CRONULLA enforcer Sam Tagataese has four million reasons to prove he’s ready for a grand final comeback.

Without a club for next season, the powerful prop will be handed no greater audience to showcase his talents with almost half a million TV viewers set to watch Sunday’s NRL decider.

Tagataese, who has not played in six weeks after suffering a fractured shoulder, is just 48 hours away from learning if he will be granted a potential Cronulla swan song against Melbourne, the club he made his NRL debut with in 2007.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Sharks coach Shane Flanagan will name Tagataese in his official grand final team line-up on Tuesday before a final call is made by the coaching staff following their second-last field session on Thursday.
Tagataese is trying to prove his GR readiness. Pic: Gregg Porteous.

Tagataese is trying to prove his GR readiness. Pic: Gregg Porteous.Source:News Corp Australia

The heavy-hitting power forward indicated during a rousing field session at Southern Cross Group Stadium that he was willing and ready to return from injury.

From the Andrew Ettingshausen grandstand, Flanagan closely analysed Tagataese’s speed, agility and shoulder strength.

Fellow forward Joseph Paulo (knee) is also pushing to return, however he is believed to be slightly behind Tagataese’s level of recovery.

If Tagataese is selected for the grand final, rising star Kurt Capewell is likely to miss out on a dream grand final berth.

Capewell has shown he boasts a bright future in the NRL, highlighted by his superb 73-minute effort against Canberra in week one of the finals.

Flanagan confirmed both Tagataese and Paulo will be named.
The prop is hoping for a Sharks swan song. Pic: Gregg Porteous.

The prop is hoping for a Sharks swan song. Pic: Gregg Porteous.Source:News Corp Australia

“I will make a clear call on Thursday,’’ Flanagan said. “I won’t muck around and have people asking whether they are in or out.

“They trained and will train with the team again on Tuesday. Wednesday is off and they will have their last run on Thursday. I will make a call on the bench after training. We just have to make the best decision for the team, as we have all year.

“Both players have been great for us this year. That core 19 players — and you can throw Kurt Capewell in there too — have done the job for us all year. They have been an integral part of our team. I will give both players until Thursday.”

The Sharks coach knows that the return of Tagataese would inject immediate size and intimidation to the Cronulla interchange bench with the 110kg forward considered one of the most powerful ballcarriers in the game.

The 29-year-old has also developed a healthy highlight reel of bone-rattling tackles throughout his career.

If all goes to plan on Sunday, as it did in last weekend’s preliminary final against North Queensland, Flanagan may only need Tagataese to provide a short, sharp burst of impact.

It was due to Flanagan’s powerful forward rotation of Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita, Jason Bukuya and Chris Heighington, that both Capewell and utility Gerard Beale were only required for a combined 18-minutes against the Cowboys.

Tagataese hasn’t written off hope that he can remain at the Sharks despite rejecting the club’s initial offer, however both parties have agreed to wait until after the grand final before sitting down.

A grand final return would be filled with emotion for Tagataese as it was the Storm who signed the former Junior Kiwi from Wellington in 2007.