2001 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season

2001 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
League 4th NRL
2001 record W17 L10 D2
Points for 678 (119 tries, 99 goals, 4 field goals)
Points against 547 (95 tries, 83 goals, 1 field goal)
Team information
Coach John Lang
Captain David Peachey
Jason Stevens
Ground Toyota Park
Average attendance 12,409
Top scorers
Tries Preston Campbell (17)
Goals Jason Ferris (46)
Points Jason Ferris (121)
 < 2000 2002 > 

The 2001 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season was the 35th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2001 Telstra Premiership.

Season summary

The Sharks had a fantastic 2001 season which saw them finish in the top four for the third time in five seasons (including the only Super League season). It was in their first qualifying finals match against the defending premiers Brisbane (the third year in succession the Sharks had met the Broncos at this stage) that the new Telstra Premiership logo, to be used until the end of 2006, was first seen on the field. The Sharks won this match comfortably, followed by a 54-10 thrashing of second-placed Canterbury, which set them up for a second attempt at a Grand Final berth in three years. Despite leading at half-time, the Sharks were run down in the second half by the Andrew Johns-led Newcastle Knights, who ultimately went on to win the premiership. Yet another Sharks season of promise ended in disappointment.

The highlight of the season was Preston Campbell, who later went on to play in Penrith's 2003 premiership, winning the coveted Dally M Medal.

Ladder

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Parramatta 262024839406+43342
2 Bulldogs 261736617538+4937
3 Newcastle 261619782639+14333
4 Cronulla-Sutherland 261529594513+8132
5 Brisbane 2614111696511+18529
6 Sydney 2613112647589+5827
7 St. George Illawarra 2612212661573+8826
8 New Zealand 2612212638629+926
9 Melbourne 2611114704725-2123
10 Northern Eagles 2611114603750-14923
11 Canberra 269116600623-2319
12 Wests Tigers 269116474746-27219
13 North Queensland 266218514771-25714
14 Penrith 267019521847-32614

References