IronShark
Moderator
Well guys and girls, we are only days away from kick off for Season 2010 and whilst the anticipation is just about killing me, there is also a part of me that has a sense of dread about this year.
Before you all jump down my throat and accuse me of being a pessimist with no faith, let me explain - and be prepared for another one of my passionate rants.
As we stand our Club is, in my opinion, at the tipping point. 2009 was a disaster and did no end of damage to the Sharks as a brand, both locally and in the wider Rugby League community. Many commentators and league fans in general seemed to take great delight in revelling in the pain our Club was put through last year, much of it through no fault of our own. Many seem to eagerly anticipate our Clubs demise - I have no idea why.
As a Club, the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks have been a geat ambassador for Rugby League, in my opnion. Whilst we have not tasted premiership success, we have fostered a fantastic junior nursey and have produced many legends of the game, most of whom are some of Rugby Leagues greatest ambassadors. Players like Steve Rogers, Gavin Miller, Andrew Ettingshausen and David Peachey to name but a few, are not only remembered as legends of the game but also as some of the finest characters to have pulled on a Rugby League jersey.
As a Club, we have battled financially almost since day one. We are not the priveledged "silvertails" such as the Sea Eagles, the Roosters, the Broncos, the Storm and more recently, the Rabbitohs and the Titans; who have had the advantage of massive financial backing in their attempts to "buy" premierships. We have had to rely on the support of our Leagues Club and our fans - and sometimes we have let them down.
That is by no means directed to the many faithful supporters here on Sharks Forever of course, I am pointing the finger primarily at the "fair weather" Sharks fans in the Shire who desert the team when things get tough. Even worse, in my opnion, are those who have lived in the Shire their whole lives and yet support another team - usually the Dragons or the Rabbitohs - claiming "family tradition" or other such excuses. The fact of the matter is, it it simply easier and more fashionable to jump on the Dragons or Bunnies bandwagon. At least when these teams fail, these fans can rely on their robotically chanted comeback lines; "We won 11 straight premierships" and "We have won more titles than any other club."
What is there for a Sharks fan to defend themselves with? My reply is simple: "At least I have the guts to stand behind the Club where I grew up and that I call home - what's your excuse?"
This year, our Club has performed a comeback of truly Lazarus like proportions through the titanic effort of a new administration and a core of hardy, never-say-die supporters. We have secured new sponsors, recognised our loyal fans and seen memberships rise by 50%. We have secured a development deal that could guarantee financial security for the Sharks indefinitely. And we have brought a new generation of talented youngsters to the team, many of them local juniors, who will be the face of Rugby League in a few short years.
So what am I worried about? It's simple; our Club was at the brink of destruction last year and all of the abovementioned good work has only served to hold that off temporarily. We haven't yet navigated our way out of these trecherous waters yet.
With so many commentators salivating over the prospect of the Sharks receiving the wooden spoon this year, I have grave concerns that another disastrous season may undo all the good work that has been done in the off-season. Many of the new members we have signed may not be so willing to sign up again if the Sharks become the whipping boys many are tipping them to become in 2010. Whilst we have seen record numbers flock to the club in the off season, an emabarrasing performance this year could see supporters desert the ship in equally large numbers.
So, what I am asking, actually pleading for, is for us as a Club, as fans, as a community to LIFT. Lift this Club with all you have.
Support them on the field wherever you can. Promote them in your daily life; at work, to friends and family and in the general community. Do what you can to support them financially (which most of us do) but just as importantly, encourage others to do the same.
This is never more true than for those of us who live in the Sutherland Shire. "Re-connecting with the community" is not just some marketing buzzword the Club has trotted out because it sounds good. They recognise that it is the one thing that is vital to the ongoing survival and success of the Sharks. We need to get the Shire back behind the black, white and blue and bring back the days I grew up with, watching those previously mentioned champions Rogers, ET, Miller and The Peach tear into the oppostion in front of a legion of screaming fans at a packed out Shark Park. We need to make Shark Park the graveyard once again. We need to ensure that whatever games the Sharks lose this year, we gave all we had to make sure they weren't lost at home - our home.
Because at the end of the day, that's what it is - our home, where we live, where I grew up and where I am raising my family. And I'm not letting anyone walk in and take anything from my home without one hell of a fight.
Before you all jump down my throat and accuse me of being a pessimist with no faith, let me explain - and be prepared for another one of my passionate rants.
As we stand our Club is, in my opinion, at the tipping point. 2009 was a disaster and did no end of damage to the Sharks as a brand, both locally and in the wider Rugby League community. Many commentators and league fans in general seemed to take great delight in revelling in the pain our Club was put through last year, much of it through no fault of our own. Many seem to eagerly anticipate our Clubs demise - I have no idea why.
As a Club, the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks have been a geat ambassador for Rugby League, in my opnion. Whilst we have not tasted premiership success, we have fostered a fantastic junior nursey and have produced many legends of the game, most of whom are some of Rugby Leagues greatest ambassadors. Players like Steve Rogers, Gavin Miller, Andrew Ettingshausen and David Peachey to name but a few, are not only remembered as legends of the game but also as some of the finest characters to have pulled on a Rugby League jersey.
As a Club, we have battled financially almost since day one. We are not the priveledged "silvertails" such as the Sea Eagles, the Roosters, the Broncos, the Storm and more recently, the Rabbitohs and the Titans; who have had the advantage of massive financial backing in their attempts to "buy" premierships. We have had to rely on the support of our Leagues Club and our fans - and sometimes we have let them down.
That is by no means directed to the many faithful supporters here on Sharks Forever of course, I am pointing the finger primarily at the "fair weather" Sharks fans in the Shire who desert the team when things get tough. Even worse, in my opnion, are those who have lived in the Shire their whole lives and yet support another team - usually the Dragons or the Rabbitohs - claiming "family tradition" or other such excuses. The fact of the matter is, it it simply easier and more fashionable to jump on the Dragons or Bunnies bandwagon. At least when these teams fail, these fans can rely on their robotically chanted comeback lines; "We won 11 straight premierships" and "We have won more titles than any other club."
What is there for a Sharks fan to defend themselves with? My reply is simple: "At least I have the guts to stand behind the Club where I grew up and that I call home - what's your excuse?"
This year, our Club has performed a comeback of truly Lazarus like proportions through the titanic effort of a new administration and a core of hardy, never-say-die supporters. We have secured new sponsors, recognised our loyal fans and seen memberships rise by 50%. We have secured a development deal that could guarantee financial security for the Sharks indefinitely. And we have brought a new generation of talented youngsters to the team, many of them local juniors, who will be the face of Rugby League in a few short years.
So what am I worried about? It's simple; our Club was at the brink of destruction last year and all of the abovementioned good work has only served to hold that off temporarily. We haven't yet navigated our way out of these trecherous waters yet.
With so many commentators salivating over the prospect of the Sharks receiving the wooden spoon this year, I have grave concerns that another disastrous season may undo all the good work that has been done in the off-season. Many of the new members we have signed may not be so willing to sign up again if the Sharks become the whipping boys many are tipping them to become in 2010. Whilst we have seen record numbers flock to the club in the off season, an emabarrasing performance this year could see supporters desert the ship in equally large numbers.
So, what I am asking, actually pleading for, is for us as a Club, as fans, as a community to LIFT. Lift this Club with all you have.
Support them on the field wherever you can. Promote them in your daily life; at work, to friends and family and in the general community. Do what you can to support them financially (which most of us do) but just as importantly, encourage others to do the same.
This is never more true than for those of us who live in the Sutherland Shire. "Re-connecting with the community" is not just some marketing buzzword the Club has trotted out because it sounds good. They recognise that it is the one thing that is vital to the ongoing survival and success of the Sharks. We need to get the Shire back behind the black, white and blue and bring back the days I grew up with, watching those previously mentioned champions Rogers, ET, Miller and The Peach tear into the oppostion in front of a legion of screaming fans at a packed out Shark Park. We need to make Shark Park the graveyard once again. We need to ensure that whatever games the Sharks lose this year, we gave all we had to make sure they weren't lost at home - our home.
Because at the end of the day, that's what it is - our home, where we live, where I grew up and where I am raising my family. And I'm not letting anyone walk in and take anything from my home without one hell of a fight.
