2003 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season

2003 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season
NRL rank12th
2003 recordWins: 8; draws: 0; losses: 16
Points scoredFor: 497 (92 tries, 64 goals, 1 field goal); against: 704 (121 tries, 109 goals, 2 field goals)
Team information
CoachChris Anderson
Captain
StadiumToyota Park
Avg. attendance12,892
Top scorers
TriesPhil Bailey (13)
GoalsJarrad Anderson (35)
PointsJarrad Anderson (94)
← 2002 2004 →

The 2003 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season was the 37th in the club's history. Coached by Chris Anderson and captained by David Peachey and Brett Kimmorley, they competed in the NRL's 2003 Telstra Premiership. The Sharks finished the regular season 12th (out of 15), failing to make the play-offs for the first time since 1998.

Season summary

Cronulla, hoping to build on its past four seasons in which it made the finals, suffered a season of unrelenting disappointment which culminated in the dismissal of head coach Chris Anderson.

The Sharks' 2003 season lowlight was the 74-4 thumping received at the hands of the Parramatta Eels at Parramatta Stadium on 23 August 2003 (round 24).[1] Despite scoring first through Paul Gallen in the 18th minute, and only trailing 24–4 at halftime, the Sharks put in their worst ever performance which just got worse with captain David Peachey and Dale Newton taking the walk of shame and Danny Nutley being sin binned for pulling the leg of a Parramatta opponent.[2] It would not be until Round 11, 2011 that the Sharks would again leave Parramatta Stadium on the back of a hiding; but this time the Sharks had a 40–6 defeat.

Highlights were few and far between in 2003; notable wins included a big 40–16 win over Manly in what was their first win for the season (also a big one) backed up with a 30–14 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs, both at home and then a 30–24 away win over the 2001 premiers Newcastle in Newcastle in which Paul Gallen was sent off. It appeared as though those hat-trick of wins would get the Sharks going in 2003, but the Sharks were never in the finals hunt throughout the year. Other notable wins included a 34–28 win over the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville, a comeback 20–10 win over the Brisbane Broncos after trailing 10–2 at halftime, a 25–16 win over bitter rivals St. George Illawarra at home and then a 54–34 win over the Rabbitohs in a bottom-of-the-table clash (this match occurring the week after the humiliating defeat against Parramatta).

Anderson was replaced during the off-season by Stuart Raper who had previous coaching experience with the Wigan Warriors. His term at the Sharks would only last three full seasons.

Squad Movement

2003 Gains

Player Signed from
Jarrad Anderson Western Suburbs Magpies[3][4][5]
Jason Kent St George Illawarra Dragons[6][7]
Andrew Emelio Canterbury Bulldogs[8]
Junior Paulo Penrith Panthers[9]
Laloa Milford Pia Donkeys[10][11]
Shaun Wessell Manly Sea Eagles[12][13]

2003 Losses

Player Signed from
Colin Best Hull FC[14][15]
Luke Branighan South Sydney Rabbitohs[16][17][18]
Preston Campbell Penrith Panthers[19]
Brett Firman St George Illawarra Dragons[20][21]
Nick Graham Wigan Warriors (mid-season) [22][23]
Matthew JohnsRetired [24][25]
Karl LovellRetired [26]
Luke MacDougall South Sydney Rabbitohs[27]
Ryan McGoldrick NSW Waratahs[28]
Chris McKenna Leeds Rhinos[29][30]
Andrew PierceRetired [31]
Ronald Prince Parramatta Eels[32]
Jared Taylor South Sydney Rabbitohs[33]
Dean Triester Hull FC (mid-season) [34][35]

Ladder

2003 NRL season
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Penrith Panthers (P) 2418062659527+13240
2 Sydney Roosters 2417072680445+23538
3 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2416082702419+28336
4 Canberra Raiders 2416082620463+15736
5 Melbourne Storm 2415092564486+7834
6 New Zealand Warriors 2415092545510+3534
7 Newcastle Knights 24140102632635-332
8 Brisbane Broncos 24120122497464+3328
9 Parramatta Eels 24110132570582-1226
10 St George Illawarra Dragons 24110132548593-4526
11 North Queensland Cowboys 24100142606629-2324
12 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2480162497704-20720
13 Wests Tigers 2470172470598-12818
14 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 2470172557791-23418
15 South Sydney Rabbitohs 2430212457758-30110

References

  1. ↑ Shayne on you: Ando blows up over ref – Sydney Morning Herald
  2. ↑ Eels set club record against 11-man Sharks
  3. ↑ "NEWS UPDATE: Young Sharks impress at Sevens". www.sharks.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 February 2003. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  4. ↑ "Late starter finally takes his chance". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 June 2003. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  5. ↑ "PLAYER PROFILE: Jarrad Anderson". www.nrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 August 2003. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "The 2003 Season". www.sharks.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 January 2003. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  7. ↑ "PLAYER PROFILE: Jason Kent". www.nrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 April 2003. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "The 2003 Season". www.sharks.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 January 2003. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  9. ↑ "The 2003 Season". www.sharks.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 January 2003. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  10. ↑ "Laloa Milford - RLP". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  11. ↑ "Sharks bitten by unregistered player fine". ABC News. 23 April 2003. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  12. ↑ "The 2003 Season". www.sharks.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 January 2003. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  13. ↑ "PLAYER PROFILE: Shaun Wessell". www.nrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 April 2003. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  14. ↑ "Colin Best". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  15. ↑ "Hull swoop for Aussie Best". BBC Sport. 6 August 2002. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  16. ↑ "Luke Branighan". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  17. ↑ "PLAYER PROFILE: Luke Branighan". www.nrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 September 2003. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  18. ↑ "RABBITOHS SIGN TWO MORE PLAYERS". nrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 August 2002. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  19. ↑ "Preston Campbell". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  20. ↑ "Brett Firman". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  21. ↑ "RABBITOHS SIGN TWO MORE PLAYERS". nrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 August 2002. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  22. ↑ "Nick Graham". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  23. ↑ "Graham walks out on Cronulla". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 April 2003. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  24. ↑ "Matthew Johns". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  25. ↑ "No regrets: injured Johns calls it quits". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 October 2002. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  26. ↑ "Karl Lovell". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  27. ↑ "Luke MacDougall". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  28. ↑ "Ryan McGoldrick". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  29. ↑ "Chris McKenna". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  30. ↑ "BBC SPORT | Rugby League | Super League | Leeds land ace McKenna". newsimg.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  31. ↑ "Andrew Pierce". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  32. ↑ "Ronald Prince". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  33. ↑ "Jared Taylor". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  34. ↑ "Dean Triester". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  35. ↑ "Swain to join Hull". BBC Sport. 1 July 2003. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
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