Cronulla Sharks
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The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are a team in the National Rugby League (NRL), the premier rugby league football competition in Australia.
Based in Cronulla in the Sutherland Shire, south of Sydney, the Sharks were admitted in 1967 to the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition, predecessor of the Australian Rugby League (ARL) and the current NRL competition.
The Sharks have never won a premiership, but have been runners up on three occasions and minor premiers twice.
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Club information
- Club Name: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (2004- ), Cronulla Sharks (2002-2003), Sharks (2000-2001), Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (1967-1999).
- Founded: 1963, under the banner of Cronulla-Caringbah; joined the NSWRL in 1967 as Cronulla-Sutherland.
- Home stadium: Toyota Park (1968- ) Note: Toyota Park was known as Endeavour Field (1968-1984, 1987), Ronson Field (1985-1986), Caltex Field (1988-1995), Shark Park (1996-1999); Sutherland Oval (1967-1968)
- Head coach: Stuart Raper (2004- )
- NRL Team Captain: Brett Kimmorley (2002- )
- Uniform colors: Sky Blue, White and Black
- Premiership Titles: Nil
- Premiership Runners-up: 3 - 1973, 1978, 1997 (Super League)
- Minor Premiership Titles: 2 - 1988, 1999
- Internationals: 19
Club history
Cronulla rugby league club was founded in 1963 under the banner of Cronulla-Caringbah. They entered the inter-district competition, playing against Wentworthville, Sydney University, Penrith and other clubs in the Sydney area.
In 1967 the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) added two new clubs to the competition, Cronulla-Sutherland and Penrith, the first to join the competition since Parramatta and Manly were admitted 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.
In 1973 Cronulla-Sutherland made the end-of-season play-offs for the first time. They lost only five games and finished just one point behind minor premiers Manly, and ahead of local rivals St George. The same year 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 rallied to lead by 2 and it took a late penalty goal from 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 was without suspended stars Greg Pierce and Dane Sorenson in both games, while John McMartin, 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.
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. Another bright spot for the Sharks though was the selection in the Austrlian team of Miller, and young centres, Ettingshausen and Mark McGaw.
In 1989, Cronulla sneaked into the finals after thrashing Illawarra 46-6 in the final round, followed by a memorable 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
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 rugby league Immortal, John 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 Rupert Murdoch's Super League, which finally 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, but went down to Brisbane 26-8 in an uninspiring game 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.
Possibly the Sharks' best chance 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 joint venture. However, a strong second-half performance by the Dragons, who had the benefit of choosing from both the joint venture teams, ended the Sharks' season.
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 when the year started with the sudden mid-season departure of long-time stars, Nick Graham and Dean Treister. The Sharks finished 11th, and suffered a record 74-4 loss to Parramatta in a match marred by the controversial performance of referee, Shayne Hayne, who sent three Cronulla players from the field, including Sharks captain David Peachey - for waving his hands while talking to the referee. The only highlight for the Sharks was the continuing great form of halfback Kimmorley. Constant in-fighting between the board and the coach led to the departure of coach Anderson at the end of the 2003 season.
He was replaced by Staurt Raper, another son of league Immortal, John 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. Combined with the reversion of the club's name to Cronulla-Sutherland, the Sharks' tradition and future now look a lot more secure.
Players of note
- Steve Rogers (1973-1982, 1985)
- Andrew Ettingshausen (1983-2000)
- Gavin Miller (1980-1983, 1986-1992)
External links
- Official Cronulla Sharks Website (http://www.sharks.com.au)
- The Sharks Den (http://sharks.leagueunlimited.com)
- Sharks Forever (http://sharks.4eva.com)
- Sharks Message Board (http://www.sharkscentral.com/forum/)