Cronulla Sharks History – Cronulla Rugby League Club
Cronulla rugby league club was first founded in 1963 under the banner of Cronulla-Caringbah. They entered the inter-district competition, playing against Wentworthville, Sydney University, Penrith and other clubs in the Sydney area.
The following year, under the name of Sutherland-Cronulla, the area had its first Presidents Cup, Jersey Flegg and S.G.Ball teams. Previously, juniors from the area were under the administration of the St. George club, with many of the Dragons senior players also choosing to settle in the beach-side suburbs.
Looking to expand the game into Sydneys ever growing suburbs, in 1967 the NSWRL added two new clubs to the competition – the first additions since Parramatta and Manly entered in 1947.
Despite objections from more financially powerful Wentworthville club, the League selected Penrith and Cronulla. Against Wentworthvilles claims was its geographic proximity to Parramatta who were still struggling themselves to maintain premiership credibility.
The Cronulla club wore chocolate coloured jerseys with a gold V while in the Sydney 2nd Division competition. However, in October 1966 the club announced that its 1967 playing strip for its Sydney premiership debut would be a sky blue jersey adorned with a white V, the player numbers on the back being red.
According to W.F. Corbett writing in the Sydney Sun: “The blue, white and black colours were adopted from the Cronulla Surf Club.” The club badge featured a black outline drawing of Captain Cooks ship the ‘Endeavour. The Cronulla club treasurer, Arthur Winn, explaining at the time: “We used the Endeavour emblem because of our proximity to Botany Bay into which Captain Cook sailed.”
Despite popular belief, there is no reference to the club being known as “The Sharks” until well after its entry into the premiership.
The Cronulla home ground for the debut 1967 season was Sutherland Oval.
Under the coaching of the great Ken Kearney, Cronulla earned immediate recognition when they beat Eastern Suburbs at the Sports Ground in their first match. Their first try was scored by hooker John Bomber Hynes – he didnt score another all season.
Future referee Jack Danzey was the Cronulla five-eighth, Warren Ryan was in the centres and Monty Porter, who played for St George, was prop and the clubs first captain. Half Terry Hughes top scored with 139 points from a try, 67 goals and a field goal. He was Cronullas first representative player, turning out for Sydney Seconds against Country in the clubs debut season (in 1968 he won the inaugural Rothmans Medal award).
The first year brought only two more wins and a draw and Cronulla finished last on the table – Norths and Parramatta embarrassingly