Cronulla feeling pain both on and off the field
Cronulla feeling pain both on and off the fieldThe Age, Australia - Adrian Proszenko
CRONULLA haven't got any money in the piggy bank and they couldn't get the cash against the Sydney Roosters either. The pressure on Sharks coach Ricky Stuart is mounting after his side crashed to their seventh straight loss last night to move a step
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Source: http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhqmatchreport/cronulla-feeling-pain-both-on-and-off-the-field/2009/05/03/1240982460236.html
Cronulla feeling pain both on and off the field
Adrian Proszenko
May 3, 2009
Cronulla 12 Sydney Roosters 19
CRONULLA haven't got any money in the piggy bank and they couldn't get the cash against the Sydney Roosters either.
The pressure on Sharks coach Ricky Stuart is mounting after his side crashed to their seventh straight loss last night to move a step closer to the wooden spoon.
And in a further blow, late inclusion Trent Barrett failed to finish the game after being knocked out late in the first half.
Dismissed by bookmakers, snubbed by their own fans and on one of their longest losing streaks - now just three shy of the club record of 10 - the Sharks are a club in disarray.
"We're all very disappointed," Stuart said. "It's tough times.
"The fortunate thing I've got as a coach is I've got a tight-knit, solid bunch of footy players in there.
"That's what's needed in this time, we're all hanging in tough together. It's a lot of work to burrow our way out of this but there's no doubt it's hard times for us."
This time last year Stuart was preparing the Kangaroos for the Anzac Test. Now bookies have installed him as the coach most likely not to see out the year. Even Roosters counterpart Brad Fittler felt for his former coach.
"As a coach you can't go out there and do anything about it . . . he's been doing it a long time and he's a good coach, Stick," Fittler said. "They'll get a win soon."
Cronulla are a club on the brink.
Financial problems off the field - including an outstanding tax bill estimated to be around the $800,000 mark - have threatened the very viability of the club. And their fortunes haven't improved on the paddock either, with a brace of tries to Kiwi international Shaun-Kenny Dowell setting up last night's win for the Roosters.
There are problems everywhere - the Sharks haven't had a win since round one, their CEO Tony Zappia is rumoured to be eyeing the slightly greener pastures at Parramatta and the wooden spoon appears to be a mere formality.
However, skipper Paul Gallen said the club had survived even tougher periods, namely bad runs in 2001 and 2002.
"We're all in the same boat . . . I've been through times like this before and come out the other end," he said.
Reni Maitua left last year's wooden spooners, the Bulldogs, in the hope of better times at the Sharks. Although his new side appears set for a similar fate, he had no regrets about the move.
"I don't regret coming to this club for one second," he said.
"I haven't had a win since round 20 last year when we beat the Broncos but I couldn't be happier to be here.
"I've said it before, and people may think I'm talking rubbish, but I've never seen a stronger group of blokes.
"We've just copped seven losses in a row and we'll turn up to training on Monday and there will be no backstabbing, everyone's tight.
"We training harder than any other team in the comp and there's definitely a belief in the camp. It's a long season. We've still got the same goals as at the start of the season. We want to be in that top eight. That's what we're striving for."
The win was a massive relief for the Roosters, who scored their first points in 143 minutes when Kenny-Dowall scored the first of his two tries. Skipper Braith Anasta joked "we felt like we forgot the words" to their victory song after snapping a three-game losing streak. But while Fittler was pleased with the performance, he was incensed with a no-try decision against Jordan Tansey - for obstruction - which would have sealed the game much earlier.
"It's just crap ... I feel like swearing," Fittler fumed, believing defensive teams were being rewarded for making bad reads.
Barrett was ruled out during the week after he aggravated his back, but in a shock development the former NSW playmaker ran out with the rest of his team come kick-off - before succumbing to a legal Craig Fitzgibbon tackle.
"These tough times are always difficult to handle," Stuart said. "I'm trying to lead these boys through it. I'll keep working as hard as I can to do that."
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 19 (S Kenny-Dowall 2 S Perrett tries C Fitzgibbon 3 goals B Anasta field goal) bt CRONULLA 12 (P Gallen R Williams tries L Covell 2 goals) at Toyota Stadium. Referee: G Badger, Matt Cecchin. Crowd: 9,879.