1997 Illawarra Steelers season

Last updated
Illawarra Steelers
1997 season
CEO Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Millward
Head coach Flag of Australia (converted).svg Andrew Farrar
Captain Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul McGregor
NRL 6th (out of 12)
Top try scorerClub: Wayne Clifford (14)
Top points scorerClub: Wayne Clifford (56)
Highest home attendance12,089 (vs. Gold Coast Chargers, 30 August 1997, at WIN Stadium)
Lowest home attendance5,546 (vs. Western Suburbs Magpies, 10 May 1997, at WIN Stadium)
Average home attendance8,695

The 1997 Illawarra Steelers season was the sixteenth in the club's history. The side made its second appearance in the play-offs, the first ending with the infamous 1992 semi-finals 4-0 loss to the St. George Dragons. Whilst making the finals, the season ultimately ended up as a disappointment, losing in the first week to the Gold Coast Chargers. Many expected them to win this match easily as they had beaten their opponents comfortably 28-6 the week before.

Contents

Season Summary

The Steelers lost several players before the start of this season, including veterans Neil Piccinelli, David Riolo, Brendan O'Meara and Darren Fritz, leaving a massive hole to be filled by many inexperienced juniors. They gained only halfback/hooker Will Robinson from Souths. The beginning of the season looked promising for the Steelers with four wins, one draw and one loss from their first six games, leaving them sitting third on the ladder. However, they failed to win any of their next seven games, which included two draws. This middle portion of the season did not bode well for the club’s finals prospects, but to their credit, they won four of their next five games and the final two matches of the season when a post-season berth was on the line. Disappointingly for the Steelers, a 25-14 loss at Parramatta Stadium at the hands of the Gold Coast Chargers in the first week of the finals spelt a disastrous end to a season which could have produced so much more, as some of the country’s most formidable sides were competing in the rival Telstra Super League tournament.

Player movements

Gains

PlayerPrevious club
Will Robinson South Sydney Rabbitohs

Losses

PlayerJoined Club
Paul Carige Parramatta Eels
Darrien Doherty Hunter Mariners
Darren Fritz North Sydney Bears
Brendan O'Meara South Sydney Rabbitohs
Neil Piccinelli Hunter Mariners
Wayne Richards Newcastle Knights
David Riolo Parramatta Eels
Craig Simon South Sydney
Josh White London Broncos

Squad

No.PositionPlayer
Flag of Australia (converted).svg HB Glen Air
Flag of Australia (converted).svg FE Trent Barrett
Flag of Australia (converted).svg SR Darren Bradstreet
Flag of Australia (converted).svg LK Adam Bristow
Flag of Australia (converted).svg WG Jonathan Britten
Flag of Australia (converted).svg HK Dean Callaway
Flag of Australia (converted).svg WG Wayne Clifford
Flag of Australia (converted).svg PR David Cox
Flag of Australia (converted).svg PR Scott Cram
Flag of Australia (converted).svg LK John Cross
Flag of Australia (converted).svg SR Michael Cross
Flag of Australia (converted).svg PR Maea David
Flag of Australia (converted).svg PR Andrew Hart
Flag of Australia (converted).svg WG Brendon Hauville
Flag of Australia (converted).svg CE Jason Hooper
No.PositionPlayer
Flag of Australia (converted).svg SR Terry Lamey
Flag of Australia (converted).svg PR Chris Leikvoll
Flag of Australia (converted).svg LK Brad Mackay
Flag of Australia (converted).svg CE Paul McGregor (captain)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg WG Dean Moon
Flag of Australia (converted).svg HK Andrew Purcell
Flag of Australia (converted).svg FB Brendon Reeves
Flag of Australia (converted).svg HB Will Robinson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg CE Brett Rodwell
Flag of Australia (converted).svg WG Fili Seru
Flag of Australia (converted).svg CE Craig Simon
Flag of Australia (converted).svg PR Craig Smith
Flag of Australia (converted).svg CE Shaun Timmins
Flag of Australia (converted).svg SR Brendon Tunbridge
Flag of Australia (converted).svg WG Rod Wishart

Draw and Results

Quick Summary

1997 Illawarra Steelers season summary
RoundHomeScoreAway
1Steelers50-10 South Sydney colours.svg Souths
2 Balmain colours.svg Balmain 10-18Steelers
3Steelers8-20 St. George colours.svg St. George
4 North Sydney colours.svg Norths 18-18Steelers
5Steelers14-6 South Queensland colours.svg Sth Qld
6 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney 20-26Steelers
RoundHomeScoreAway
7Steelers16-23 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta
8 Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle 20-4Steelers
9Steelers34-34 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly
10Steelers2-6 Western Suburbs colours.svg Wests
11 Gold Coast 10-11Steelers
12 South Sydney colours.svg Souths 28-28Steelers
RoundHomeScoreAway
13Steelers6-18 Balmain colours.svg Balmain
14 St. George colours.svg St. George 10-12Steelers
15Steelers15-8 North Sydney colours.svg Norths
16 South Queensland colours.svg Sth Qld 8-34Steelers
17Steelers12-34 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney
18 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta 24-28Steelers
RoundHomeScoreAway
19Steelers12-22 Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle
20 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly 30-14Steelers
21 Western Suburbs colours.svg Wests 10-34Steelers
22Steelers28-6 Gold Coast
F1Steelers14-25 Gold Coast

March (2-1-1)

Round 1: 9 March 1997
Optus Cup
Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers(20) 50–10 (10) South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs Wollongong, New South Wales
Tries:Goals:Tries:
  • M.Manning
Goals:
  • M.Manning 3/3
Stadium: WIN Stadium
Attendance: 7,697
Referee: Paul McBlane (field)

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Wishart, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Callaway, Smith, Bristow, Mackay, Rodwell. Interchange: Cram, Tunbridge, David, Hart.


Round 2: 15 March 1997
Optus Cup
Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers(10) 10–18 (0) Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers Sydney, New South Wales
Tries:Goals:
Tries:Goals:Stadium: Leichhardt Oval
Attendance: 8,211
Referee: David Manson (field)

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Wishart, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Callaway, Smith, Bristow, Mackay, Rodwell. Interchange: Tunbridge, Cram, David, J.Cross.


Round 3: 22 March 1997
Optus Cup
Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers(4) 8–20 (18) St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons Wollongong, New South Wales
Tries:Goals:Tries:Goals:Stadium: WIN Stadium
Attendance: 8,661
Referee: Paul Simpkins (field)

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Wishart, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Callaway, Smith, Bristow, Mackay, Rodwell. Interchange: Tunbridge, Cram, David, J.Cross.


Round 4: 28 March 1997
Optus Cup
North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney Bears(4) 18–18 (14) Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers Sydney, New South Wales
Tries:Goals:Tries:Goals:Stadium: North Sydney Oval
Attendance: 8,319
Referee: Paul McBlane (field)

It was a day of draws for the Steelers and the Bears. All three grades were drawn (U-20s: 12-all, Reserves: 18-all, Firsts: 18-all). After capitulating in the second half, the Steelers saw themselves down 18-14, losing their 14-4 lead at half-time. Brendon Hauville scored in the final minutes, in what seemed to be a get-out-jail move by the substitute, who had come on for winger and regular goal-kicker Rod Wishart. What should have been a last-minute victory for the Steelers instead became a fruitless event when Shaun Timmins missed the conversion from in front of the uprights. It was just not their day for defeating the Bears.

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Wishart, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Robinson; Bradstreet, Callaway, Smith, Cram, Mackay, Rodwell. Interchange: Tunbridge, J.Cross, Bristow, Hauville.


April (2-0-2)

Round 5: 6 April 1997
Optus Cup
Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers(4) 14–6 (0) South Queensland colours.svg South Queensland Crushers Wollongong, New South Wales
Tries:Goals:Tries:Goals:Stadium: WIN Stadium
Attendance: 6,144
Referee: Matt Hewitt (field)

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Hauville, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Robinson, Smith, Cram, Mackay, J.Cross. Interchange: Bristow, Tunbridge, David, Hart.


Round 6: 13 April 1997
Optus Cup
Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney City Roosters(12) 20–42 (16) Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers Sydney, New South Wales
Tries:Goals:Tries:Goals:Stadium: Sydney Football Stadium
Attendance: 7,600
Referee: Paul Simpkins (field)

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Hauville, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Robinson, Smith, Cram, Mackay, J.Cross. Interchange: Bristow, Tunbridge, David, Hart.


Round 7: 19 April 1997
Optus Cup
Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers(8) 16–23 (20) Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Wollongong, New South Wales
Tries:Goals:Tries:Goals:
Stadium: WIN Stadium
Attendance: 11,992
Referee: Sean Hampstead (field)

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Hauville, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Robinson, Smith, Cram, Mackay, J.Cross. Interchange: Bristow, David, Tunbridge, Seru.


Round 8: 27 April 1997
Optus Cup
Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights(6) 20–4 (4) Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers Newcastle, New South Wales
Tries:Goals:Tries:Goals:Stadium: Marathon Stadium
Attendance: 12,582
Referee: Kelvin Jeffes (field)

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Seru, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Cram, Robinson, Smith, Bradstreet, Mackay, J.Cross. Interchange: Bristow, David, Rodwell, Tunbridge.


May (0-2-2)

Round 9: 4 May 1997
Optus Cup
Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers(18) 34–34 (18) Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Sea Eagles Wollongong, New South Wales
Tries:Goals:
Tries:Goals:Stadium: WIN Stadium
Attendance: 9,835
Referee: David Manson (field)

A gripping twelve try game. By the end of the match these two clubs equalled the premiership record for the highest score for a drawn game at 34-all. Manly started great and finished strong. The Steelers were up 34-22 with six minutes remaining. However, they only had eleven men on the field and the Sea Eagles ran them home. Five-Eighth Trent Barrett was sent off in the 66th minute for a high tackle on Steve Menzies and David Cox was sin binned in the 69th minute. Manly stayed at the top of the table with 15 points and the Steelers were sitting fifth with ten by the end of the round. Barrett received a two-match ban for the tackle.

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Seru, Rodwell, Timmins, Clifford; Barrett, Air; Smith, Robinson, Bradstreet, Bristow, Mackay, J.Cross (c). Interchange: Cram, David, Cox, Purcell.


Round 10: 10 May 1997
Optus Cup
Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers(0) 2–6 (0) Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies Wollongong, New South Wales
Goals:Tries:Goals:Stadium: WIN Stadium
Attendance: 5,546
Referee: Sean Hampstead (field)

The supporters stayed away from Saturday night's wind and rain. Everything about the night was miserable for the five-thousand Steelers fans that bothered to show up. Only one try was scored in stark contrast to the entertaining twelve-try feast of the previous week against the Manly Sea Eagles at the same venue. Both fullbacks, Brendon Reeves (Illawarra) and Andrew Leeds (Wests), were sin binned during the game.

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Seru, Timmins, Rodwell, Clifford; Purcell, Air; Bradstreet, Robinson, Smith, David, Bristow, J.Cross (c). Interchange: Cram, Cox, Hart, Hooper.


Round 11: 17 May 1997
Optus Cup
Gold Coast(6) 11–10 (4)Illawarra Steelers Gold Coast, Queensland
Tries:Goals:
Tries:
Goals:
Stadium: Carrara Stadium
Attendance: 5,813
Referee: David Manson (field)

Brendan Hurst's late field goal leaves Illawarra's chances in the competition diminishing, dropping to seventh on ten points with Wests and St. George waiting eagerly below them, also with ten points.

Steelers Lineup: Seru; Wishart, Rodwell, McGregor (c), Clifford; Timmins, Robinson; Cram, J.Cross, Smith, Bristow, Bradstreet, Hart. Interchange: Reeves, Cox, David, M.Cross.


Round 12: 25 May 1997
Optus Cup
South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs(12) 28–28 (18) Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers Sydney, New South Wales
Tries:Goals:Tries:
  • Darren Bradstreet
  • Brendon Reeves
  • David Cox
  • Will Robinson
  • Wayne Clifford
Goals:
  • Darren Bradstreet 2/2
  • Brendon Reeves 2/4
Stadium: Sydney Football Stadium
Attendance: 4,271
Referee: Mogsheen Jadwat (field)

Illawarra's thrilling third draw of the campaign, and a high scoring one at that (28-all). Another ten-tries put on by the players, giving the crowd of less than five-thousand their money's worth. Steelers supports certainly couldn't help but feel if they had of gotten over the line in at least two of these three games their season might have shaped up differently. After this game, Illawarra was sitting in eighth place, outside of play-off's contention for the first time this season.

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Seru, Rodwell, Timmins, Clifford; Barrett, Robinson; Cram, J.Cross (c), Bradstreet, Bristow, Hart, Mackay. Interchange: Cox, Tunbridge, Lamey, Leikvoll.


June (1-0-1)

Round 13: 6 June 1997
Optus Cup
Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers(0) 6–18 (12) Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers Wollongong, New South Wales
Tries:Goals:Tries:Goals:Stadium: WIN Stadium
Attendance: 8,184
Referee: Matt Hewitt (field)

It was a disappointing first Friday Night Football of the season for the Illawarra side at home, losing 18-6 to a Balmain Tigers side seething from their second-round loss at Leichhardt the first time these two teams met in the season. The Tigers held onto their 12-0 lead at the break. Barrett got one back for the Steelers, taking them only six points behind, but an Adam Starr try held-off any attempted comeback. The result aided the Steelers slip down the ladder into tenth.

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Seru, Rodwell, Timmins, Clifford; Barrett, Robinson; Cram, Callaway, Bradstreet, Hart, Mackay, J.Cross (c). Interchange: Cox, Bristow, Leikvoll, Air.


Round 14: 22 June 1997
Optus Cup
St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons(4) 10–12 (8) Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers Sydney, New South Wales
Tries:Goals:
  • Steven Price 1/2
  • Gavin Clinch 0/2
Tries:Goals:
  • Darren Bradstreet 0/2
  • Brendon Reeves 0/2
Stadium: Kogarah Oval
Attendance: 7,257
Referee: Paul Simpkins (field)

The third and final game of weekend due to the split round saw the Steelers side completely dominate the St. George team, but they failed to convert their superiority into points. They eventually got themselves over the line with two minutes remaining through experienced centre Brett Rodwell, winning 12-10. The win saw them leap-frog St. George and Balmain back up into eighth position, one place away from finals footy.

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Britten, Rodwell, Timmins, Clifford; Air, Robinson; Cram, Callaway, Bradstreet, Hart, Mackay, J.Cross (c). Interchange: Leikvoll, Lamey, Cox.


Ladder

TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts
1 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly 221525521366+15532
2 Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle 221417512320+19229
3 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta 221417431359+7229
4 North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney 221318529341+18827
5 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney City 221318487366+12127
6 Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra 221039423376+4723
7 Gold Coast Chargers colours.svg Gold Coast 2210111438466-2821
8 Balmain colours.svg Balmain 2210012339340-120
9 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs 2210012355424-6920
10 St. George colours.svg St. George 229112331392-6119
11 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney 224117323630-3079
12 South Queensland colours.svg South Queensland 224018321630-3098

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