There’s a problem when you’re describing a sporting organisation and one of the first words that come to mind is ‘dysfunctional’.
That’s certainly one word that came to mind for me earlier this week when it was announced the Cronulla Sharks and CEO Richard Munro would be parting ways immediately. The Sharks will begin the search for their next CEO immediately – their third in the space of just over a year after the previous departures of Lyall Gorman and Barry Russell.
Why has he gone? Why have the club and Munro parted immediately? Is there more to the story than has been reported in the media?
Has the same board been in place during this entire period? Does this board have the relevant skills to be able to lead what should be a multimillion-dollar sporting organisation?
This departure tops off what has been a turbulent period for the club, even just over the last year.
At the beginning of 2019, heading into the preseason, the club found themselves without a coach, with Shane Flanagan being deregistered as a coach in late 2018, at that point indefinitely, for not adhering to the conditions of his suspension back in 2014. Bizarrely, despite one of the conditions of Flanagan’s initial suspension being that he was unable to have any contact with the club during that period, several emails between Flanagan and the football department were found. You would have thought Flanagan would have been smart enough not to put that into writing or do hold the meetings over the phone or in person. Obviously not.
The Sharks performed well under the tutelage of John Morris last year. Despite the departure of some key players in 2018, including Luke Lewis, the Sharks managed to uncover some promising new talent, including Billy Magoulias, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Briton Nikora, Braden Hamlen-Uele, Bronson Xerri and Jack Williams. The team also showed great resilience earlier in the season when Wade Graham was on the sideline recovering from injury.
The Sharks scraped into the finals with a win over the Wests Tigers in the final round, finishing seventh on the ladder, but then bowed out in first week of the finals.
Hanging over the team’s head at that point, though, was the news the Sharks would be moving their home games away for two years due to a redevelopment of the Sharks Leagues Club. As a result of this decision, the Sharks have effectively found themselves homeless for the next two years. Some of their games will be played out of Kogarah, the very home ground their arch-rivals St George Illawarra Dragons use.
(Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
This in itself is not problematic. As a Parramatta Eels supporter, homelessness is something I am familiar with. The Eels played out of ANZ Stadium for several years while Bankwest Stadium was being redeveloped.
The key difference, though, is that the Eels were able to take members and fans on a journey with them during this time. Eels fans tolerated ANZ Stadium because we knew that at the end of the road a brand-spanking-new stadium was waiting for us. And let me tell you, it was worth the wait.
I’ve followed the Sharks announcements in this space and am really struggling to find anything which would motivate or excite their fans about their return to Shark Park. Most of the work seems to be on the Sharks Leagues Club, and if work is being done to enhance the stadium, I’m still unclear about what this work is.
On top of this, heading into the new season, the Sharks remain dramatically under the salary cap as part of the penalties previously imposed on the club.
Don’t get me wrong, just because the Sharks are dysfunctional doesn’t mean the very future of the club is at risk. It would be very easy to catastrophise this departure, as well as the other issues I’ve set out above, as indicators the Sharks are on their last legs.
But sporting organisations are more resilient than that and the Sharks are not the only club to have faced challenges off the field. The Eels have had governance challenges of their own and had to appoint an administrator to put processes in place which have pushed the team into a position where corporate governance is a key focus. Additionally, Newcastle Knights, Gold Coast Titans and Canterbury Bulldogs have all faced similar challenges, and several of these clubs are still in a rebuilding phase.
Rest assured, however. While the Sharks’ performances on the field have been fairly positive since the club won its first premiership in 2016, with the club making the finals every year since then, there is only so long that a club can perform off the field while dysfunction runs rampant at an organisational level.
The stink eventually catches up with you, and if the Sharks want ongoing long-term success, they have to get their back of house in order.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
You are using one game a year to state that Sharks have fans outside the Shire. They may have "large numbers" outside the Shire but they are for the most part one of the smaller clubs with a small supporter base.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Adam. If as stated by club a large number of their members live outside the Shire and they can attract over 82,000 to a 2016 G/F (the vast majority Shark's fans),the notion all their fans are somehow tucked away in the Shire ,is plainly false.And by making a dogmatic statement they have no fans elsewhere, is absurd. They are there in numbers at the home games of the Broncos, Gold Coast Central Coast, Penrith, when they play trials on the Sunshine Coast,Port Macquarie and surrounds. Not arguing about the spread of Dragon's fans, my wife and her family were Dragon's supporters.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Tim.They have proven their existence in the last 20 years in terms of competitiveness.Thus the officials could see a way to grow the comp, and as it played out create a decent local derby. I agree the Dragons brand is far bigger than the Sharks.Always has been so.Yet so was Souths ,and they got kicked out on one occasion. In any competition, there will be the bigger profile teams and the lesser ones.And Aussies like the underdog at times when it comes to matches.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
If the Sharks had not joined SL ATT, they would be extinct.If the Dragons had joined SL,I believe they would have absorbed the Sharks. Owning your own ground of course is not a major criteria, but it does help re income from Sponsorship naming rights ,and sponsors' boxes. NRL clubs grab money from whatever source they can.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Tim. SFA juniors. If there was any certainty or any real interest there would be bids.There simply is not. Adelaide is well down the priority ladder. The big tests will come when the likes of the Storm have a few bad years.Especially in a non rugby league areas.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
All for expansion and Melbourne coming in. Only not interested in chopping current NRL clubs, just to allow others to enter. Different matter if they are unable to continue financially.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
St-George have played all their home games on council the grounds Kogarah Oval, Hurstville Oval and Earl Park and have not had any marsh lands that they could buy and develop like Cronulla. If owning your own ground were a prime selection criteria Cronulla are safe and St-George have been forced to seek a joint venture with Illawarra who have WIN stadium as their home.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
I know people who stopped following the game in 1967 when the 4 tackle rule changed the way the game was played. The game had more scrums and scrum penalties were coming from Col Pearce a Souths fan. Col Pearce was the referee during the 1955 fairy tale run by Souths. The penalty count in the 2nd half of the preliminary final against St-George was 14-2 and according to Ken Kearney they were fake penalties. There was no RL on TV in those days so they could get away with it but it couldn't happen today.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The 99 grand final was a big part of the NRL's expansion plan for a successful Melbourne venture that was of strategic importance to the code. Jamie Ainscough made a bad choice in what was a difficult situation but the game changed after half-time with a momentum change based on the play-the-ball speed. St-George had beaten Melbourne 3 times with a total score of 62-26 and it was 14-2 at half time. The NRL didn't want a GF like the one-sided AFL GF the day before and miraculously the the second half provided an exciting match. Did you notice this or was Melbourne your second team?
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Yes good point. Easts should be moved before anyone else as they have no juniors and fans all over the place. Souths have a huge following for some strange reason.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Adelaide has a population over 1 million people and the Aussie Rules media have tried to hide the game because RL would be attractive to juniors. Laughing at expansion plans and the state of the Dragons doesn't change the small area of the Sutherland Shire and the large expansion areas like Adelaide and Perth.
Jimmy
Roar Guru
Sorry that was meant to say Kareela, it was a typo.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The 2nd division competition was created to provide two teams for promotion and Cronulla-Caringbah could only manage 3rd place. They got in because the real reason was to create the demographic you mentioned. The St-George-Illawarra Dragons are a big part of the NRL and represent a very big part of the Rugby League world. The Dragons have a big following in TV ratings.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Limited appeal refers to outside the Shire they have no fans. Dragons fans are everywhere
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Well Adam.Have a chat with Eels,Manly,Newcastle,Titans,Tigers,Dragons,Souths all at one time or another of a few occasions, have had poor management, financial problems, revolving doors for CEOs and coaches.In fact the NRL had to take over the Titans and knights at one stage. So many of these NRL clubs are hardly shining example of good business practises.That's why I find it hilarious when the finger is pointed at the Sharks, as being the Lone Big Bad Wolf. This so called "limited appeal" ,did not stop a full house against the Storm, where the overwhelming majority in attendance were Shark's fans ,and I was one.Nor stop the club from being among the top merchandise sellers. The certainties are they will be getting a new Leagues club, with 800 units next door, plus a hotel, its happening.They are not in debt and have money in the Bank ,that is happening.They will be building a Centre of Excellence around the ET stand, money already allocated via grant dollar for dollar State Govt.This incorporates more Corp boxes and seating Their success for the future is being laid now.Drive past and see the hear the jackhammers in operation. Jubilee in fact is a lot closer for quite a few Shire residents than perhaps those who live at Engadine or Loftus.They looked at alternative venues ,this was the best option.So forced is probably not the word ,more likely practical.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Tim Adelaide??? LOL Where are the bids? Where are the juniors? Where are the sponsors? Easts, Manly are small suburban clubs ,one with few juniors ,another with a few more. There is nothing to stop a team from Perth and Brisbane to enter to make an 18 team comp. Reading between the lines, you want Cronulla gone, because Cronulla had the audacity to enter the compo in 67 and it then affected your numbers. Mate, you had a huge Leagues club the Taj Mahal, making a fortune, yet after all those years still use a Council ground Jubilee, with one covered stand and a grass hill. And that's progress? Without Illawarra and private input, you'd be up you know what street.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
That is rubbish Adam Bagnall, the number of people who are members is spelt out by the club, and a decent percentage live outside the Shire.I've sat in the stands, next to two couple who live well out. Depends on what times the games are being played Friday 6pm and Thursday nights are detrimental.Looking at crowds from other clubs who have been around for ages,I'd hardly be posturing and finger pointing. . If they were cut ,the Dragons would be no bigger .Why? The Rockdale/Kogarah area has a changing non rl demographic. The fans of the Sharks would not follow another club in the main, and their strong junior League would wither and another code with a round ball ready to fill the vacuum. Oh and the local Dragons v Sharks derby would not exist, thus the crowds would not eventuate. The Dragons management has been a basket case of late, so let's have a bigger one.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Tim Buck 3. Cronulla would have been relocated years ago ,if the NSWRL ,and NRL had not decided they were of strategic importance to the code. Smith, Gallop,and Greenberg and indeed the Board of the NRL. Think nearly closing the doors thrice, ASADA, salary cap rort. And judging by the management and crowds of the Dragons last year, it would appear bringing Cronulla into the premiership was a wise decision. The whining about the Sharks after 52 years being allowed into the Comp,must keep some people awake at night.You've made grand finals since then ,and lost one through plain madness by a player against the Storm.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
But TImBuck 3, the argument is about catchment areas.And guess what those clubs on that basis don't have the catchment area size. When Cronulla entered the Shire population was about half the size it is today.New generations have sprung up, and the area has a strong junior League. Easts have next to no juniors but a wealthy board in an area that is hardly rl central,Souths have a decent following ,but without Crowe would not have survived . So one can whine about what happened in 67 when the Sharks came in, the problems they have had, yet I survey the other NRL clubs and I see financial earthquakes appearing everywhere over the decades .The pot and kettle are doing a roaring trade.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Tim Buck 3 Another cut St George down to size, that happens with every new team.52 years ago, life goes on. Well it looks like they have succeeded, plus incompetence by their management and coaching staff.The Sharks must have had a premonition. The St George Kogarah/Rockdale area ,rather than the Shire ,has a demographic which is not rl supportive in the main.They got 17k to a Soccer Sydney FC match. After watching and hearing about the Dragon's efforts over the years and their crowds, in a bigger catchment area ,and the need to have private investment to underpin them, and owing the NRL money,I'd hardly suggest St George is the epitome of managerial excellence. Their old Leagues club (Taj Mahal) is tired. At least the Sharks will be building a new up to date Leagues club for their members. Think the Dragons should be Illawarra Dragons, that's where your juniors are in numbers.