2003 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season

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.

2003 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season
NRL Rank	12th
2003 record	Wins: 8; Draws: 0; Losses: 16
Points scored	For: 497 (92 tries, 64 goals, 1 field goal); Against: 704 (121 tries, 109 goals, 2 field goals)
Team information
Coach	Chris Anderson
Captain	David Peachey Brett Kimmorley
Stadium	Toyota Park
Avg. Attend.	12,892
Top scorers
Tries	Phil Bailey (13)
Goals	Jarrad Anderson (35)
Points	Jarrad Anderson (94)
< 2002 2004 >

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.

Ladder

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Penrith	24	18	0	6	2	659	527	+132	40
2	Sydney Roosters	24	17	0	7	2	680	445	+235	38
3	Bulldogs	24	16	0	8	2	702	419	+283	36
4	Canberra	24	16	0	8	2	620	463	+157	36
5	Melbourne	24	15	0	9	2	564	486	+78	34
6	New Zealand	24	15	0	9	2	545	510	+35	34
7	Newcastle	24	14	0	10	2	632	635	-3	32
8	Brisbane	24	12	0	12	2	497	464	+33	28
9	Parramatta	24	11	0	13	2	570	582	-12	26
10	St George Illawarra	24	11	0	13	2	548	593	-45	26
11	North Queensland	24	10	0	14	2	606	629	-23	24
12	Cronulla-Sutherland	24	8	0	16	2	497	704	-207	20
13	Wests Tigers	24	7	0	17	2	470	598	-128	18
14	Manly-Warringah	24	7	0	17	2	470	791	-321	18
15	South Sydney	24	3	0	21	2	457	758	-301	10

References

1. Shayne on you: Ando blows up over ref – Sydney Morning Herald
2. Eels set club record against 11-man Sharks - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)