32 Facts About Cronulla Sharks

1.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales.

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2.

The Cronulla Sharks have been in competition for 56 years, appearing in four grand finals, winning their first premiership in 2016 after defeating the Melbourne Storm at Stadium Australia.

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3.

Cronulla Sharks earned immediate recognition when they beat Eastern Suburbs at the Sydney Sports Ground in their first match.

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4.

Cronulla Sharks 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.

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5.

Cronulla Sharks suffered major financial trouble in 1983, with the NSWRL appointing an administrator and providing a loan.

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6.

In 1985, Cronulla Sharks was buoyed by the arrival of 'super coach' Jack Gibson, who had coached Easts and Parramatta to premierships.

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7.

Gibson left the club in good shape in 1987, with the promise fulfilled in 1988 when Cronulla Sharks 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.

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8.

Cronulla Sharks was rushed back in for the final against Balmain, but he was severely hampered by the injury, and Cronulla were bundled out.

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9.

Cronulla Sharks 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.

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10.

In 1995, Cronulla Sharks were one of the first clubs to join the Super League competition, which kicked off after protracted legal battles and much bitterness, in 1997.

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11.

Cronulla Sharks lost the grand final qualifier in similar circumstances in 2001, to eventual premiers Newcastle.

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12.

Three Cronulla players were sent from the field, including Sharks captain David Peachey, for ignoring the referee's instructions.

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13.

Towards the end of the season, Cronulla Sharks plunged to 15th on the league ladder, slumping to seven straight losses.

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14.

Cronulla Sharks-Sutherland had a strong season in 2008, finishing the season in equal first spot.

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15.

One of these losses caused great controversy as the Cronulla Sharks, playing against Manly, were forced to field just 12 men for most of the game after Luke Douglas was sent off by referee Phil Haines for a careless high tackle.

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16.

The Cronulla Sharks managed to avoid the wooden spoon in 2009 when the Roosters were soundly beaten by the Cowboys in the final round, resulting in a lower overall standing than the Cronulla Sharks.

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17.

Missing a number of first-team starters due to injury, Cronulla Sharks then lost five in a row to the New Zealand Warriors, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Newcastle Knights, North Queensland Cowboys, and South Sydney, dropping down the table, from 9th to 15th.

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18.

Cronulla Sharks lost their two props for the 2012 season, Origin representative Kade Snowden to Newcastle and Luke Douglas signing for the Gold Coast Titans.

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19.

Captain Paul Gallen's transformation into an Origin prop alleviated this problem somewhat, and the Cronulla Sharks were active in the player market, signing prop Jon Green from St George, former Shark Isaac de Gois, prop Mark Taufua from Newcastle, halfback Jeff Robson from Parramatta and props Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Fifita from Wests Tigers.

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20.

Cronulla Sharks struggled to recover and struggled in the back half of the year, however still capped a remarkable turnaround by qualifying for their first finals series in 4 years, losing to Canberra in week one.

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21.

Cronulla Sharks then went on to win 15 games in a row from Round 4 against the Melbourne Storm to Round 21, against the Gold Coast Titans, resulting in an 18-all draw.

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22.

In week one, Cronulla Sharks played against North Queensland in the elimination final.

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23.

On 31 July 2019, it was revealed by the Sydney Morning Herald that Cronulla Sharks would be moving their home games away from Shark Park for two seasons as part of the club's redevelopment of the Cronulla Sharks Leagues Club and Shark Park itself.

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24.

Cronulla Sharks-Sutherland finished 8th on the table in the 2020 NRL season and qualified for the finals after recovering from a poor start to the year.

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25.

Cronulla Sharks started the 2021 NRL season two wins from their opening five games.

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26.

Cronulla Sharks then recovered to sit in eighth place with two games remaining of the regular season.

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27.

Cronulla Sharks finished the season in ninth place and missed out on the finals for the first time since 2014.

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28.

Since 2003, the name has since been changed back to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and changed their logo again in 2004, which is currently in use.

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29.

On 4 July 2013, the Cronulla Sharks announced their new stadium naming rights partner Remondis, an international waste solutions and management company.

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30.

The Sea Eagles have traditionally had much success over the Sharks, with Cronulla winning at Manly's home ground just five times in their history.

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31.

The success of the St George club has often seen Cronulla Sharks labeled as the 'little brother' to the Dragons, further emphasised by the Dragons joint-venture with the Illawarra Steelers in 1998, effectively surrounding the Cronulla Sharks-Sutherland region geographically.

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32.

Round 2 of the 2008 NRL season saw the sides meet at Olympic Park in Melbourne, and Cronulla Sharks was able to reverse the result by the same scoreline via a Brett Kimmorley field goal.

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