Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Club Information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Cronulla Sutherland District Rugby League Football Club Ltd |
| Founded | 1963 as Cronulla-Caringbah |
| Current Details | |
| Ground(s) | Toyota Stadium (22,500) |
| CEO(s) |  Tony Zappia |
| Coach | Ricky Stuart |
| Competition | National Rugby League |
| 2007 | National Rugby League, 11th |
| Records | |
| Premierships | 0 |
| Runners-up | 3 (1973, 1978, 1997) |
| Minor premiership | 2 (1988, 1999) |
 Current season |
|
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, Cronulla has yet to win a premiership.
Contents |
[edit] History
-
For more details on Cronulla Sharks History, see Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks History.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 1970s
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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 1990s
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.
[edit] 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.
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 January 3, 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 April 21, 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.
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 there 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. Currently the side are currently in the top 8 of the NRL and have one of the best defensive records in the league.
[edit] Crest
The club wasn’t known as the '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 1950s.
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.
[edit] 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.
 1967-1969 |
 1970-1996,2005-present |
 1997-2000 |
 2001-2003 |
 2004 |
[edit] Stadium
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.
[edit] 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!
[edit] Statistics and Records
[edit] All-time Top 5 Cronulla appearances
| Player | Appearance | |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Ettingshausen |
328 | |
| David Peachey |
232 | |
| Mitch Healey |
223 | |
 Dane Sorensen |
216 | |
| Danny Lee |
212 |
[edit] All-time Top 5 Cronulla pointscorers
| Player | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Rogers |
1253 | |
| Mat Rogers |
1112 | |
| Andrew Ettingshausen |
662 | |
| Barry Andrews |
657 | |
| Luke Covell* |
554 |
[edit] All-time Top 5 Cronulla tryscorers
| Player | Tries | |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Ettingshausen |
165 | |
| David Peachey |
110 | |
| Steve Rogers |
82 | |
| Barry Andrews |
75 | |
| Ray Corcoran |
63 |
(*) player still active in the Cronulla Sharks team.
[edit] 2008 Squad
-
For more details on this topic, see Cronulla Sharks 2008.
| No | Player | Nat | Position | Height | Weight | Previous Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brett Kearney | |
fullback | 178 cm/5'10" | 80 kg/176p | Kincumber |
| 2 | Luke Covell | |
Wing | 186 cm/6'1" | 98 kg/216p | Wests |
| 3 | David Simmons | |
Full Back | 186 cm/6'1" | 92 kg/203p | De La Salle Caringbah |
| 4 | Ben Pomeroy | |
Centre | 187 cm/6'2" | 95 kg/209p | Penrith |
| 5 | Misi Taulapapa | |
Wing | 177cm | 85kg | Central Comets |
| 6 | Brett Seymour | |
Five Eighth | 178cm | 90kg | Brisbane |
| 7 | Brett Kimmorley | |
Half Back | 172 cm/5'8" | 80 kg/176p | Northern Eagles |
| 8 | Ben Ross | |
Prop | 191 cm/6'3" | 113 kg/249p | Penrith |
| 9 | Isaac de Gois |  |
Hooker | 178cm | 90kg | Wests Tigers |
| 10 | Luke Douglas | |
Prop | 192 cm/6'4" | 109 kg/240p | Lower Clarence |
| 11 | Paul Gallen | |
Second Row | 180 cm/6'0" | 104 kg/205p | Parramatta |
| 12 | Fraser Anderson | |
Centre | 190cm | 103kg | Brisbane |
| 13 | Greg Bird | |
Lock | 181 cm/5'11" | 100 kg/220p | West Maitland Red Dogs |
| 14 | Eddie Su'a | Prop | 190 cm | 115 kg | ||
| 15 | Kevin Kingston | |
Hooker | 178 cm/5'10" | 91 kg/201p | Nerange |
| 16 | Reece Williams | |
Second Row | 187 cm/6'2" | 103 kg/227p | Yarrawarrah |
| 17 | Bryan Norrie | |
Prop | 188cm | 105kg | Penrith Panthers |
| 18 | Terence Seu Seu | |
Hooker | 180cm | 91kg | Newcastle Knights |
| 19 | Paul Stephenson | |
Centre | 189cm | 100kg | Manly |
| 20 | Jacob Selmes | |
Prop | 196 cm/6'5" | 114 kg/251p | Port Macquarie |
| 21 | Karl Filiga | |
Second Row | 188 cm | 105 kg | Harbour City Eagles |
| 22 | Blake Green | |
Five-Eighth | 183 cm | 82 kg | Parramatta Eels |
| 23 | Bryson Goodwin | |
Wing | |||
| 24 | Trent Appleyard | |
Prop | 186 cm/6'2" | 89 kg/196p | Como |
| 25 | Mitch Brown | |
Full Back | 187 cm/6'2" | 89 kg/196p | Gymea |
| 26 | Dustin Cooper | |
Full Back | Newcastle | ||
| 27 | Kade Snowden | |
Prop | 190cm | 112kg | Newcastle Knights |
| 28 | Brackin Karauria-Henry | |
Five Eighth | 179 cm/5'10" | 85 kg/187p | Halswell |
| 27 | Danny Nutley | |
Prop | Sydney Roosters |
[edit] Notable players
-
For more details on All Time Player List, see Cronulla Sharks All Time Playerlist.
- Ray Corcoran (1968-1975)
- Greg Pierce (1968-1980)
- Tommy Bishop (1969-1973)
- Rick Bourke (1972-1982)
- Cliff Watson (1971-1973)
- Ken Maddison (1972-1975)
- Steve Rogers (1973-1982, 1985)
- Mick Mullane (1974-1983)
- Steve Kneen (1976-1982)
- Dane Sorensen (1977-1983, 1985-1989)
- David Hatch (1978-1990)
- Gavin Miller (1980-1983, 1986-1992)
- Andrew Ettingshausen (1983-2000)
- Mark McGaw (1984-1992)
- Barry Russell (1983-1991)
- Mitch Healey (1988-2000)
- Danny Lee (1988-1998)
- Les Davidson (1991-1998)
- Dean Triester (1993-2003)
- David Peachey (1993-2005)
- Paul Green (1994-1998)
- Mat Rogers (1994-2001)
- Jason Stevens (1997-2005)
- Preston Campbell (1999-2002)
- Paul Gallen (2001-present)
- Phil Bailey (2002-2006)
- Greg Bird (2002-present)
- Brett Kimmorley (2002-present)
- Lance Thompson (2005-2008)
- Brian Noble (1985)
- Roger Millward (1976)
[edit] Internationals
Australia
- Phil Bailey
- Greg Bird
- Andrew Ettingshausen
- Paul Gallen
- Paul Green
- Craig Greenhill
- Brett Kimmorley
- Steve Kneen
- Mark McGaw
- Chris McKenna
- Gavin Miller
- David Peachey
- Greg Pierce
- Aaron Raper
- Russell Richardson
- Mat Rogers
- Steve Rogers
- Danny Stains
- Jason Stevens
- Ron Turner
- David Waite
New Zealand
- Richard Barnett
- Luke Covell
- Tevita Latu
- Andrew Lomu
- Tawera Nikau
- Dane Sorensen
- Kurt Sorensen
- Nigel Vagana
[edit] Dally M Medal winners
- Steve Rogers (1981)
- Gavin Miller (1988, 1989)
- Preston Campbell (2001)
[edit] Rothmans Medal winners
- Terry Hughes (1968)
- Ken Maddison (1973)
- Steve Rogers (1975)
- Barry Russell (1988)
- Gavin Miller (1989)
- Paul Green (1995)
[edit] Club Player of the Year recipients
- David Peachey (1997, 1999 ,2001)
- Danny Nutley (2005)
- Greg Bird (2006)
- Paul Gallen (2007)
[edit] Coaches
- Ken Kearney 1967-1969
- Tommy Bishop 1970-1973 and 1980
- Noel Thornton 1974
- Johnny Raper 1975-1976
- Ted Glossop 1977
- Norm Provan 1978-1979
- Greg Pierce 1981-1982
- Terry Fearnley 1983-1984
- Jack Gibson 1985-1987
- Allan Fitzgibbon 1988-1991
- Arthur Beetson 1992-1993
- John Lang 1994-2001
- Chris Anderson 2002-2003
- Stuart Raper 2004-2006
- Ricky Stuart 2007-
[edit] Captains
In order of first appearance as captain-
- Monty Porter
- Warren Ryan
- Noel Thornton
- Graeme Wilson
- Tom Bishop
- George Taylforth
- Kevin Hogan
- Greg Pierce
- Ron Turner
- Ken Maddison
- Cliff Watson
- John Maguire
- Roger Milward
- John McMartin
- Steve Rogers
- Dane Sorensen (cc with Steve Rogers)
- Gavin Miller
- David Hatch
- Greg Nixon (cc with David Hatch)
- Dan Stains
- Andrew Ettingshausen
- Mark McGaw
- Danny Lee
- Mitch Healey
- Les Davidson
- David Peachey
- Jason Stevens
- Andrew Pierce
- Chris Beattie
- Brett Kimmorley
- Danny Nutley
- Paul Gallen
- Luke Covell
- Greg Bird
[edit] Dreamteam
Announced July 2006.
- Fullback - David Peachey
- Winger - Mat Rogers
- Centre - Steve Rogers
- Centre - Andrew Ettingshausen
- Winger - Ray Corcoran
- 5/8 - Greg Bird
- Half - Tommy Bishop
- Lock - Greg Pierce
- S/r - Gavin Miller
- S/R - Ken Maddison
- Prop - Cliff Watson
- Prop - Jason Stevens
- Hooker - Ron Turner
- Reserve - Dane Sorensen
- Reserve - Steve Kneen
- Reserve - Brett Kimmorley
- Reserve - Mark McGaw
[edit] External links
- Official Cronulla Sharks website
- Cronulla Sutherland Supporters Club - Unofficial Supporters Club
- Sharks Forever
- Sharks Finatics Supporters Group website
- Sharks & General League site
- Daily Telegraph - Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2007 season feature
[edit] References
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
