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Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

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Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
File:Cronullasharks.jpg
Club information
Full nameCronulla Sutherland
District Rugby League
Football Club Ltd
Nickname(s)Sharkies
Founded1963 as Cronulla-Caringbah
1967 in New South Wales Rugby League
Current details
Ground(s)
CEOTony Zappia
CoachRicky Stuart
CompetitionNational Rugby League
20083rd
Home jersey
Home colours
 Away jersey
Away colours
Current season
Records
Premierships0
Runners-up2 (1973, 1978,)
Minor premierships2 (1988, 1999)

The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are an Australian professional rugby league team based in Cronulla, New South Wales in the Sutherland Shire, south of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League (NRL), Australasia's premier rugby league competition.

The club was admitted to the New South Wales Rugby League premiership, predecessor of the Australian Rugby League and the current National Rugby League competition, in January, 1967. Despite more than 40 years of competition and three Grand Finals, Cronulla has yet to win a premiership.

History

Main article: History of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

1960s

In 1967 the New South Wales Rugby Football League (NSWRFL) added two new clubs to the competition, Cronulla-Sutherland and Penrith, the first to join the competition since Parramatta and Manly were admitted 20 years earlier in 1947.

They debuted in 1967 wearing a sky blue jersey adorned with a white V and red numbers on the back, at the then club home ground of Sutherland Oval, under the coaching of Ken Kearney. Cronulla-Sutherland earned immediate recognition when they beat Eastern Suburbs at the Sydney Sports Ground in their first match. They had only two more wins, against Norths and Parramatta, and finished last on the competition table.

In mid-1968 the club moved permanently to Endeavour Field at Woolooware, thus becoming the only club in Sydney to own their own ground. Their first match there was against Parramatta and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks won 10-7.

1970s

File:Cronulla 1988.jpg
Cronulla Sharks logo 1978-1997

Captain-coached by Englishman Tommy Bishop, Cronulla-Sutherland made the end-of-season play-offs for the first time in 1973 . They lost only five games and finished just one point behind minor premiers Manly, and ahead of local rivals St George. The Sharks made it to the grand final against the Sea Eagles but in a brutal encounter lost 10-7.

Cronulla-Sutherland met the Sea Eagles again in the 1978 grand final, amidst much controversy surrounding referee Greg Hartley. The Sharks led by 7-2 well into the second half. Manly came back and brought the scoreboard to 11-7. It took a late penalty goal from Steve Rogers to level scores at 11-all by fulltime. The replay saw the Sharks opportunity pass by as they fielded a much-weakened team due to further injuries, eventually being shut-out by Manly 16-0. Cronulla were without suspended stars Greg Pierce and Dane Sorensen in both games, while hooker John McMartin, fullback Mick Mullane and Barry Andrews were all injured for the replay.

In 1979, Cronulla won the mid-week Amco Cup competition, their first trophy in the top grade, beating Combined Brisbane 22-5.

1980s

Cronulla suffered major financial trouble in 1983, with the NSWRL appointing an administrator and providing a loan. Western Suburbs and Newtown, both in a similar predicament, were refused a loan, with Newtown being forced out of the competition. However, the season wasn't all bad for Cronulla, with the emergence of teenage star, Andrew Ettingshausen, who was named Rookie of the Year, and would later go on to become the most capped and successful player for Cronulla. Cronulla also made the final of the mid-week KB Cup, but lost again to Manly, 26-6.

In 1985, Cronulla was buoyed by the arrival of 'super coach' Jack Gibson, who had coached Easts and Parramatta to premierships. Gibson left the club in good shape in 1987, with the promise fulfilled in 1988 when Cronulla won the minor premiership, led by veteran second-rower Gavin Miller, who was named Dally M Player of the Year, and Rothmans Medal winning halfback, Barry Russell. However, Russell dislocated his shoulder two weeks before the finals, and missed the semi-final where Cronulla went down to Canterbury. He was rushed back in for the final against Balmain, but he was severely hampered by the injury, and Cronulla were bundled out. A bright spot for the Sharks, though, was the selection in the Australian team of Miller, and young centres, Ettingshausen and Mark McGaw.

In 1989, Cronulla sneaked into the finals after thrashing Illawarra 46-14 in the final round, followed by a memorable 38-14 victory over the Brisbane Broncos in the play-off for fifth position. However, they could not repeat the performance in their semi-final against eventual premiers Canberra, in what was their third game in seven days. Gavin Miller was rewarded for another great year with both the Dally M Player of the Year award and the Rothmans Medal.

1990s

File:Cronulla 1998.jpg
Cronulla Sharks logo 1998-2004

Cronulla again dropped into a period of poor form and financial trouble in 1990, but the appointment as coach of rugby league Immortal, Arthur Beetson, in 1992 helped turn the on-field problems around. He helped develop a batch of promising players, including five-eighth Mitch Healey, fullback David Peachey, winger Richie Barnett, prop Adam Ritson, and hooker Aaron Raper, son of another Immortal, Johnny Raper. However, Cronulla were forced into receivership in 1993.

Beetson was replaced as coach in 1994 by John Lang, a former Australian hooker, and coach of the Brisbane Easts team. Lang brought halfback, Paul Green, down from Brisbane with him. A golden age for the club had begun, signalled by the two lower grade teams (President's Cup and Reserve grade) winning their competitions. During John Lang's coaching period, from 1994 to 2001, Cronulla made the semi-finals every year except for 1994 and 1998. The club had a glamorous image and attracted record crowds, with a corresponding financial improvement.

In 1995, Cronulla were one of the first clubs to join the Super League competition, which kicked off after protracted legal battles and much bitterness, in 1997. The club was motivated by a dissatisfaction with the perceived favouritism of the NSWRL administration towards other clubs, and a still-risky financial situation.

They reached the inaugural - and only - grand final of the ten-team competition, Cronulla made the Super League grand final and went on to lose to Brisbane 26-8 in Brisbane. The game was notable for being the only grand final to be played outside Sydney. The club rejoined the reunited National Rugby League competition in 1998.

Arguably the Sharks' best season ever was in 1999, when they again won the minor premiership in convincing fashion. The Sharks easily accounted for the Brisbane Broncos in the quarter-final, and led 8-0 in the grand final qualifier against the St George Illawarra Dragons before eventually losing 8-24.

2000s

Cronulla lost the grand final qualifier in similar circumstances in 2001, to eventual premiers Newcastle. The year was marked by the sudden rise of halfback Preston Campbell, who was named Dally M Player of the Year, despite being a fringe first grader at the start of the season.

Sharkies Leagues Club

In 2002, John Lang, was replaced by Australian coach, Chris Anderson, who had led Canterbury Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm to premierships. The following two years were the most acrimonious in the club's history. The first year was almost an on-field success, as Anderson retained the core of John Lang's team, and the Sharks again reached the grand final qualifier. However another heartbreaking loss to New Zealand, the replacement of halfback Campbell - a crowd favourite - with former Melbourne halfback Brett Kimmorley, and a string of released players signalled trouble for 2003.

This was realised with the sudden mid-season departure of long-time stars, Nick Graham and Dean Treister. The Sharks finished 11th, suffering a record 74-4 loss to Parramatta in a match marred by the controversial performance of referee, Shayne Hayne. Three Cronulla players were sent from the field, including Sharks captain David Peachey, for ignoring the referee's instructions. Constant infighting between the board and the coach led to Anderson's departure at the end of the season.

The same year the club's name reverted back to Cronulla-Sutherland Chris Anderson was replaced by Stuart Raper, another son of Johnny Raper, and the coach of the President's Cup winning team in 1994. A loyal clubman, he instantly brought a revival in club and supporter spirit. However, Raper's apparent focus on team harmony rather than results led to Cronulla's win percentage worsening, from 49% (24 wins 27 losses) under Anderson, to 43% (31 wins 42 losses).

Steve Rogers, the CEO of the Cronulla Sharks and a former club legend, died on 3 January 2006 at the age of 51 of a "mixture of prescription drugs and alcohol." In April, 2006, the NSW state coroner ruled that the death was accidental.

On 21 April 2006, the Australian Government announced they will be funding a $9.6 million dollar upgrade to Toyota Park. Funding will be going towards extending the E.T. Stand.

Cronulla finished the 2006 season in disastrous fashion. After winning 8 out 9 games in the middle of the season and climbing to near the top of the ladder, the team experienced the worst losing streak in the club's history, losing their last 10 consecutive games. In a bizarre finish to a tumultuous season, the Sharks narrowly failed to win their final game after coming back from 26-0 down to lose 26-24 to Canberra. A missed penalty goal in the dying seconds of the match would have sent the game into extra-time, allowing the chance for Cronulla to equal the biggest single-game comeback in the history of top-level rugby league in Australia.

On 22 September 2006, The Sharks Board ended weeks of speculation over the future of Coach Stuart Raper by sacking him as first grade coach and handing him a $300,000 payout, making him the second consecutive coach to receive such a payout. On the 26th of September, Australian Test Coach Ricky Stuart signed a new 3 year deal to coach the Sharks as of 2007, replacing Raper as coach.

Sharkies Leagues Club

Round one of the 2007 season saw the Sharks break their 10 game losing streak against the Penrith Panthers with an 18-0 victory at Toyota Park. Ricky Stuart, despite being somewhat hampered by the decisions of former coach Raper in the team he inherited, led the Sharks to fifth on the ladder at the halfway mark of the season surprising many critics. Towards the end of the season, Cronulla plunged to fifteenth on the league ladder, slumping to seven straight losses. The season ended with the Sharks in 11th place, rounding off a heartbreaking season, with the club losing no less than nine matches by 4 points or less.


In 2008 players Greg Bird and Ben Pomeroy both signed long term contracts to add three years to their contracts.

The Sharks made an excellent start to 2008, beating defeated grand finalists Manly and premiers Melbourne in away games in the first two rounds. The team finished the season in third spot on the NRL ladder and had one of the best defensive records and worst attacking records in the league. After a comprehensive 36-10 victory over Canberra in the Qualifying Final at Toyota Stadium, Cronulla were beaten 28-0 by Melbourne in the Preliminary Final at the Sydney Football Stadium. This was a disappointing end to an otherwise successful season.

Emblem and colours

For Cronulla's maiden season in first grade a sky blue jersey with a white V was adopted from the Cronulla Surf Club despite Cronulla's chocolate and gold design in the Sydney 2nd Division competition. The team colours of black, white and sky blue haven't changed, with the exception of grey being incorporated during super league, and shortly after on the team's away strip.

The club wasn’t known as the 'Cronulla Sharks' until after its admission into the competition. During Cronulla’s first season the crest featured a drawing of Captain Cook's ship the Endeavour. It is alleged that during the first season the club President suggested the 'Lions' while the captain Ken Kearney recommended the 'Sharks'. The mascot may have been named after the Cronulla Surf Club's rugby league teams of the 1970s.

From the late 1970s through to the late 1990s, the Sharks used a predominately black circular crest with a blue shark. This was changed after Super League in 1997 to a blue and white star-shaped design. Between 1999-2002, the name was shortened to simply the "Sharks". Since 2003, the name has since been changed back to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and changed their logo again in 2005, which is currently in use.

Stadium

Toyota Park - Endeavour Field

The Cronulla Sutherland Leagues Club is known as Sharkies and is located on Captain Cook Drive at Woolooware. The leagues club sits beside the Cronulla Sutherland home ground, Toyota Stadium, originally known as Endeavour Field. Cronulla's home ground has had numerous names over the years including Ronson Field, Shark Park and Toyota Park.

Team Anthem

Up, up, Cronulla, the boys in the black, white and blue. Up, up, Cronulla, name of the sharks fits you. Sharks, sharks, forever, go out and play without fear. Now's the time to see good football, cause the sharks are here! Up the sharks!

Current Squad (2009)

No Nat Player Position Weight(kg) Height(m) Age NRL Games Previous 1st Grade Club
1 Australia Brett Kearney Full Back 80 1.78 25 76 South Sydney Rabbitohs
2 New Zealand Luke Covell Wing 98 1.86 27 116 Wests Tigers
3 Australia Ben Pomeroy Centre 95 1.87 24 67 Penrith Panthers
4 New Zealand Karl Filiga Centre 105 1.88 20 1 None
5 Samoa Misi Taulapapa Wing 85 1.77 26 33 Auckland Warriors
6 Australia Trent Barrett Five Eight 94 1.82 31 199 St George Illawarra Dragons
7 Australia Brett Seymour Halfback 90 1.78 24 95 Brisbane Broncos
8 Australia Ben Ross Front Row 113 1.91 28 107 Penrith Panthers
9 Samoa Terence Seu Seu Hooker 91 1.80 21 25 Newcastle Knights
10 Australia Luke Douglas Front Row 109 1.92 22 74 None
11 Australia Anthony Tupou Second Row 100 1.83 24 111 Sydney Roosters
12 Australia Paul Gallen (c) Second Row 104 1.80 27 141 None
13 Australia Myles Snowdon Lock 93 1.65 17 0 None
14 Australia Kade Snowden Front Row 112 1.90 22 31 Newcastle Knights
15 New Zealand Fraser Anderson Second Row 103 1.90 24 45 Brisbane Broncos
16 Australia Reece Williams Second Row 103 1.87 23 79 None
17 Australia Blake Green Utility 82 1.83 22 13 Parramatta Eels
18 Australia Jacob Selmes Front Row 114 1.96 22 13 None
19 Australia Bryan Norrie Front Row 104 1.92 25 49 Penrith Panthers
20 Australia Corey Hughes Hooker 88 1.77 30 213 Canterbury Bulldogs
21 Australia Mitch Brown Fullback/Wing 89 1.87 21 23 None
22 Australia Grant Millington Second Row 98 194 22 9 None
23 Fiji Jason Bakuya Wing/Centre 89 1.81 19 2 None
24 Australia Nathan Stapleton Fullback/Centre 19 0 None
25 Australia Matt Wright Centre 18 0 None
26 Australia Jonathan Mannah Front Row 19 0 None
27 Australia Jack Bosden Front Row 19 0 None
28 Australia Jason McGrady Half/Five Eight 18 0 None
29 Samoa Aidan Howard Second Row/Lock 95 1.86 23 0 None
30 Tonga Phillip Latu Centre 100 1.80 21 0 None

Club Captains & Coaches

Coaches

Captains

Rep Players

Internationals

Australia

New Zealand

Fiji

Samoa

State of Origin

New South Wales

Queensland

City v Country

City

Country

Club Greats

Further information: Cronulla Sharks All Time Playerlist and All Time Player List

Club Icons

Dream Team

Announced 2006

Club Legends

Announced 2003

Club Immortals

Announced 2003

Award Winners

Dally M Medal

Rothmans Medal

Club Player of the Year

Club Records

Career

Most Games

Most Points

Most Tries

Season

Most Points

Most Tries

Match

Most Points

Most Tries

References

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