The 2016 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season is the 50th in the club's history. Coached by Shane Flanagan and captained by Paul Gallen, they competed in the NRL's 2016 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season 3rd (out of 16) to make the finals.
In the first week on the finals, they took on the Canberra Raiders, who at that stage were on a 10-game winning streak, at GIO Stadium. A day before the game, Sharks captain, Paul Gallen did not take the trip and was ruled out with a back injury. 7 minutes into the game, stand-in captain Wade Graham was taken off the field and would not return due to a concussion. Despite playing with one less player (16) for more than 70 minutes, the Sharks managed to earn a week off and advance to the preliminary finals with a 16-14 win, one of the Sharks' more memorable wins in their history.
In the preliminary final, they took on the North Queensland Cowboys, who managed to narrowing beat the Brisbane Broncos in a 90-minute thriller the week before, at Allianz Stadium. Paul Gallen and Wade Graham returned from their respective injuries to line up in a near fully strengthed Cronulla side. With James Maloney and Chad Townsend leading the way, the Sharks defeated the Cowboys 32-20 to progress into the 2016 NRL Grand Final, their first grand final appearance since the 1997 Super League Season. It was only the fourth time they had appeared in a grand final in their history.
Playing in front of 83,625 fans, the Cronulla Sharks broke their 49 year drought without a premiership, with a 14-12 win over the minor premiers, the Melbourne Storm. It sent Michael Ennis out a winner in his final game in the NRL.[1] The Clive Churchill Medal Winner was Luke Lewis.[2]
Results
Round 1 - North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks (20-14)
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales. The Cronulla Sharks compete in the National Rugby League (NRL), Australasia's premier rugby league competition. The Sharks, as they are commonly known, were admitted to the New South Wales Rugby League premiership, predecessor of the Australian Rugby League and the current National Rugby League competition, in January 1967. The club competed in every premiership season since then and, during the Super League war, joined the rebel competition before continuing on in the re-united NRL Premiership. The Sharks have been in competition for 56 years, appearing in four grand finals, winning their first premiership in 2016 after defeating the Melbourne Storm at Stadium Australia.
Paul Gallen is an Australian retired professional boxer and former professional rugby league footballer who played as a lock, prop and second-row forward and captained the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL to their maiden NRL Premiership in 2016.
The history of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks rugby League Football Club goes back to its foundation in the 1960s.
Jayson Bukuya is a Fiji former international rugby league footballer who played as a lock or second-row forward for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL.
Benjamin Barba is an Australian former professional dual code rugby league & rugby union footballer who last played for St Helens in the Super League. He primarily played as a fullback or five-eighth.
Andrew Fifita is a retired professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop. He has played for Tonga and Australia at international level.
The 2011 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season is the 45th in the club's history. They are competing in the NRL's 2011 Telstra Premiership.
Ricky Leutele is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Leigh Leopards in the Betfred Super League.
The 2012 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season is the 46th in the club's history. Coached by Shane Flanagan and captained by Paul Gallen, they competed in the NRL's 2012 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season 7th. The Sharks were then knocked out of contention in their first game of the finals against the Canberra Raiders.
Sosaia Feki, anglicised Josiah Feki, also known by the nickname of "The PM" is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays on the wing for Western Suburbs Red Devils in the Illawarra Rugby League.
The 2013 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season is the 47th in the club's history. Coached by Shane Flanagan and captained by Paul Gallen, they competed in the NRL's 2013 Telstra Premiership. The Sharks finished the regular season 5th, thus reaching the finals for a second consecutive season. They were then knocked out of contention in the second week of the finals by eventual grand finalists the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
The 2014 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season is the 48th in the club's history.
Valentine Holmes is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre or winger for the St George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League and Australia at international level.
The 2015 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season is the 49th in the club's history. Coached by Shane Flanagan and captained by Paul Gallen, they competed in the NRL's 2015 Telstra Premiership. Starting the season as the previous season's wooden spooners, the Sharks finished the regular season in 6th place to reach the finals, winning their first play-off match but losing their second to eventual premiers North Queensland Cowboys and being knocked out of contention.
The 2016 NRL Grand Final was a rugby league match between the Melbourne Storm and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks to determine the premiers of the National Rugby League for the 2016 season. The match was held at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on Sunday 2 October. Cronulla-Sutherland won the match 14–12 in a tight contest before 83,625 spectators, earning the club its first premiership title in their 49-year history. They also became the last of nine Sydney-based teams to win a premiership. Cronulla forward Luke Lewis was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal as the best player on ground.
The 2017 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season was the 51st in the club's history. Coached by Shane Flanagan and captained by Paul Gallen, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2017 Telstra Premiership.
The 2019 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season was the 53rd in the club's history. The team was coached by John Morris, who replaced Shane Flanagan after he resigned in January. The Cronulla Sharks were captained by Paul Gallen and Wade Graham and competed in the National Rugby League's 2019 Telstra Premiership.
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