Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2008
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
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
.
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
.
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 MelbourneMelbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
in Round 2. The match against the Storm was marred by a on-field brawl after an illegal tackle by Cronulla's Ben Ross
Ben Ross
Ben Ross is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the National Rugby League . A Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he has previously played club football for St...
on Melbourne's Cooper Cronk
Cooper Cronk
Cooper Patrick Cronk is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL...
, resulting in both Ross and Melbourne's Brett White
Brett White
Brett White is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canberra Raiders, and formally of the Melbourne Storm of the NRL...
being sent off and later being referred to the NRL judiciary.
The Sharks' season of promise was however marred by the late season suspension of star player Greg Bird
Greg Bird
Gregory Bird is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League...
, following its round 24, 20-0 win over top four contenders the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
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
Brett Seymour
Brett Seymour is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Hull FC in the English Super League...
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
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
.
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
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
36-10 at home with Misi Taulapapa
Misi Taulapapa
Misi Taulapapa is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays for the Sheffield Eagles in the Co-operative Rugby League competition. He has previously played professionally in Australia and England...
, a Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
outcast scoring a hat-trick. Due to the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
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
Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League...
was suspended a week earlier for a grapple tackle
Grapple tackle
A grapple tackle is a controversial tackling technique used in rugby league. It has gained notoriety in Australia's National Rugby League competition whereby the tackler attempts to impede the ball carrier by applying a chokehold-like grip...
on Brisbane
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
's Sam Thaiday
Sam Thaiday
Samuel H. "Sam" Thaiday is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he has spent all of his career at the Broncos, with whom he won the 2006...
.
Results
----------
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----