Financial Report Yr Ending 3.. - SHARKIES | Cronulla Sutherland ...

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT CONTINUED
Football Club
As far as results and ladder position were concerned the 2011 NRL season was disappointing in that it matched our 2010 win record
of seven, despite the fact that we were sitting on the fringe of the top eight after 18 rounds. Finishing the season with eight straight
losses certainly wasn’t a part of the plan and even though our results were equal to those of 2010 the team definitely showed signs
of improvement in Shane Flanagan’s first full season as Head Coach, with our inability to win the close matches proving to be the
difference.
On a personal level our Captain Paul Gallen was once again the standout, representing Australia and captaining NSW during 2011. Paul
also backed up his 2010 efforts with a clean sweep at our 2011 Awards Night, winning the Player of the Year and the Players’ Player
awards, while adding to that he also won the prestigious Dally M Lock Forward of the Year, the Peter Frilingos “Headline Moment of
the Year” and the RLPA Player of the Year.
Capping off a season of outstanding personal achievement in Round 26 in a match played against the Wests Tigers at Toyota Stadium
Paul also celebrated his 200th NRL and Cronulla Sharks match which represented a tremendous accomplishment for such a loyal
servant to our club.
Of our other players, Kade Snowden again played for NSW in the State of Origin and also achieved a childhood dream when selected to
debut for Australia. Jeremy Smith again represented New Zealand and Tyson Frizell was selected to play for Wales in the Four Nations
Tournament at the end of season.
The 2011 season also saw a number of players depart the club for an assortment of reasons while heading to a number of different
destinations, with Luke Douglas, Kade Snowden, Dean Collis, Tim Smith, Scott Porter, Johnny Mannah, Broderick Wright, Siosaia Vave,
Paul Aiton, Taulima Tautai, Stuart Flanagan and Trent Grubb leaving the Sharks. We would like to thank them all for their contribution
to the club and wish them all the best in their future. NRL Assistant Coach Joey Grima also decided to move on and our best wishes
went with him as well.
Our NYC team, coached by James Shepherd were the shining lights for the club in 2011 finishing the home and away season in third
position on 37 competition points. It was the first time since the inception of the Toyota Cup in 2008 that a Cronulla Sharks team has
made the finals. Congratulations must go to all Toyota Cup players and staff on this achievement. The boys performed well in the finals
series before bowing out to eventual runners up North Queensland in the Grand Final Qualifier.
In the NSW Cup the Sharks entered into a partnership with the Melbourne Storm in 2011, a venture which proved to be a great
success. The team, in replicating their NYC counterparts, finished in third position on 37 competition points and while they too
performed admirably during the finals series they were denied a spot in the Grand Final as a result of a heartbreaking loss in golden
point to the Auckland Vulcans. Coach Tony Herman, his players and staff all deserve recognition for an excellent season.
In the District Junior Representative arena our Under-18 SG Ball side, coached by Dave Howlett finished the year in a credible 7th
position and were knocked out in a hard fought contest by eventual Premiers Newcastle. As for the Sharks under-16 Harold Matthews
side, coached by Steve Holz, they may have had a disappointing season finishing in 14th position, but the boys were a credit to the
club and showed great spirit and determination each week.
Finally, in relation to the junior representative program, special thanks must go to the Cronulla Sutherland Junior League for their
assistance and to Salmon Buckets, Bullet Labour Hire and Douglas Maher Coleman, our junior representative sponsors for 2011,
for their contribution and support.
Darren Mooney
General Manager Football
Sponsors
2011 saw the continuation of many valued sponsors. Hisense continued on as our naming rights sponsor, Pokerstars.net maintained
their sleeve position, Shire Steel as the front of shorts sponsor and Blades continued as our official team wear supplier. The Sharks
welcomed OnSite Cleaning as a rear of shorts sponsor on a 3 year contract. The Sharks would also like to show their appreciation to
our many long term sponsors remaining with us in 2011, Toyota (Stadium Sponsor), Schweppes (Official Soft Drink) Carlton United
Brewery (Official Beer), Gatorade (Official Hydration Drink), Body Science (Official Nutrition and Compression Supplier) and Sharkies
Leagues Club (Official Home of The Sharks).
We would again like to thank the large number of local businesses within The Shire who are the true backbone of our corporate
hospitality program. The Sharks can be proud of their Game day corporate program boasting over 1,000 corporate attendee’s per home
game, one of the highest attended programs within the NRL. The Sharks have benefitted from this loyal support from the local Shire
businesses for many years, and we are truly appreciative.
We would also like to thank the growing number of local and national businesses joining the signage program at Toyota Stadium. This
program has been boosted with the addition of our new signage partner OAMM. OAMM have introduced many new businesses as
signage partners over the last 12 months taking advantage of the media opportunities we offer.
At a Junior Rugby League level, we would also like to thank Salmon Buckets, Bullet Labour Hire and Douglas Maher Coleman, for their
continued support, it is due to these great companies that we have such as successful Junior League program.
Peter Beaumont
General Manager Commercial