carney and the hatred goes up by more.
Manly are Manly. Their fans were bad enough after 2011, really don't want a 2012 repeat.