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Sharks In Shallow Water
BY BRAD FORREST
09 Aug, 2011 04:00 AM
THE fade-out by Cronulla Sharks over the past month — bottoming out with the team’s fourth straight loss, 20-16, to the last-placed Gold Coast Titans on Saturday night at Toyota Stadium — has cost the team and club badly.
Along with all hope for any tilt at the NRL finals for the third season in a row, the club faces more than $300,000 in lost gate-takings from their final four home games, compared to what would be derived if the team had maintained its winning march to the NRL finals.
A fifth-straight loss on Monday night — against the Canterbury Bulldogs at Toyota Stadium — could prove costly, with the $300million retail and property development proposal still being finalised.
The Sharks attracted only 6000-odd fans to their two last home night games against the Knights and Titans — either side of embarrassingly big losses to the Dragons and Broncos — resulting in the financially struggling club battling just to cover operating costs on those nights.
The Sharks’ home-game crowd average has now dipped below 12,000 — the lowest in the NRL. Fans who turned up to see their team win four straight last month have turned away in droves at a time when a winning Sharks’ side would be attracting 16,000-18,000 plus crowds.
The Sharks’ last home games are against Canterbury Bulldogs on Monday night before they host the improved Wests Tigers in the final round 26 game.
With the Bulldogs maintaining faint hopes of squeezing into the NRL top eight, and the Tigers going well, crowds should jump above 10,000, but rival supporters could well outnumber Sharks’ fans.
The Sharks improved on their big loss against the Broncos, but were frustrated by a solid Gold Coast defence and an inability to punish the Titans close to their line.
Despite a mammoth effort by captain Paul Gallen, returning from injury, the Sharks’ attack and kicking game fell flat when they had the visitors pinned on the ropes.
‘‘It was very frustrating,’’ said coach Shane Flanagan afterwards. ‘‘I don’t know how many opportunities we had to score and didn’t, whether it was Gal slipping or someone not throwing a pass.’’
Gallen’s own frustrations were obvious when he lashed out with his feet after he was held in a tackle. He has been charged with grade one dangerous contact and, if he takes an early plea, Gallen will miss a game.
Flanagan denied there would be any lack of motivation among the players, adding that they would ‘‘continue to turn up’’ despite losing any chance of making the finals. ‘‘The higher we finish on the ladder, the better for us all,’’ Flanagan said.
With directors Denise Aldous and Jenny Reynolds not re-nominating for election, for the first time in many years six incumbents on the board now face a direct challenge from the same number of new applicants for the new, eight-member Cronulla board.
The new nominees are former NSW sports minister Chris Downy; shire lawyers Peter Kerr and Phillip Tiernan; former Sharks’ league stars Jonathan Docking and Dane Sorensen and shire IT project manager, Peter O’Driscoll.
The Monday night August 15 home-game between the Cronulla Sharks and Canterbury Bulldogs is played just two days before the members start voting for the new Cronulla board, on Wednesday August 17.
NEW NOMINEES
The Leader will profile each of the six new nominees to the Cronulla Sharks’ board of directors in coming editions.
The successful directors, after the vote, will be announced at the Sharks’ annual general meeting on Tuesday night, August 23. Chairman Damian Irvine is unchallenged for his position.
Will the Sharks win another game this year?
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=...y-league/sharks-in-shallow-water/2251813.aspx
BY BRAD FORREST
09 Aug, 2011 04:00 AM
THE fade-out by Cronulla Sharks over the past month — bottoming out with the team’s fourth straight loss, 20-16, to the last-placed Gold Coast Titans on Saturday night at Toyota Stadium — has cost the team and club badly.
Along with all hope for any tilt at the NRL finals for the third season in a row, the club faces more than $300,000 in lost gate-takings from their final four home games, compared to what would be derived if the team had maintained its winning march to the NRL finals.
A fifth-straight loss on Monday night — against the Canterbury Bulldogs at Toyota Stadium — could prove costly, with the $300million retail and property development proposal still being finalised.
The Sharks attracted only 6000-odd fans to their two last home night games against the Knights and Titans — either side of embarrassingly big losses to the Dragons and Broncos — resulting in the financially struggling club battling just to cover operating costs on those nights.
The Sharks’ home-game crowd average has now dipped below 12,000 — the lowest in the NRL. Fans who turned up to see their team win four straight last month have turned away in droves at a time when a winning Sharks’ side would be attracting 16,000-18,000 plus crowds.
The Sharks’ last home games are against Canterbury Bulldogs on Monday night before they host the improved Wests Tigers in the final round 26 game.
With the Bulldogs maintaining faint hopes of squeezing into the NRL top eight, and the Tigers going well, crowds should jump above 10,000, but rival supporters could well outnumber Sharks’ fans.
The Sharks improved on their big loss against the Broncos, but were frustrated by a solid Gold Coast defence and an inability to punish the Titans close to their line.
Despite a mammoth effort by captain Paul Gallen, returning from injury, the Sharks’ attack and kicking game fell flat when they had the visitors pinned on the ropes.
‘‘It was very frustrating,’’ said coach Shane Flanagan afterwards. ‘‘I don’t know how many opportunities we had to score and didn’t, whether it was Gal slipping or someone not throwing a pass.’’
Gallen’s own frustrations were obvious when he lashed out with his feet after he was held in a tackle. He has been charged with grade one dangerous contact and, if he takes an early plea, Gallen will miss a game.
Flanagan denied there would be any lack of motivation among the players, adding that they would ‘‘continue to turn up’’ despite losing any chance of making the finals. ‘‘The higher we finish on the ladder, the better for us all,’’ Flanagan said.
With directors Denise Aldous and Jenny Reynolds not re-nominating for election, for the first time in many years six incumbents on the board now face a direct challenge from the same number of new applicants for the new, eight-member Cronulla board.
The new nominees are former NSW sports minister Chris Downy; shire lawyers Peter Kerr and Phillip Tiernan; former Sharks’ league stars Jonathan Docking and Dane Sorensen and shire IT project manager, Peter O’Driscoll.
The Monday night August 15 home-game between the Cronulla Sharks and Canterbury Bulldogs is played just two days before the members start voting for the new Cronulla board, on Wednesday August 17.
NEW NOMINEES
The Leader will profile each of the six new nominees to the Cronulla Sharks’ board of directors in coming editions.
The successful directors, after the vote, will be announced at the Sharks’ annual general meeting on Tuesday night, August 23. Chairman Damian Irvine is unchallenged for his position.
Will the Sharks win another game this year?
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=...y-league/sharks-in-shallow-water/2251813.aspx
