2004 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season

2004 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season
NRL Rank	11th
Play-off result	Did not qualify
2004 record	Wins: 10; draws: 0; losses: 14
Points scored	For: 528 (96 tries, 72 goals); against: 645 (117 tries, 88 goals, 1 field goal)
Team information
Coach	Stuart Raper
Captain	David Peachey Brett Kimmorley
Stadium	Toyota Park
Avg. attendance	12,489
Top scorers
Tries	Nigel Vagana (12)
Goals	Brett Kimmorley (40)
Points	Brett Kimmorley (92)
←  2003 2005  →

The 2004 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season was the 38th in the club's history. They competed in the 2004 NRL Telstra Premiership under head coach Stuart Raper and captains David Peachey and Brett Kimmorley.

Season summary

The Sharks appointed Stuart Raper as head coach following the dismissal of Chris Anderson in the off-season. The team started the season poorly, losing four of their first five matches and sitting last on the ladder after round five.

A notable incident early in the season involved Greg Bird, who was sent off for kneeing South Sydney's Shane Marteene in round 5, resulting in a 10-week suspension. ^[1]

Despite these setbacks, the Sharks achieved notable victories, including:

Round 22 upset over the Sydney Roosters, who were leading the ladder at the time.

Wins at Parramatta Stadium against the Parramatta Eels, where they had previously suffered a 74-4 defeat in 2003.

Victories against the Melbourne Storm in Melbourne, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval, and the Brisbane Broncos in Brisbane.

The Sharks finished the season 11th, missing the finals for the second consecutive year, but slightly improving on their 12th-place finish in 2003.

Ladder

2004 NRL season v t e
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Sydney Roosters	24	19	0	5	2	710	368	+342	42
2	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (P)	24	19	0	5	2	760	491	+269	42
3	Brisbane Broncos	24	16	1	7	2	602	533	+69	37
4	Penrith Panthers	24	15	0	9	2	672	567	+105	34
5	St George Illawarra Dragons	24	14	0	10	2	624	415	+209	32
6	Melbourne Storm	24	13	0	11	2	684	517	+167	30
7	North Queensland Cowboys	24	12	1	11	2	526	514	+12	29
8	Canberra Raiders	24	11	0	13	2	554	613	−59	26
9	Wests Tigers	24	10	0	14	2	509	534	−25	24
10	Newcastle Knights	24	10	0	14	2	516	617	−101	24
11	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	24	10	0	14	2	528	645	−117	24
12	Parramatta Eels	24	9	0	15	2	517	626	−109	22
13	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	24	9	0	15	2	615	754	−139	22
14	New Zealand Warriors	24	6	0	18	2	427	693	−266	16
15	South Sydney Rabbitohs	24	5	2	17	2	455	812	−357	16

References

1. Shute, Graham (15 April 2004). "Bird to miss 10 weeks". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 October 2025.

[https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2004/cronulla/summary.html

2004 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks – Rugby League Project]

[https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/08/05/cronulla-sharks-season-by-season-summary/

Cronulla Sharks: Season by Season – NRL.com]