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It was the toughest possible environment for a batch of starry-eyed rookies, but Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart is hoping their baptism of fire will help take the NRL club from strength to strength for years to come.
Beset by a string of off-field distractions – which included two senior players being shown the door – and plagued by a horrible injury toll, Stuart had little option but to turn to youth in 2009 in a bid to plug holes in his side.
Those holes left the Sharks foundering like the Titanic, but through the long sequences of losses, the likes of Blake Ferguson, Nathan Stapleton, Matthew Wright and Scott Porter gave hope for a brighter future.
Ferguson in particular showed flashes of brilliance that had the Sharks faithful recalling mercurial David Peachey, while the pace and elusiveness of Wright was reminiscent of a young Andrew Ettingshausen.
“You’d like to think that a lot of those young blokes that got that opportunity will grow and develop and mature a little bit this season and continue on with the good things they did last year,” Stuart said.
“Getting a start last year I thought was healthy for them, they were thrown into the deep end in a very tough situation for the club, the team wasn’t going well – they’ll never get a tougher season to make a debut in first grade.”
After opening last year with a win over Penrith, Cronulla lost their next nine matches, and after brief midseason cameo, lost their last 10 games to enter the 2010 season on the verge of a new record mark for consecutive losses.
But the on-field performances only tell half the story.
Chief executive Tony Zappia quit following a string of allegations, including one that he had hit a female employee, while there were also reports the club was on the brink of going under in the wake of mounting debt and a backlash from sponsors.
Test star Paul Gallen was stripped of the captaincy after making a racist remark on the field, Brett Seymour was shown the door after one alcohol-fuelled episode too many, and high-profile recruit Reni Maitua played only eight games before he was sacked after testing positive to a banned stimulant.
The surprise wasn’t that the Sharks collected the wooden spoon, but more that they actually managed to win five games.
“I thought we were successful last year in the bond and the culture we created which I believe can help for future success,” Stuart said.
“You need to have tough character in this game and that’s certainly what this group of players has got, and the boys that have come on board this season have jumped right into that trend.”
An off-season clean-out has seen a host of new faces join the club, with Wests Tigers pair Dean Collis and John Morris joined by Paul Aiton, Adam Cuthbertson, Siosaia Vave and ex-Parramatta foursome Broderick Wright, Taulima Tautai, Albert Kelly and Nathan Gardner all arriving.
Collis, Morris and Cuthbertson should provide immediate help, while Kelly – the cousin of Melbourne star Greg Inglis – is a star in the making.
Stuart is also banking on more from marquee man Trent Barrett, who inherited the captaincy last season only to be limited to just 14 games thanks to neck, back and cheekbone injuries.
Stuart said in Barrett the side had a player around which a competitive team could be built.
“I really enjoyed my time coaching Brad Fittler as a player, and I put Trent Barrett up there in that category,” Stuart said.
“He’s a professional, he’s a footy player that guys love being involved with.”
Cronulla Sharks
Year entered premiership: 1967
Premierships: Nil
Finishes over the past three years: 2009 – 15th; 2008 – preliminary finals; 2007 – 11th
Coach: Ricky Stuart
Captain: Trent BarrettGains: Dean Collis (Wests Tigers), John Morris (Wests Tigers), Paul Aiton (Panthers), Adam Cuthbertson (Sea Eagles), Broderick Wright (Eels), Taulima Tautai (Eels), Albert Kelly (Eels), Nathan Gardner (Eels), Siosaia Vave (Titans)
Losses: Ben Ross (Rabbitohs), Brett Kearney (Bradford Bulls), Blake Green (Bulldogs), David Simmons (Panthers), Mitch Brown (Wests Tigers), Bryan Norrie (Gateshead Thunder), Misi Taulapapa (Gateshead Thunder), Terence Seu Seu (Sea Eagles), Corey Hughes (retired), Ian Donnelly (released)
Money Man: Trent Barrett. Through all of Cronulla’s struggles last year, Barrett was a shining light. His form was noted by representative selectors who handed him a NSW Origin recall, but he’ll have to lift his game to greater heights to lift the Sharks into finals contention.
One to watch: Albert Kelly. The former Parramatta youngster has come to the Sharks looking for an opportunity, and his blinding pace and fancy footwork should ensure he gets one before long.
Best team: Nathan Stapleton, Blake Ferguson, Dean Collis, Ben Pomeroy, Luke Covell, Trent Barrett, Scott Porter, Luke Douglas, Stuart Flanagan, Kade Snowden, Anthony Tupou, Reece Williams, Paul Gallen. Interchange: John Morris, Adam Cuthbertson, Grant Millington, Broderick Wright.
Premiership odds: Centrebet $41, TAB Sportsbet $41.
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