By Steve Kaless
May 25th 2009 @ 6:35am
Related coverage
The Sharks are worth fighting for
Misi Taulapapa lines up a nice right cross at Anthony Quinn during the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Melbourne Storm Preliminary Final National Rugby League match at the Sydney Football Stadium, Friday, Sept. 26, 2008. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan)
Oh what a fickle bunch we are! Three months ago the Sharks were everyone’s sneaky tip for the Grand Final now you are hard pressed to find anyone who reckons they deserve a place in the comp.
They become a punching bag for the press and if there is one thing that everyone seems to love it’s a bandwagon, or should that be lynch mob?
There is no doubt there are problems at the Sharks, of course most of the financial ones were there when everyone thought they might win the first title, but are they so terminal that you just cash them in and start again?
I don’t think so, I’d like to see a real fight to get things fixed. We might live in a disposable culture but football clubs of any flavour don’t come with a reset button.
There is a line of argument that they won’t be missed, I’m pretty sure that those who spout it haven’t asked any Sharks fans, but this is what I heard when they decided to boot the Bears, and the Rabbitohs were a laughing stock.
Have we learned nothing from these disasters? The game is still yet to reclaim the fans they lost in the aftermath from those two exclusions.
What is more, the removal of both of these teams left scars on the competition and isn’t something we should be rushing to repeat.
The reason for this is that football clubs aren’t just the group of 25 players currently contracted to the club and the back room staff.
They are made up of the blood and sweat of every player who has played for the club and the tears of every fan who has attended the matches.
So while the current group might be dogged by allegations of group sex from seven years ago and rumours of sex toys in the change room, the Sharks are much more than that.
And it would take a pretty cold heart to look any of their fans in the eye and tell them it is no more without having moved heaven and earth to keep them going.
Now I’m no Sharks fan, but for what it is worth this would be my plan for redemption.
First, forget any talk of a merger with a current NRL club. Given their financial state the word isn’t merger, it’s takeover.
And if you think it would work then tell me why any Sharks fan worth their salt would suddenly want to follow a Cronulla side joined with the Dragons (you know, the team that “merged” with the Steelers) or Bulldogs?
Honestly, it would make the Northern Eagles look like a match made in heaven.
The way it stands I think a partial relocation would probably be the way to go.
Not to the Central Coast, but perhaps to the new frontiers of either Rockhampton, Cairns, Perth and Adelaide.
However you need to be able to maintain a link with the area from which the club has come, like the way the Swans hark back to the Bloods whenever required.
I’d then argue that you need a big broom: big changes are certainly required but it isn’t impossible. The Bulldogs must provide hope for any club at the wrong end of the table, but you can also look at the way the Storm and Titans have in recent years put competitive teams together from scratch.
I’d argue the first player that needs to go is Paul Gallen. Yes he is the captain and probably their best player but must be very close to being more trouble than he is worth.
Honestly, the last thing the game needs is a race row and if it proves that Gallen did abuse the Dragons Mickey Paea then you must ask questions about a bloke who is considered captain material by his coach.
I’d also show Ricky Stuart the door. He is far too confrontational for a team looking to fix its image.
And image is everything. Look at the A-League. A name change, a set of new jerseys and hey presto a game that could once fit its fans in a phone booth is suddenly the elephant in the room.
While we are firing, goodbye to the recruitment and retention committee. The Sharks have a real track record for attracting the wrong type of player for a few years now.
Josh Hannay fell out in North Queensland so they gave him a run, Brett Seymour drank his way to an exit in Brisbane so the Sharks thought he’d be a good fit and then there’s Reni Maitua.
For too long the Sharks have bought players at the wrong end of their career or with the wrong attitude.
There is a long list of players on the open market and plenty of them would tick the boxes for a club looking for a clean cut image.
The problems don’t have easy fixes, but by putting them in the too hard basket and just pulling the pin the NRL would just be creating a whole new set of problems.
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Andrew said | May 25th 2009 @ 8:38am | Report comment
Your kidding. Sharks are a basketcase.
Barry Pierce says he takes no responsibility for the state the Sharks are in, yet he has been on the Sharks board for the last 10 years. The position the Sharks find themselves in, didn’t happen overnight, it was a lack of leadership in the front office for many years that put them in this position.
No area wants to share a team like you have suggested, it’s all or nothing. Sharks should move for the good of the game, the Sharks fans by not turning up in numbers in there hour of need has shown the indifference they feel towards the club. Even last year when they finished 3rd on the table the crowds didn’t turn up.
So NRL stand up and be counted. Let an area that deserve a team get it, and make the game stronger!
Tom Alexander, Cairns QLD. said | May 25th 2009 @ 10:07am | Report comment
They played in the Super-league Grand Final against the Broncos that was when they had a pretty good team and an experienced coach in Johny Lang (even though he was a bit hot tempered) when he left at the end of 2001 in pretty acrimonious circumstances (to ironically coach Penrith to their famous premiership win the following year) things at Cronulla seem to have slowly gone pear-shaped, now it isn’t the fans fault for not turning up in their tens of thousands if anything those that do turn up should be congratulated imagine in all your 40 years of existence never winning a premiership a couple of times the bridesmaid shit I’m surprised anyone would still want to turn up to any of their games yet they do week in week out year in year out. The Rabbitohs and now the Bulldogs are proving if you can get your shit together off the field then positive things can happen on the field god knows their long suffering fans deserve it.
Redb said | May 25th 2009 @ 10:45am | Report comment
Cronulla need a favourite son to return, one with an impeccable reputation who has the profile and media savvy to save the club. That man is Andrew Ettingshausen. C’mon ET time to stand up.
Redb
sledgeross said | May 25th 2009 @ 10:55am | Report comment
Where should the Sharks move to Andrew, for the good of the game? Geographically speaking, the Shire is a key area for Rugby League. There are plenty of other clubs out there that have poor crowds as well (hello Roosters!). The scheduling of games also plays a part in crowd attendences declining.
Finno said | May 25th 2009 @ 11:35am | Report comment
Get rid of them, where ther is smoke there usually is fire and I dare say Cronulla situation is probably far worse than what we know. There are way to many Sydney based teams anyway, I read that it was going to be Parramatta, Penrith or Cronulla that gets the chop. So it looks like Cronulla have stepped forward for the head lopping or merge the clubs. There really should be 2 or 3 sydney teams. With the probable introduction of an 2nd AFL team, a 2nd A -League team in Sydney,rugby league will struggle to keep the smaller sydney based teams and it would be better to make the move to shut or merge these clubs than try continue on. With the continual expantion of AFL into traditional heat lands of league I cant see what option league has. The number dont add up and at the end of the day it will determine who lives or dies.
znotty said | May 25th 2009 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
The NRL a National comp with Melbourne,Brisbane,Canberra,Newcastle,Gold Coast,Illawarra,North Qld & NZ (that makes it international but we wont bring that up) the rest from the Suburbs of Sydney,its like a hybrid International \ National + local Suburban type thing,Clubs were offered millions & a guaranteed spot but the boards of some clubs refused to bite the bullet & merge as others have done & instead they have chosen the natural attrition path…well so be it,if Cronulla cant fund a first grade team then they should go play in the local Sydney comp,theres just too many teams from Sydney & not enough from Perth or Darwin or Central Coast or a 2nd Brisbane team ,4 teams from Sydney 6 at the most.
Andrew said | May 25th 2009 @ 2:14pm | Report comment
sledgeross said “Geographically speaking, the Shire is a key area for Rugby League.”
Honestly, they are well covered by St George, within a generation those that grow up in the area will all support St George. But huge population areas like Logan in QLD are crying out for a team, and I can guarantee will see more than 15K averages turn out each week to see them. Cronulla have had 2 chances previously where they were bailed out when in poor fiscal form. I think this 3rd time just shows that the area can’t support a team, and really the hard decisions need to be made this time.
TammyS said | May 25th 2009 @ 2:23pm | Report comment
There’s way too many teams in sydney. If there was ever an opportunity to get rid of one of them, then this is it. Im not a fan of a partial relocation and I think the sharks should make a full relocation somewhere in QLD or Brisbane. Ideally Id like to see 2 other sydney clubs merge but I doubt that would happen anytime soon. Personally, I think 6 teams in sydney is enough. Sydney RL fans can share those 6 teams (whoever they are)
sledgeross said | May 25th 2009 @ 2:55pm | Report comment
Andrew, fair enough point, but I actually think people will forego footy all together if the Sharks went. Its like the Bears. Once they left, the north shore was lost.
JimC said | May 25th 2009 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
As Jack Gibson said, waiting for Cronulla to win a premiership is like leaving the porch light on for Harold Holt.
El Capitan said | May 25th 2009 @ 3:36pm | Report comment
I just see that Gallen has been fined $10K for his racial slur by the NRL. Seriously 2009 is not the year of the Shark.
Finno said | May 25th 2009 @ 3:51pm | Report comment
The NRL should really be looking to shut the Sydney clubs and relocate them else where, with the struggling numbers in the gate in sydney and the lack of sponsors it would be a great time to close the doors and move. Sharks, Souths, Penrith, Parramatta maybe even Roosters. The expaintion should be towards central qld, 2nd brisbane team and logan.
The Logan Sharks
The Rockhampton Roosters
The Brisbane Panthers
you gotta admit its an attractive suggestion
and sledgeross who are the bears?
JimC said | May 25th 2009 @ 4:25pm | Report comment
Finno – that sounds like a great blueprint from an AFL perspective.
Andrew said | May 25th 2009 @ 4:28pm | Report comment
sledgeross, the North Shore was always a funny place. Rugby Union was always well supported (and still is), and really while the Swans where flavour of the month they also generated a lot of support from the same base.
Be interesting to see what happens when the Super 14 becomes the Super 15 and goes for longer, will this impact the Swans crowds/support further as it seems it is the same base of fans attending. What happens to the Swans if they move further down the ladder? West Sydney to come in shortly could really hurt AFL in Sydney, and I don’t see the Cronulla fans moving to AFL or Union as neither has any representation in the area, and Sharks fans where never great travellers to other grounds, let alone there own.
I think Cronulla already has a big base of Dragons fans, and as I said, the next generation will know no better, and thus shore up the clubs support base even further. Won’t be long before they will have to upgrade OKI to accommodate all the fans they will get every week.
Mushi said | May 25th 2009 @ 5:24pm | Report comment
Whilst I’m not a sharks fan I feel as a rugby league fan it is important that we offer our support for a club at it’s lowest ebb and try to sit down and nut out some solutions to the mess which they find themselves.
With LG deciding to end its’ association with the Sharks as the image of the club no longer suited LG’s brand they are in dire need of a new sponsor. (Apparently one of the creative types in marketing, who has probably never seen a game of rugby league in their latte sipping life, suggested that LG should no longer focus on the misogynistic, drug addicted, racist demographic that the sharks had carefully targeted in a progressive brand transformation campaign).
I believe the Sharks painstakingly constructed brand of controversy, one that would have Howard Stern sagely nodding his head in awestruck approval, has an obvious corporate connection. They need to link up with a tabloid media outlet.
At the moment aren’t the sharks practically writing a third of the Tele and Herald’s stories? They’ve turned once dedicated tabloid journalists, who previously had to scour and search for muck, into glorified stenographers.
Surely one of these outlets would offer a large sum for the exclusive scoop on any story. With the clubs impressive track record of delivery they could even offer performance hurdles such as at least two major incidents a year with a smattering of drunken hijinks, public nuisance claims and coaching tantrums?
Zappia it’s time to monetise the investment in your brand, not just for the Sharks fans who want to see their team remain in competition but for the greater good of rugby league. After all with banks now treating commercial property deals like over protective fathers treat an NRL after game party, your reputation is the best asset you have.
Crosscoder said | May 25th 2009 @ 6:59pm | Report comment
Ok I plead guilty i am one of those supposedly “rare” Sharks fans,so naturally I disagree.
Fact1 .Even in bad times there is a base of hard code support of 9,500.Based on the attendances for the first 3 games against away teams(who brought little support) in ordinary weather.If they had played St George on a sunday afternoon they would have jagged 20,000,but had to settle for an overcast 5-30pm Saturday and got 15,200.
Fact 2.They lose LG and a couple of others and immediately gain Interpark and another within 24 hours.Zappia I understand will be in discussions with a potential sponsor tomorrow.
Fact3. The D/A for their land is to be decided upon by end of of June,and the prospects based on small no of objections look good.The final effect of the development is not only to wipe out the league’s club debt,but establish a huge working asset,which will have the profitibality to assist if need be the football team.
Fact4.Apart from the AGM ,there will be an extraordinary EGM by 31st July,and some local and interstate business people are already being canvassed for either involvement or financial backing.
Fact 5.There area is similar to manly ,generally middle class,a strong soccer base and a large junior rugby league base
Fact 6.If the Super league war should have taught us anything of substance,you get rid of a team,you alienate your grassroots base,and set up the welcome mat to opposition codes.Fans who lose their clubs do go to other codes,I know it happened with the bears and sth Sydney,and it would happen with the Sharks,or they would leave rl for good.Few if any would switch to Saints
I looked at some of the crowds in supposed rl heartland on the weekend,and gave a cynical smile.
westy said | May 25th 2009 @ 7:13pm | Report comment
Crosscoder Iwent out to have alook for myself last weekend. Seriously it looked pretty full. where do you fit the other 5000 ?
Most were Cronulla faithful and I was surprised at the number of young families.
Competitive at until half time down 4 to nil they fell away in the second half. St George had to much class.
Most of the crowd hung in there even when it was all over.
they do seem to have some genuine local community support. The key will be whether they continue to turn up as they keep losing. I do like people who make up their own minds and last week the Cronulla faithful backed their local club.
I wish they would do the same with their local rugby club but that is an issue we avidly avoid on this site.
Crosscoder said | May 25th 2009 @ 7:40pm | Report comment
Westy.I was there in the new Southern Stand.At least an Essendon supporter did something for rl(Costello).
In reality I and the others next to me expressed surprised the crowd was given as 15,200.Do they include juniors who get in free in the numbers?.
I have been masochictically watching my mob for decades,and if that wasn’t closer to 18,000 i am not here.The capacity is supposedly down to 20,000,and was before the new stand closer to 22,000.
The biggest problem I see is the lack of undercover protection,with the extreme wind and rain condition that seem to hone in on that spot.If there had been no cloud and rain hovering around I honestly believe 18,000 would have been achieved
I know of an elderly lady(neighbour) ,a mad Saints supporter with her daughter and(Shark’s supporting) son in law and 8 yr old grandson,who would have gone and sat on the hill .They were deterred by the morning rain,and persistent heavy cloud.
In fact there are growing ties between Sthn Districts(ru) and the rl clubs,from what I have seen with players.
There are too many people now on the horizon with financial clout and business acumen,born and bred in the area,who will ensure the club’s survival.
Steve Kaless said | May 25th 2009 @ 8:13pm | Report comment
Those who claim the Rugby League needs to start packing up with the AFL and the A-League moving in I feel are either pushing an agenda or jumping at shadows. These clubs are still hypotheicals at present and those that are there have hardly brought rugby league to its knees.
The Swans have hardly carved a swathe through rugby league support in Sydney and the A-League which tends to play most of its games at a different time of year have enough of their problems. I’d argue that the Swans and Sydney FC would be more worried about a second team in the west in their respective codes than the rugby league.
I must say I find it a bit odd that Super League seems to be the ultimate no go zone for anyone talking rugby league but suddenly everyone is saying there should be only 4-6 clubs. Sound familiar? Those that do propose a streamlining, please outline the various moves and marriages and how they will work.
Finally anyone who says they are having a poor year with crowds so the fans deserve to have their club taken away from them is missing the whole point. The crowds in Souths and Norths final year were both a joke and yet when they got booted all hell broke loose. I remember standing in a lift in the city and hearing a well known barrister say “The game can’t survive without the Souths” The Souths!?! Can’t have been much of fan if he didn’t know the name of the friggin’ club. Mark my words you remove the Sharks and you’ll have all these Piggins style fans from the Shire caliming they’ll never watch another game. It would be a PR disaster.
The Sharks have a very good junior base and their A-Grade comp is the envy of other clubs, it isn’t always about sponsors (who are incredibly fickle).
Eamonn said | May 25th 2009 @ 8:26pm | Report comment
“Sponsors are incredibly fickle”…..Steve …loving it..keep em coming….
DogsOfWar said | May 25th 2009 @ 8:51pm | Report comment
Steve Kaless “Mark my words you remove the Sharks and you’ll have all these Piggins style fans from the Shire caliming they’ll never watch another game. It would be a PR disaster.”
I hope that was said tongue in cheek. The PR disaster that is the Sharks currently couldn’t be any worse with what is happening this year, and there board takes no responsibility for any of it.
I just wish they would do the rest of us a favour and move on. Sydney needs to lose one or two more clubs, and the weakest must go. Your numbers up Cronulla.
westy said | May 25th 2009 @ 11:35pm | Report comment
Eamonn when alocal pensioner donates $10000 and even Sydney FC look like providing a helping hand playing a possible game ( $50000 hire fee) to play NQLD in a trial at Toyota Park. . I was quite impressed with the club and ground on my visit last Saturday night.
My first visit ( long way for a boy from the west) to the stadium. Largest junior football registrations in NSW. Maybe a smart move from Sydney FC.and a rugby league club who should use their ownership of their ground to make a buck in the off season.
I am familiar with ET and peachey both players niutured by this club. They are good men who have led good lives and I will not tarnish the club for all the wrongs in a game or society as a whole. This is grossly unfair.
I went to the game t because i did not think that the whole should pay the price of a very few. i have turned up at Sydney United games for the same reason. Be slow to judge for one day we will all be judged. I refuse to extend the behaviour of some to all let alone people who support their local team.
There was a strong family presence . It seemed to me the ordinary locals do support this team. They identify with it .
I do not think the Sharks will fold although it will be a hard road for them for the rest of this season.
I went to this game to see for myself. The crowd was generally well behaved and courteous. They seemed to be the type of people who will make their own judgements and not be dictated by those who seem to play dare I say it God.
For that they earned a bit of respect from me anyway.
I hope they get their act together and survive.
I
Crosscoder said | May 26th 2009 @ 6:45am | Report comment
DogsofWar
Guess we could have said the same thing about the Bulldogs circa 2004 and last year:dramas and poor cowds. Max Markson the PR bloke stated a few years back the Dogs brand was on the nose ATT,and maybe even needed to change the name.The Bulldogs brand and crowds have recovered.
Anycase the Sharks will be around for a long time yet.
DogsOfWar said | May 26th 2009 @ 8:46am | Report comment
Bulldogs crowds where never a problem. The Bulldogs acted very well in cleaning out the front office. The Sharks board aren’t even admitting they are the problem. Yeah they now have an EGM, but that’s only after so much pressure was put on the board, and they had no choice. But if they are relected, what then? They have already shown they are more than willing to sit of there hands while the club falls down around them. There great hope (the development) is many years away from producing the money they require to stay afloat (if approved), so is the NRL expected to bail them out until then?
sledgeross said | May 26th 2009 @ 9:25am | Report comment
Dogs of War, maybe the Sharks should sound out Skydome as sponsors and move to the EG Whitlam centre at Liverpool? Maybe they should overpay mediocre players so they lose all their points due to salary cap breaches. Oh, wait, thats the Bulldogs!
Fair dinkum mate, its one thing to throw stones, but dont do it when your in a glasshouse mate. Considering the turmoil the Dogs have been in off-field since Bullfrog passed, I wouldnt expect a Bulldog fan to criticize any other club regarding off-field management. Thats a joke! Greenburg has done some good things in changing the culture, but dont take the moral highground when your club has been just as “grubby”.
TammyS said | May 26th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
The only clubs most fans would hate their teams to be merged with are the roosters and manly (and to a lesser extent the bulldogs). I dont think a merger is such a bad idea (depending on the combination).
How about the parramatta penrith eels? just imagine the playing talent from both teams, Jarrod hayne , hindmarsh, mateo with Luke lewis, civoniceva and jennings or the manly easts sea eagles(coz the rooster is a stupid mascot)? Jamie lyon, orford, whatmough, with anasta, minichello and Im sure the roosters fans wouldnt mind having lyon and whatmough in their team right now. They could split their home games between brookvale and the SFS and the same applies to parramatta/penrith. Sure it would take some adjusting and it might even switch a few people off the game but eventually I think people will embrace it.
Ideally this is what Id like to see:
Brisbane
2nd Brisbane(Cronulla relocate)
Central QLD
Nth QLD
Gold Coast
Newcastle
Central Coast
Manly/Easts
Parramatta/Penrith
Canterbury
St george
Wests
Souths
Canberra
Melbourne
Auckland(warriors)
Wellington
Perth
I think thats a decent 18 team comp
DogsOfWar said | May 26th 2009 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Who is throwing stones? Was I on the board of the Bulldogs? Did I support them overpaying players? No.
If anything the team I support has shown what is needed to be done to turn things around, but you are showing the same signs as the current Sharks management in not listening to what needs to be done, hoping there is an easy solution around the corner. But the Bulldogs have shown there is no easy solution, the Bulldogs looked and tried to find one, but eventually realised that there wasn’t one. Difference between the Bulldogs and Sharks is that the Bulldogs were financially secure, and thus had the time to muck around until they found the right solution. The Sharks on the other hand don’t have that time, and need to act fast to secure there future. Can they make the required changes in time? Or is the answer still we will be fine when the development is approved? Because that is only half the answer, changes on the board are also required if they want to make sure their future is assured forever.
sledgeross said | May 26th 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment
Youre right mate, Bulldogs are as sound financially as any club, have good crowd support, and have implemented changes to “turn around” the way they are percieved, and the Sharks could well do to follow what Greenburg and Peponis are doing at Belmore as a structural model. It just seemed like you were laying the boot in.
The man said | May 26th 2009 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
Steve
Interesting viewpoint. Whilst you “find it a bit odd that Super League seems to be the ultimate no go zone for anyone talking rugby league” I am more than happy to discuss the matter.
It is also interesting that the Sydney champions of the SL “vision” of rationalisation, namely: the Dogs, Sharks, Panthers have all struggled somewhat off the field in the the post SL war era.
The Dogs and Panthers with strong leagues club support had very little financial need to join SL, making their treason to the game at the time even worse.
I do believe that Cronulla after financial crisis’ of the 80s jumped at the opportunity to grab a wheel barrow full of SL dollars to try an ensure survival – giving very little thought in the process to the other ARL clubs who had done in most instances more to build the competition.
Many of the former Sydney based ARL clubs did their bit in the post war settlement with the mergers of the late 90s. I think some of the reluctance of the SL clubs of being involved in the process was a “I’ll be right” attitude as the SL cash was still sitting in the bank.
10 years later the Sharks come cap in hand to the NRL having spent their ill gotten gains and now expect the clubs who have borne the highest cost of the war to bail them out yet again. For that reason I can understand many of the views express above of letting them go by the wayside.
Despite their sins of the past and in the interests of not losing more fans of the game (and you would have to be a die hard league fan to still be going for the Sharks) and in providing the necessary games for the TV deal, I believe the Sharks should be given support in the interim and given time to get the house in order and a plan in place – be it private ownership, merger or relocation. This is something the game should do and who knows – much like Wests went onto success with West Tigers – the Sharks may go on to bigger and better things too.
Finno said | May 26th 2009 @ 4:22pm | Report comment
On 2nd thoughts I dont know if League can lose Cronulla or any Sydney clubs, AFL is waiting in the wings to get a new team in Sydney. If Cronulla move or shut down as a club where would Cronulla fans place thier support?? I found out who the North Sydeny Bears where after I talked to a mate who use to support them funny enough he supports the Swans now and takes a mild interest in League now. I wonder if the death if Sydney League clubs allows for other codes to be supported. If club did move to some what greener pastures of brisbane, logan on central Qld would it increase the League footing? Probably not as most people watch league in those areas any how. In the positive league crowds are good considering the A- League poor crowd record blaming it on the Economic Crisis. I watch with interest as to where the NRL go with this, Cronulla seemingly have lead themselves to the slaughter and we all are watching to see if the NRL drops the axe or weather they cough up the $10 million. But considering that Cronulla took Super League cash and North Sydney didnt I will be suprised if the NRL dont them them go…..
stephen ferris said | May 26th 2009 @ 5:46pm | Report comment
Does anybody need to be reminded that Chronulla were defectors in the greater St George region in 67 to arguably help knobble the Dragons 11 year run, taking some of their players and their fan base too boot and it’s sits nicely to regather the great Southern region for St George alone. Chronulla have been a winless festering sore that needs eradicating.
Col the Bear said | May 26th 2009 @ 9:20pm | Report comment
As a supporter of a Foundation club.. yes a club which helped start Rugby League in this country and was the “1st payed up registered, reciept No. 1″ with the NSWRL (Souths were 2nd) it’s nice how the NRL treat their heritage compared to the AFL??the only club that has to move is the Bears from the North Shore to the Central Coast…and to be reinstated back into the NRL; end of story…Then and only then will rugby league begin to get back on track.. the plight of the Bears has been well documented..as an ardent fan I can guarantee that we are not going to go away we are going to keep at it until we are back in this competition playing out of the stadium the Bears built in ‘99 and never played a game at… thats when the rot set in with league..Super league started it in ‘95 and until this wrong with the Bears is corrected RL will continue to fester along from one problem to another..Not having the Bears on the Central Coast has become a major embarrasment to the NRL..other codes can’t believe it, thats why soccer is laughing..
Midfielder said | May 26th 2009 @ 9:52pm | Report comment
Col
The Bears did not build the stadium and the plight you talk of was down to the past management of the Bears. RL will only grow when its decision are based on growing the game and that means putting a team or teams in place to a an established set of criteria pre determined not wishful thinking of by gone teams that FAILED …
Billo said | May 26th 2009 @ 10:56pm | Report comment
The idea that there are too many teams in Sydney, and that the Sharks should go, is ridiculous. No one suggests there are too many soccer clubs in London, and the same is true in Sydney with rugby league clubs.
The Sharks have been going through a difficult patch, and yet that is true of virtually any club that is at the bottom of any league in the world.
That doesn’t mean they can’t improve their operation. It looks to me as though they need smarter people behind them, and I’m sure there must be plenty of those in the district.
Steve Kaless said | May 26th 2009 @ 10:56pm | Report comment
Eamonn,
Sponsors are fickle. A clean out at the Sharks, the correct rebuilding and a few wins on the board and the sponsors will follow. I’d argue it is far from a lost cause, but i appreciate you are coming at it with a different agenda.
Dogs of War,
Yes, there have been PR disasters ad nauseum from the Sharks this year but I think if you boot the club you are only adding to the problems. The removal of Souths was hardly a solution.
Col the Bear said | May 27th 2009 @ 6:16am | Report comment
Oh midfielder I have been through this before with you OK, Abi group construction built the stadium with 4 million of the Bears own money..,and the rest was given through State and federal Govt… we just located the money to fund it thats all why does it still spell “BEARS” in the seat…we still have 20% rights to the stadium we still have 2 Bears directors on the Stadium board, we still have the 21 year playeing rights to the stadium, yes I think we had a lot to do with the building of the stadium ,and the majority agree… Bears on the Central Coast it’s still going to happen, I’ll send you a Bears jersey when it does MF…
Col the Bear said | May 27th 2009 @ 8:24am | Report comment
Read RLW today..
Steve K. how do we get in touch with you, I couldn’t find your email address, I know someone that wants to email you..
Crosscoder said | May 27th 2009 @ 3:33pm | Report comment
The SL war for all fans and the code in general was a disaster,it gave other codes a big leg up in the northern states.the Sharks had a choice,either wither and die due to the buying power ATT of News or get the cash and survive.That was the only reason they went over to SL; survival.
Now as to where the club will get cash,should the development and it is looking very promising ,as per a story by Jacqueline Magnay in today’s SMH”
The Sharks can expect a cash injection of $1.5m within the next few months as an initial result of developing the adjoining land.The money will be released immediately into the league’s club immediately,coming from an initial $5m capital raising by the leagues club property arm Woolooware Bay prop.Ltd,and is a repayment to the league’s club for the money it has already spent on preparing the development to date.
The money would be a bonus as it has not been factored into any recent negotiations with the club’s bankers.
The rest of the $5m will be used to start paying rent to the club for the use of the development land and to start stage one of the development,which is a 150 room hotel.Other stages of the development,160 apartments and a small retail complex will follow later.Gallop was told that the maximum borrowing for the development is $20m at any one time,and the value once completed would be abt $110m,generating about $3m per year for the club.”
The club has taken at least 8 years to get EPA,state govt,etc approval to get to this stage.They have spent $1.1m to ensure the mangroves/bell frogs etc and the forshore is such a standard that there has not been on environmental objection .It also appears before the prospectus is issued ,provided council OK,that the $5m initial figure will be subscribed by wealthy interests.
DogsofWar
The Sharks did not have the luxury of time when dealing with green groups,govt red tape and council that makes snails look like ferraris. Matter of fact Shark’s fans are more frustrated with the length of time it has taken than anyone.The board by agreeing to an EGM after the AGM,admits a spill of the board will happen ,to enable new blood should it so choose get involved.
Finno said | May 27th 2009 @ 3:56pm | Report comment
Hears a crazy wacky plan, the main threat to RL is AFL, AFL is far and away the most popular watch winter sport and it growth has been steady, measured and strong. A second AFL team will probably be a success as the AFL rarely get expansion or moving of team wrong. Rugbywill always be around but is generally the poor cousin. Football on the other hand is no threat as it player in the summer months, should the RL and FFA do some sort of deal. Share grounds / merge clubs, (im sure there is massive legal in issues). They use similar type of grounds and beside the international games that for the WC qualifiers they generally will never clash. The 2 codes are totally different and there is no threat to taking the average RL punter scapering off the a football game, even if they do they wont be taking away from the RL crowds. If a 2nd Sydney A- League team has been mooted surely Cronulla could get a leg up from the A- League by selling part of the club to a A- League fanchise.
Timmypig said | May 27th 2009 @ 4:29pm | Report comment
Mr Ferris wrote: “Chronulla have been a winless festering sore that needs eradicating.”
WOW! That’s really bitter…..
“regather the great Southern region for St George alone” Huh? Not likely old mate. I grew up in the Shire and like all my school mates, we’re the same age (give or take a year) as the Sharkies. Lose the Sharks and Rugby League will lose many of us … those of us who stay interested will mostly follow other teams … Canberra, Newcastle, who knows? BUT NOT THE DRAGONS (or Manly).
Some of our parents may have followed St George, but few in the Shire do. I can still recall the disbelief when we heard that Sludge was moving to the Dragons …. “how COULD he?”.
The Sharks may move; they may fold; hopefully they pull through … but the Dragons as main beneficiaries if they go? Not likely.
Col the Bear said | May 28th 2009 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
Very similar prospect when Manly recently stated through Grant Mayer they wanted to take over the North Sydney areas and Juniors when the Bears relocate to Gosford..A very quick rebuke come from Flo and Perry to quash any hope of Manly trying to gain this area..we don’t like each other, Manly broke away from North sydney ..Cronulla were born out of the St george area…they don’t like each other as we don’t like the rats over spit way…
everyone thought,”Well now the Bear are gone out of the NRL everyone will now follow Manly from that area”" wrong !! couldn’t be further from the truth.most walked away from the game. and as Gallop said at least 40 000 fans were lost when the Bears were removed…
The whole concept of the Central Coast Bears is to incorporate the North shore and the CC Juniors and supporters all..You’ll still have SG Ball and Harold matts teams playing out of Gosford and North Sydney oval.. both groups feeding into the Toyota cup and the NRL franchise known as the Central Coast Bears…
No wonder Manly are trying to stick their noses in.. they are rightly worried about the powerhouse known as the CCBears..well lets face it Mnaly have had it all their own way for way to long…Just bring on the CCBs… 2010 would even suit me…
The man said | May 28th 2009 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
Crosscoder,
Not sure property development alone is the best way forward for on-going survival of the Sharks. Feels a little too much like putting all your eggs in one basket – trying to sell such a development in a down turn has plenty of risks – let alone those already inherent in the construction and project management.
I think a hard look at private ownership, merger and relocation all have to be on table.
Obviously if the Sharks continue without fielding a team in 1st grade (like the Bears now) they should look after league in the Shire. In the event of a total collapse – I would see the Dragons as the logical team to step in.
Steve Kaless said | May 29th 2009 @ 9:32pm | Report comment
Col,
Sorry for the delay in response, if you email the guys at this site they can put you (or who ever) in touch with me.
Cheers
Steve
Crosscoder said | June 16th 2009 @ 8:10pm | Report comment
The man
No, development alone should not be the sole reason.That being said ,the development has already financial backers.Once the council gives the go ahead and it now lools like August,immediately $2m is released for funding.Ie the organisation Woolooware Bay Properties pays the league club $2m upfront for rent on the development.$1m of that will be apparently designated to the football club.Other means of finance are to be arranged membership drive,events,sponsorship,and business people coming on board.
The development once completed will inject $5m per annum into the club.When a fellow by the name of Delmege who knows a bit about development has seen the plans and gave it the thumbs up last year.It has to have some merit.
Relocation will not happen ,certainly with the new board.The Sharks are in for the long haul at Shark Park.