2008 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season

2008 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
League 3rd NRL
2008 record W18 L8 D0
Away record 38
Points for 487 (82 tries, 78 goals, 3 field goals)
Points against 422 (74 tries, 62 goals, 2 field goals)
Team information
Coach Ricky Stuart
Captain Paul Gallen
Greg Bird
Ground Toyota Stadium
Average attendance 12,965
Top scorers
Tries Luke Covell (15)
Goals Luke Covell (73)
Points Luke Covell (206)
 < 2007 2009 > 

In NRL season 2008, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks were real premiership contenders, finishing the regular season in 3rd place, only to be knocked out in the finals by eventual runners-up Melbourne.

Contents

Season summary

The Sharks began the season on a positive note, with a victory over 2007 runners-up Manly Sea Eagles in Round 1 followed by a shock 17-16 victory over 2007 grand final winners Melbourne in Round 2. The match against the Storm was marred by a on-field brawl after an illegal tackle by Cronulla's Ben Ross on Melbourne's Cooper Cronk, resulting in both Ross and Melbourne's Brett White being sent off and later being referred to the NRL judiciary.[1]

The Sharks' season of promise was however marred by the late season suspension of star player Greg Bird, following its round 24, 20-0 win over top four contenders the Sydney Roosters at home. Bird was accused of glassing his then-girlfriend Katie Milligan and was stood down by the club just a fortnight out from the finals. Furthermore, five-eighth Brett Seymour suffered a knee injury during the finals; robbing the Sharks of any valuable halves experience at the wrong end of the season. Bird was later sacked by the Sharks; since then he has been exonerated over the glassing incident and he now plays for the Gold Coast Titans.

The Sharks ended the season joint minor premiers with Manly and Melbourne (third on points differential) and many believed this was the year Cronulla would finally win its maiden premiership. The Sharks won its first final in style, thrashing the Canberra Raiders 36-10 at home with Misi Taulapapa, a Warriors outcast scoring a hat-trick. Due to the Melbourne Storm losing its first final, the Sharks earned the week off along with Manly. It was during this time that Seymour suffered his knee injury, ending his 2008 season. The Sharks' season ended with a disappointing 28-0 defeat at the hands of the Melbourne Storm whose captain Cameron Smith was suspended a week earlier for a grapple tackle on Brisbane's Sam Thaiday.

Ladder

Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Melbourne 24 17 0 7 2 584 282 +302 38
2 Manly-Warringah 24 17 0 7 2 645 355 +290 38
3 Cronulla 24 17 0 7 2 451 384 +67 38
4 Sydney Roosters 24 15 0 9 2 511 446 +65 34
5 Brisbane 24 14 1 9 2 560 452 +108 33
6 Canberra 24 13 0 11 2 640 527 +113 30
7 St. George Illawarra 24 13 0 11 2 489 378 +111 30
8 New Zealand 24 13 0 11 2 502 567 -65 30
9 Newcastle 24 12 0 12 2 516 486 +30 28
10 Wests Tigers 24 11 0 13 2 528 560 -32 26
11 Parramatta 24 11 0 13 2 501 547 -46 26
12 Penrith 24 10 1 13 2 504 611 -107 25
13 Gold Coast 24 10 0 14 2 476 586 -110 24
14 South Sydney 24 8 0 16 2 453 666 -213 20
15 North Queensland 24 5 0 19 2 474 638 -164 14
16 Bulldogs 24 5 0 19 2 433 782 -349 14

Results

References

  1. ^ Five charged by NRL judiciary - leaguehq.com.au