2008 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season

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 Melbourne in Round 2. The match against the Storm was marred by an 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.

Ladder

Results

Anthony Watmough Michael Bani Goals: Matt Orford 1/2 Bryson Goodwin Brett Kearney Goals: Luke Covell 4/5

Russell Aitken Brett White Israel Folau Goals: Cameron Smith 2/3 David Simmons Brett Kearney Paul Gallen Goals: Luke Covell 2/5 Field Goals: Brett Kimmorley (1)

Josh Morris Lagi Setu Ben Hornby Goals: Mark Gasnier 0/2 Jamie Soward 2/2 Greg Bird Brett Kearney Bryson Goodwin Goals: Luke Covell 3/4

John Sutton Beau Champion Goals: Nathan Merritt 1/2 Greg Bird Luke Covell Goals: Luke Covell 2/3

Greg Bird (2) Lance Thompson Fraser Anderson Goals: Luke Covell 2/4 Nathan Smith Michael Jennings Michael Gordon Luke Rooney Goals: Jarrod Sammut 2/4 Field Goals: Jarrod Sammut (1)

Brett Kearney Brett Seymour Goals: Luke Covell 4/5 Chris Lawrence (2) Chris Heighington Brett Hodgson Goals: Brett Hodgson 2/4

Mark Henry Carl Webb Luke O'Donnell Goals: Johnathan Thurston 3/3 Brett Kearney Fraser Anderson Luke Douglas Paul Gallen Goals: Luke Covell 4/5

Misi Taulapapa Brett Kearney Goals: Luke Covell 2/3 Field Goals: Brett Kimmorley (1) Tonie Carroll Goals: Michael Ennis 1/1

Misi Taulapapa (3) Brett Seymour Luke Covell Ben Pomeroy Brett Kearney Goals: Luke Covell 3/7 Brett Kimmorley 1/1 Marshall Chalk Colin Best Goals: Terry Campese 1/2

Steve Turner (2) Israel Folau Adam Blair Matt Geyer Goals: Steve Turner 4/5

References

References

1. [http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/off-to-the-judiciary/2008/03/24/1206206995912.html Five charged by NRL judiciary - leaguehq.com.au]{{Dead link. (September 2018)