View source for Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

{{short description|Australian rugby league football club}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{about|the [[National Rugby League]] (Rugby league) team|the [[Australian Water Polo League]] club|Cronulla Sharks Water Polo Club}}
{{Infobox rugby league club
| clubname              = {{color box|border=black|skyblue|Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks}}
| image                 = [[File:Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks logo.svg|250px]]
| fullname              = Cronulla Sutherland<br/>District Rugby League<br/>Football Club Ltd
| nickname              = Sharks, Sharkies| short name = CRO
| founded               = 1963 as ''Cronulla-Caringbah''<br /> 1967 in [[New South Wales Rugby League]]
| colours               = {{color box|Skyblue}} Sky Blue<br /> {{color box|White}} White<br /> {{color box|Black}} Black
| ground                = [[Endeavour Field]]
| capacity              = 15,000
| coach                 = [[Craig Fitzgibbon]] (NRL) [[Tony Herman]] (NRLW)
| captain               = [[Blayke Brailey]] (NRL) [[Tiana Penitani|Tiana Penitani-Gray]] (NRLW)
| web                   = {{URL|https://www.sharks.com.au/|sharks.com.au}}
| league                = [[National Rugby League]]
| season                = [[2025 NRL season|2025 season]]
| position              = 5th
| cap                   = 348
| mostcap               = [[Paul Gallen]]
| points                = 1,255
| mostpoints            = [[Steve Rogers (rugby league)|Steve Rogers]]
| tries                 = 166
| mosttries             = [[Andrew Ettingshausen]]
| premierships          = 1
| premiershipyears      = [[2016 NRL season|2016]]
| runnerups             = 3
| runnerupyears         = [[NSWRFL season 1973|1973]], [[NSWRFL season 1978|1978]], [[1997 Super League (Australia) season|1997]]
| minorpremierships     = 2
| minorpremiershipyears = [[NSWRL season 1988|1988]], [[NRL season 1999|1999]]
| spoons                = 3
| spoonyears            = [[NSWRFL season 1967|1967]], [[NSWRFL season 1969|1969]], [[2014 NRL season|2014]]
| current               = 2025 NRL season
| pattern_la1           = _Cronulla2026H
| pattern_b1            = _Cronulla2026H
| pattern_ra1           = _Cronulla2026H
| pattern_sh1           = _black_thinstripe_color
| pattern_so1           = _Cronulla2026H
| leftarm1              = 89cafa
| body1                 = 89cafa
| rightarm1             = 89cafa
| shorts1               = 89cafa
| socks1                = 89cafa
| pattern_la2           = _borderonblack
| pattern_b2            = _Cronulla2025A
| pattern_ra2           = _borderonblack
| pattern_sh2           = _black_thinstripe_color
| pattern_so2           = _top on black
| leftarm2              = 89cafa
| body2                 = 99D9EA
| rightarm2             = 89cafa
| shorts2               = fefefe
| socks2                = 89cafa
}}

The '''Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks''' are an Australian professional [[rugby league]] club based in the [[Sutherland Shire]] of [[Southern Sydney]], [[New South Wales]]. Cronulla 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 [[Super League (Australia)|rebel competition]] before continuing on in the re-united NRL Premiership. The Sharks have been in competition for 59 years, appearing in three NSWRL/ARL/NRL [[NRL Grand Final|grand finals]], and one Super League grand final, winning their first premiership in [[2016 NRL Grand Final|2016]] after defeating the [[Melbourne Storm]] at [[Stadium Australia]].

== History ==
{{Main|History of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks}}

In 1967 the [[New South Wales Rugby Football League]] (NSWRFL) added two new clubs to the competition, Cronulla-Sutherland and Penrith, the first to join the competition since Parramatta and Manly were admitted 20 years earlier in 1947.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

Founded by Peter Burns, Cronulla debuted in 1967 wearing a sky blue jersey adorned with a white V and red numbers on the back, at the then club home ground of Sutherland Oval, under the captaincy of multiple premiership-winner [[Monty Porter]] and the coaching of [[Ken Kearney]]. Cronulla earned immediate recognition when they beat [[Sydney Roosters|Eastern Suburbs]] at the [[Sydney Sports Ground]] in their first match. They had only two more wins, against Norths and Parramatta, and finished last on the competition table.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

In mid-1968 the club moved permanently to [[Endeavour Field]] at [[Woolooware]], and became the only club in Sydney to own their own ground. Their first match there was against [[Parramatta Eels|Parramatta]] and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks won 10–7.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

[[File:Performance Chart NRL CRO.svg|thumb|Chart of yearly table positions for Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in First Grade Rugby League]]

=== 1970s ===

Cronulla made their first grand final in 1973 against [[Manly Warringah Sea Eagles|Manly]] losing 10–7. Cronulla met the Manly club again in the 1978 grand final, leading 7–2 well into the second half, before Manly came back and brought the scoreboard to 7–11. It took a late penalty goal from [[Steve Rogers (rugby league)|Steve Rogers]] to level scores at 11-all by full-time.  The replay saw the Sharks opportunity pass by as they fielded a much-weakened team due to further injuries, eventually being shut-out by Manly 16–0. Cronulla were without suspended stars [[Greg Pierce]] and [[Dane Sorensen]] in both games, while hooker [[John McMartin]], fullback [[Mick Mullane Jr.|Mick Mullane]] and [[Barry Andrews (rugby league)|Barry Andrews]] were all injured for the replay.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

=== 1980s ===

Cronulla suffered major financial trouble in 1983, with the NSWRL appointing an administrator and providing a loan. Western Suburbs and Newtown, both in a similar predicament, were refused a loan, with Newtown being forced out of the competition. Cronulla also made the final of the mid-week [[Amco Cup|KB Cup]], but lost again to Manly, 26–6.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

In 1985, Cronulla was buoyed by the arrival of 'super coach' Jack Gibson, who had coached Easts and Parramatta to premierships. Gibson left the club in good shape in 1987, with the promise fulfilled in 1988 when Cronulla won the minor premiership, led by veteran second-rower [[Gavin Miller]], who was named [[Dally M Medal|Dally M Player of the Year]], and [[Rothmans Medal]] winning halfback, [[Barry Russell (Cronulla)|Barry Russell]]. However, Russell dislocated his shoulder two weeks before the finals, and missed the semi-final where Cronulla went down to Canterbury. He was rushed back in for the final against Balmain, but he was severely hampered by the injury, and Cronulla were bundled out. A bright spot for the Sharks, though, was the selection in the Australian team of Miller, and young centres, Ettingshausen and [[Mark McGaw]].{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

In 1989, Cronulla sneaked into the finals after thrashing Illawarra 46–14 in the final round, followed by a memorable 38–14 victory over the Brisbane Broncos in the play-off for fifth position. However, they could not repeat the performance in their semi-final against eventual premiers Canberra, in what was their third game in seven days. Gavin Miller was rewarded for another great year with both the Dally M Player of the Year award and the Rothmans Medal.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

=== 1990s===

Cronulla again dropped into a period of poor form and financial trouble in 1990, but the appointment as coach of rugby league Immortal, [[Arthur Beetson]], in 1992 helped turn the on-field problems around. He helped develop a batch of promising players, including five-eighth [[Mitch Healey]], fullback [[David Peachey]], winger [[Richie Barnett]], second-rower [[Sean Ryan (rugby league)|Sean Ryan]], prop [[Adam Ritson]], and hooker [[Aaron Raper]], son of another Immortal, [[Johnny Raper]]. However, Cronulla were forced into receivership in 1993.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

Beetson was replaced as coach in 1994 by [[John Lang (Australian rugby league)|John Lang]], a former Australian hooker, and coach of the [[Easts Tigers|Brisbane Easts]] team. Lang brought halfback, [[Paul Green (rugby league)|Paul Green]], down from Brisbane with him. A golden age for the club had begun, signalled by the two lower grade teams (President's Cup and Reserve grade) winning their competitions. During John Lang's coaching period, from 1994 to 2001, Cronulla made the semi-finals every year except for 1994 and 1998. The club had a glamorous image and attracted record crowds, with a corresponding financial improvement.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

In 1995, Cronulla were one of the first clubs to join the [[Super League (Australia)|Super League]] competition, which kicked off after protracted legal battles and much bitterness, in 1997. The club was motivated by a dissatisfaction with the perceived favouritism of the NSWRL administration towards other clubs, and a still-risky financial situation.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

They reached the inaugural – and only – grand final of the ten-team Super League competition, only to lose to a vastly superior Brisbane side 26–8 in Brisbane. The game was notable for being the first grand final to be played outside Sydney. The club rejoined the reunited National Rugby League competition in 1998.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

Arguably Cronulla's best season ever was in 1999, when they again won the [[Minor Premiership]] and the [[J. J. Giltinan Shield]] in convincing fashion. Cronulla-Sutherland easily accounted for the [[Brisbane Broncos]] in the quarter-final, and led 8–0 in the grand final qualifier against arch rivals the [[St George Illawarra Dragons]] before eventually losing 8–24. Following the season, a planned merger with [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney]] was met with staunch opposition from both clubs,<ref>{{Citation |title=The South Sydney Sharks {{!}} Tales of Reinstatement Ep 5 | date=20 October 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2MoJaX79U8 |access-date= 2023-05-03 |language=en}}</ref> and Cronulla was retained for the rationalised 14-team 2000 competition. Also in 1999, the Cronulla-Sutherland name was dropped, and the club was simply known as the "Sharks", and would be known as this until the end of 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/a-history-of-heartbreak-cronulla-sharks-tale-of-woe-in-nrl-finals-20160916-grib48.html/|title=A history of heartbreak: Cronulla Sharks' tale of woe in NRL finals|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=17 September 2016}}</ref>

=== 2000s===

Cronulla lost the grand final qualifier in similar circumstances in 2001, to eventual premiers Newcastle. The year was marked by the sudden rise of halfback [[Preston Campbell]], who was named Dally M Player of the Year, despite being a fringe first grader at the start of the season.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

In 2002, John Lang was replaced by Australian coach [[Chris Anderson (rugby league)|Chris Anderson]], who had led Canterbury Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm to premierships. The following two years were the most acrimonious in the club's history. The first year was almost an on-field success, as Anderson retained the core of John Lang's team, and the Sharks again reached the grand final qualifier. However another heartbreaking loss to New Zealand, the replacement of halfback Preston Campbell – a crowd favourite – with former Melbourne halfback Brett Kimmorley, and a string of released players signaled trouble for 2003.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

This was realised with the sudden mid-season departure of long-time stalwarts [[Nick Graham (rugby league)|Nick Graham]] and [[Dean Treister]]. The Sharks finished 11th, suffering a record 74–4 loss to Parramatta in a match marred by the controversial performance of referee [[Shayne Hayne]]. Three Cronulla players were sent from the field, including Sharks captain David Peachey, for ignoring the referee's instructions. Constant infighting between the board and the coach led to Anderson's departure at the end of the season.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

The same year the club's name reverted to Cronulla-Sutherland, Chris Anderson was replaced by [[Stuart Raper]], another son of Johnny Raper, and the coach of the President's Cup-winning team in 1994. A loyal clubman, he instantly brought a revival in club and supporter spirit. However, Raper's apparent focus on team harmony rather than results led to Cronulla's win percentage worsening, from 49% (24 wins 27 losses) under Anderson, to 43% (31 wins 42 losses).{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

Steve Rogers, the CEO of the Cronulla Sharks and a former club legend, died on 3 January 2006 at the age of 51 of a "mixture of prescription drugs and alcohol". In April, 2006, the NSW state coroner ruled that the death was accidental.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

On 21 April 2006, after much work and lobbying carried out by then-Chairman Barry Pierce and Sharks board member Brian Quinn, Peter Costello, on behalf of the Federal Government, announced they would be funding a $9.6 million upgrade to Toyota Park. The funds were primarily used to construct the Southern Stand which was never completed but later named the Monty Porter Stand.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

Cronulla finished the 2006 season in disastrous fashion. After winning 8 out of 9 games in the middle of the season and climbing to near the top of the ladder, the team experienced the worst losing streak in the club's history, losing their last 10 consecutive games. In a see-sawing match to finish a tumultuous season, the Sharks in their final game coming back from 26–0 down only to lose 26–24 to Canberra. A missed penalty goal in the dying seconds of the match would have sent the game into extra-time, allowing the chance for Cronulla to equal the biggest single-game comeback in the history of top-level rugby league in Australia.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

On 22 September 2006, the Sharks Board ended weeks of speculation over the future of Coach [[Stuart Raper]] by sacking him as first-grade coach and handing him a sizeable payout, making him the second consecutive coach to receive such a payout. On 26 September, Australian Test Coach [[Ricky Stuart]] signed a three-year deal to coach the Sharks as of 2007, replacing Raper.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

[[File:Sharkies Leagues Club Sign.JPG|160px|thumb|right|Sharkies Leagues Club]]

Round one of the [[2007 NRL season]] saw Cronulla-Sutherland break their 10-game losing streak against the [[Penrith Panthers]] with an 18–0 victory at Toyota Park. Ricky Stuart led the Sharks to fifth on the ladder at the halfway mark of the season surprising many critics. Towards the end of the season, Cronulla plunged to 15th on the league ladder, slumping to seven straight losses. The season ended with the Sharks in 11th place, rounding off a heartbreaking season, with the club losing no less than nine matches by 4 points or less.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

Cronulla-Sutherland had a strong season in 2008, finishing the season in equal first spot (third on for and against). They had one of the best defensive records, but one of the worst attacking records in the league. They had an excellent start to the season, beating defending grand finalists Manly and premiers Melbourne in away games in the first two rounds.  After a comprehensive 36–10 victory over Canberra in the Qualifying Final at [[Endeavour Field|Toyota Stadium]], Cronulla were beaten 28–0 by Melbourne (who later were found to be over the salary cap and cheating) in the Preliminary Final at the [[Sydney Football Stadium (1988)|Sydney Football Stadium]]. This was a disappointing end to an otherwise successful season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2008-09-27/storm-through-to-nrl-final/523884/|title=Storm through to NRL final|website=ABC|date=26 September 2008 }}</ref>

[[File:ManlySeaEagles CronullaSharks Tackle.JPG|thumb|right|Cronulla attack [[Manly Sea Eagles|Manly]] in August 2009]]

During the 2009 season Cronulla's dire financial problems became public knowledge. Asset-rich, owning its stadium and the surrounding land, but with cash flow problems due to its low average home gate and poor on-field performances in recent seasons, the club announced plans for a partial relocation to the Central Coast, which was rebuffed by the NRL. It was to split home games for the 2010–14 seasons among:

* 6 at [[Endeavour Field]], to include local derbies with the [[St George Illawarra Dragons]] and [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs]],
* 5 at [[Central Coast Stadium]] in [[Gosford]], [[Central Coast (New South Wales)|Central Coast]], and
* 1 at [[Hindmarsh Stadium]] in [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]].

In May 2009, an [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] [[Four Corners (Australian TV program)|Four Corners]] investigation revealed the Sharks players involvement in a group sex scandal on a pre-season tour in 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/495981/woman-tells-of-matthew-johns-incident/|title=Woman tells of Matthew Johns incident|date= 2009-05-08|work=Newcastle Herald|access-date= 2018-07-26|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Code of Silence |date= 2009-05-20 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/code-of-silence/8953012 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |language=en-AU |access-date= 2022-06-05}}</ref> The club further slid into crisis when it also emerged that CEO Tony Zappia had allegedly punched a female staff member and joked about it. Zappia and Coach Ricky Stuart also then attempted to bully the female staff member into retracting her complaint.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/stuart-faces-claims-as-zappia-stands-down-20090609-gdtkw8.html|title=Stuart faces claims as Zappia stands down|last=Magnay|first=Jacquelin|date= 2009-06-09|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date= 2018-07-26}}</ref>

Zappia and Stuart were also investigated for their role around unusual financial transactions with Clint Elford, a fan who falsely claimed to be terminally ill, and who had sent money to Zappia and Stuart to spend on the Sharks .<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/mystery-cronulla-donor-revealed/news-story/07bec36980afc9c84d4d00eae80fd842?sv=70bc29dc81b2b75bfd115c386721e0|title=Mystery Cronulla Donor}}</ref> Elford was subsequently found guilty of fraud and Stuart refused to answer questions when the NRL launched an investigation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/man-who-donated-money-to-sharks-arrested-over-alleged-insurance-fraud/news-story/51408e3a5328be7add3942611b0b2d00?sv=a9c3a96e3ec6ee535053306f0f111e53|title=Donor Arrested}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/elford-plot-thickens-parents-of-sharks-benefactor-charged-20090620-gdtlk2.html|title=Parents charged|date= 20 June 2009 }}</ref> CEO Tony Zappia was investigated and subsequently sacked for his role.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

On 26 May 2009 businessman [[Damian Irvine]], together with a fresh board of directors, took over control of the club as the St George bank were threatening to foreclose.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

They recorded 9 straight losses after a win in Round 1 in 2009 and despite a midseason revival with four straight wins, the Cronulla side slipped to ten straight defeats to equal the club's worst losing streak. One of these losses caused great controversy as the Sharks, playing against Manly, were forced to field just 12 men for most of the game after Luke Douglas was sent off by referee Phil Haines for a careless high tackle. The Sharks managed to avoid the wooden spoon in 2009 when the Roosters were soundly beaten by the Cowboys in the final round, resulting in a lower overall standing than the Sharks. Avoiding last position was a rare positive in a horror season for the Cronulla club.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

=== 2010 ===

The start of the 2010 season saw Cronulla return confident of turning around recent disappointing results, however on-field performance remained poor. After the board developed a plan to refinance debt and a long-term financial strategy, Richard Fisk resigned in June 2010 due to his failure to find common ground with Chairman [[Damian Irvine|Irvine]] and his Board and a failure by Fisk to refresh the commercial area of the club. The club's head coach, [[Ricky Stuart]], also tendered his resignation and was replaced towards the back end of the season by his then-assistant coach [[Shane Flanagan]].{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

Promising wing/centre [[Blake Ferguson (rugby league)|Blake Ferguson]] was criticised for comments about wanting to leave the club in order to achieve success. On Tuesday, 20 July Ricky Stuart left the Sharks for the rest of the season after admitting he could get no more out of the players and had "lost" them. Chairman [[Damian Irvine|Irvine]] opted to give a chance to Assistant NSW and Cronulla coach [[Shane Flanagan]]. After departing, Stuart also cited a fractured relationship with Chairman [[Damian Irvine]] as a reason for his departure despite the club making positive strides off-field under his guidance and commitment and Irvine making funds available to back Stuart in the player market as he wished.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

=== 2011 ===

The 2011 season started so promising for the club. The addition of [[Wade Graham]] at five-eighth and New Zealand international Jeremy Smith to a pack already containing two origin players promised an end to the Sharks' status as cellar-dwellers. Despite being humiliated by Canberra at [[Canberra Stadium]] in round one, 40–12, the club won its next two matches. They beat defending premiers St. George Illawarra 16–10 at home in round two, and smashed Penrith 44–12 at Centerbet Stadium. Missing a number of first-team starters due to injury, Cronulla then lost five in a row to the [[New Zealand Warriors]] (26-18), [[Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles]] (19-13), [[Newcastle Knights]] (24-20), [[North Queensland Cowboys]] (30-12), and [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney]] (31-12), dropping down the table, from 9th to 15th.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

They broke their hoodoo in round ten, when they beat the struggling [[Sydney Roosters]] 18–4 at Toyota Stadium. They were again disappointing in round eleven, when they were defeated 40-6 by Parramatta at [[Parramatta Stadium]]. Despite losing 14–8 to the Storm in round 12, they were much improved and forced Melbourne into a classic showdown at [[AAMI Park]] in Melbourne. They then faced Brisbane at home in round 13, going down 34–16, before a bye in round 14 gave them the chance to regroup. While the Sharks were taking a much needed break skipper [[Paul Gallen]] led the NSW Blues Origin team to a memorable 18–8 victory over Queensland. He then played outstandingly for the Sharks in their round 15 match against Canterbury-Bankstown just three days after the State of Origin match, a game in which Cronulla beat Canterbury-Bankstown 26–10. The next four weeks saw a turnaround of the club's performance, with victory over the Gold Coast Titans 36-12 and the [[South Sydney Rabbitohs]] 24–4, before they took revenge against the [[Canberra Raiders]] 26–12.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

=== 2012 ===

Cronulla lost their two props for the 2012 season, Origin representative Kade Snowden to Newcastle and Luke Douglas signing for the [[Gold Coast Titans]]. Captain Paul Gallen's transformation into an Origin prop alleviated this problem somewhat, and the Sharks were active in the player market, signing prop Jon Green from St George, former Shark Isaac de Gois, prop Mark Taufua from Newcastle, halfback Jeff Robson from Parramatta and props Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Fifita from [[Wests Tigers]].{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

2012 began very well for the club under Chairman [[Damian Irvine]], Coach Shane Flanagan. The recruitment by Mooney and Flanagan paid dividends with new recruits Jeff Robson, Andrew Fifita, Todd Carney, Ben Ross, Isaac De Gois and Mark Taufua taking pressure off Paul Gallen allowing him to hit a purple patch of form. The club won 6 matches in a row for the first time in over a decade and after 8 rounds were sitting third on the table as the highest placed Sydney based franchise.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

A difficult State of Origin period saw injuries to captain Paul Gallen and star Todd Carney. Cronulla struggled to recover and struggled in the back half of the year, however still capped a remarkable turnaround by qualifying for their first finals series in 4 years, losing to Canberra in week one. The match notable for seeing Paul Gallen outplayed by young rival [[Josh Papalii]] and Todd Carney injuring his [[Achilles tendon |Achilles]].{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

Sponsorship deals with SHARK Energy Drink, Fishermans Friends, and Luxbet flooded in and helped the financial situation off-field, with the close of Season 2012 seeing Shane Flanagan emerge as one of the game's leading up and coming head coaches and his mentor [[Damian Irvine]] the game's leading young administrator.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

=== 2013 ===
At the beginning of Season 2013, Irvine stood down as chairman on learning of the questionable operational and duty of care practices of coach Shane Flanagan, and Darren Mooney during 2011 which exposed the club to the ASADA scandal. Flanagan was stood down and Peter Sharp stepped up to the head coaching role. Flanagan returned in 2013, a season in which the Sharks qualified for the competition semi finals, before he was forced to serve a 9-month suspension handed down by the [[NRL]] for breaches of basic governance and duty of care practices, thus validating the strong ethical stance made by [[Damian irvine|Irvine]] and the board in March 2013.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

Sharp again took over the reins, before resigning mid season the week after the club's greatest comeback victory, with the team coming from 22 nil down to beat the [[Brisbane Broncos]] 24–22. Following that win, a photo went viral of Sharks playmaker [[Todd Carney]] pretending to urinate into his own mouth. Just one day after Carney was stood down by Cronulla CEO Steve Noyce, Sharp resigned as interim head coach and was replaced by [[James Shepherd (rugby league)|James Shepherd]].{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

=== 2014–2015 ===

The 2014 season saw a myriad of struggles for Cronulla on the field, with injuries and the suspension of five players involved in the supplements scandal of 2011, missing games at the back end of the season.  Cronulla finished 2014 with the [[Wooden Spoon (award)|Wooden Spoon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/other-sports/list/the-worst-teams-in-nrl-history-newcastle-knights-rugby-league-wooden-spoon-parramatta-eels-salary-cap-semi-radradra-kieran-foran/1k2c6o18od8431jen234fqd91u/4/|title=The worst teams in NRL history|website=Sporting News|date=28 June 2016 }}</ref>

In 2015, the club climbed the ladder to eventually finish 6th with two wins over eventual minor premiers [[Sydney Roosters]] and 2014's premiers [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney]]. 2015 was also the year Flanagan was reappointed as coach of Cronulla after sitting out the [[2014 NRL season]]. The club would reach the second week of the finals series where they were defeated 39-0 by [[North Queensland Cowboys|North Queensland]] in [[Townsville]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2015/sep/19/nrl-north-queensland-cowboys-cronulla-sharks/|title=NRL finals: North Queensland Cowboys 39-0 Cronulla Sharks – as it happened|website=The Guardian|date= 19 September 2015 |last1=Gadsby |first1=Richard }}</ref>

=== 2016 ===

The [[2016 NRL season]] started with a 20–14 loss to 2015 premiers, [[North Queensland Cowboys]]. This was followed by a 30–2 win over the St. George Illawarra Dragons and a loss to Manly Warringah, 22–12. Cronulla then went on to win 15 games in a row from Round 4 against the [[Melbourne Storm]] to Round 21, against the [[Gold Coast Titans]], resulting in an 18-all draw. This was the largest win streak in the club's history. During this period Cronulla equaled their largest win score by defeating the [[Newcastle Knights]] 62–0.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

They then went on to win 1 out of their last 5 games resulting in a drop from 1st to 3rd. In round 26, the Cronulla-Sutherland and [[Melbourne Storm]] faced off in a minor premiership showdown in which the Melbourne Storm won 26–6 in AAMI Park. They went on to defeat the Raiders in the Week 1 qualifying final 16-14 and earning the week off. Advancing to the Preliminary final, they defeated defending premiers [[North Queensland Cowboys]] 32–20 at the [[Sydney Football Stadium (1988)|Sydney Football Stadium]]. They would face and defeat the Melbourne Storm in the [[2016 NRL Grand Final]]. Cronulla, after leading 8–0 at half-time, prevailed in a gripping affair 14–12 to claim their first premiership in the club's 50-year history. Cronulla second rower Luke Lewis was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal as Man of the Match.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

Soon after the Maiden premiership victory stat player [[Ben Barba]] tested positive for Cocaine and was sacked from the club. Chairman [[Damian Keogh]], who rose to the position on a platform of promising good governance and increased commercial experience garnered from his role as CEO of HOYTS Australia, was also arrested for possession of Cocaine whilst in Sydney's CBD and resigned from the position of Sharks Chairman as a result.{{cite needed|date=August 2025}}

=== 2017 World Club Challenge and 2017 season ===

Cronulla played Wigan Warriors at the DW Stadium on 19 February 2017, losing 22–6 to a strong Wigan side. In the [[2017 NRL season]], Cronulla reached the finals. In week one, Cronulla played against North Queensland in the elimination final. Cronulla went on to be upset 15-14 and were eliminated from the finals ending their premiership defence.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2017/sep/10/cronulla-sharks-v-north-queensland-cowboys-nrl-elimination-final-live/|title=Cronulla Sharks v North Queensland Cowboys NRL elimination final|newspaper=The Guardian|date=10 September 2017 |last1=Perry |first1=Sam }}</ref>

=== 2018 and financial struggles===

In the [[2018 NRL season]], Cronulla-Sutherland finished 4th on the table and qualified for the finals.  The club would eventually reach the preliminary final but were defeated by Melbourne 22–6 at [[AAMI Park]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2018/sep/21/nrl-preliminary-final-storm-v-sharks-plus-nrlw-live/|title= Melbourne v Cronulla preliminary final|website=The Guardian|date= 21 September 2018|last1= Parkin|first1= Richard}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/10/02/cronulla-sharks-2018-season-review/|title=Cronulla Sharks 2018 season review|website=NRL|date=2 October 2018 }}</ref>

In November 2018, the Sharks sacked 10 staff members after $3m loss for 2018 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/cashstrapped-cronulla-sharks-forced-to-lay-off-10-staff/news-story/de2a5fde45d6d4515afc8f3a0475183d|title=Cash-strapped Cronulla Sharks forced to lay off 10 staff|date=29 November 2018|access-date=29 November 2018}}</ref>

On 19 December 2018, Cronulla head coach [[Shane Flanagan]] was de-registered as a coach indefinitely for failing to adhere to the conditions of his suspension in 2014.  The NRL integrity unit had found that Flanagan had sent more than fifty emails exchanged between Flanagan, club management and the football department which was strictly against the conditions of his suspension which included that Flanagan was to have no contact or involvement with the club during his ban. The NRL also fined Cronulla $800,000 as punishment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/why-nrl-had-no-choice-but-to-ban-sharks-coach-shane-flanagan-20181219-p50n8d.html/|title=Why nrl had no choice but to ban sharks coach shane flanagan|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|date= 19 December 2018 }}</ref>

During the 2019 preseason, on 29 November, it was confirmed that Cronulla would be forced into sacking 10 staff members to help their financial situation. It was reported that Cronulla had lost $3 million, despite being given support of the NRL.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/cashstrapped-cronulla-sharks-forced-to-lay-off-10-staff/news-story/de2a5fde45d6d4515afc8f3a0475183d|title=NRL 2018: Cash-strapped Cronulla Sharks sack 10 staff, CEO Barry Russell {{!}} Fox Sports|website=foxsports.com.au|date=29 November 2018 |language=en-AU|access-date= 2018-11-29}}</ref>

=== 2019 ===

On 31 July 2019, it was revealed by the ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' that Cronulla would be moving their home games away from [[Shark Park]] for two seasons as part of the club's redevelopment of the Cronulla Leagues Club and Shark Park itself.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/kogarah-here-we-come-sharks-to-play-nine-games-in-dragons-den-20190731-p52cnr.html/|title=Kogarah, here we come: Sharks to play nine games in Dragons' den|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=31 July 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/paul-gallen-cronulla-sharks-future-plans-relocation-debate/63e787ea-bc82-4726-9444-73bbaac47b6a/|title=Paul Gallen EXCLUSIVE: Sharks' short-term pain to end relocation fear|website=WWOS |date=5 August 2019 }}</ref>

At the end of the 2019 regular season, Cronulla finished 7th on the table with 12 wins and 12 losses and qualified for the finals. In the elimination final against Manly, Cronulla lost 28–16 at [[Brookvale Oval]] which ended their season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/09/14/under-strength-sea-eagles-send-sharks-packing/|title=Under-strength Sea Eagles send Sharks packing|website=NRL|date=14 September 2019 }}</ref>

=== 2020 ===

Cronulla-Sutherland finished 8th on the table in the [[2020 NRL season]] and qualified for the finals after recovering from a poor start to the year. Cronulla were then eliminated in the first week of the finals losing to the [[Canberra Raiders]] 32–20 at [[Canberra Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2020-canberra-raiders-vs-cronulla-sharks-finals-live-stream-live-blog-teams-videos-supercoach-scores-jack-wighton/news-story/4fed4e0a89be75dfcdf95cba3a693e27/|title=Wighton, Williams spark Raiders comeback as Sharks finals hopes ended|website=foxsports.com.au|date=3 October 2020 }}</ref>

=== 2021 ===

Cronulla started the [[2021 NRL season]] two wins from their opening five games. Following the club's 28–16 loss against the [[Sydney Roosters]], head coach John Morris was terminated from his position and replaced with interim head coach [[Josh Hannay]]. The club would then go on to lose their next five matches in a row. Cronulla then recovered to sit in eighth place with two games remaining of the regular season. In the final round of the year, Cronulla-Sutherland lost 28–16 against [[Melbourne Storm|Melbourne]] and the [[Gold Coast Titans|Gold Coast]] leapfrogged them into eighth place after they defeated the [[New Zealand Warriors]]. Cronulla finished the season in ninth place and missed out on the finals for the first time since 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/tigers/nrl-2021-wests-tigers-loss-to-cronulla-sharks-michael-maguire-press-conference-finals-hopes/news-story/c405506b4bdac57400c19e6b128f86da/|title='They cannot attract big names': Ennis savages Tigers as star prop snubs Madge|website=foxsports.com.au|date=21 August 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/09/03/storm-secure-minor-premiership-anxious-wait-for-sharks/|title=Papenhuyzen back to best as Storm secure minor premiership|website=nrl.com|date=3 September 2021 }}</ref>

=== 2022-2025 (Regular Season Success, Postseason Struggles) ===

Cronulla surprised many in the [[2022 NRL season]] after finishing second on the table at the end of the regular season. Throughout the year, Cronulla went on a six-game winning run.  Halfback [[Nicho Hynes]] won the 2022 [[Dally M Medal]] with a record 38 votes. In the finals series, Cronulla were defeated 31–30 by [[North Queensland Cowboys|North Queensland]] in the qualifying final which was played at [[Shark Park]]. Cronulla had led the match 30–22 with less than ten minutes to go before North Queensland forced the game into extra-time.  Former Cronulla player [[Valentine Holmes]] kicked the winning field goal for North Queensland. The following week, Cronulla were defeated 38–12 by [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney]] in the semi-final which ended their season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/cronullas-dual-gamble-pays-off-major-flaw-exposed-in-finals-disaster-brutal-review/news-story/619a3957ee64720ef66e0e9542f375b7/|title=Young gun who can solve Sharks' big problem; masterstroke that can't be overlooked: Brutal Review|website=foxsports.com.au|date= 19 September 2022 }}</ref>

Cronulla started the year strong, pushing into the top 4 at certain stages, before a mid-season slump dropped some of their momentum. They finished the 2023 in sixth place, eventually losing to the Sydney Roosters at Shark Park in an elimination final, 13-12.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-09/nrl-finals-panthers-warriors-sharks-roosters-live-updates/102816232/|title=Sydney Roosters score 'wild' 13-12 NRL elimination final win over Cronulla Sharks, Penrith Panthers beat Warriors|newspaper=ABC News|date=9 September 2023 }}</ref>

Cronulla finished the [[2024 NRL season]] in 4th place on the table and qualified for the finals. After losing to Melbourne in week one, Cronulla won their first finals game in over six years as they defeated North Queensland in the elimination semi-final. In the preliminary final against Penrith, Cronulla went into half-time being narrowly behind on the scoreboard. However, in the second half, Penrith would run away with the game winning 26-6 ending Cronulla's season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/mole-2024-season-review-cronulla-sharks-20240929-p5kegl.html/|title=The Mole's end of season review: Awkward Sharks puzzle laid bare after $1m star 'lost his way'|website=www.nine.com.au |date=29 September 2024 }}</ref>

Cronulla finished the [[2025 NRL season]] in 5th place on the ladder and qualified for the finals once more. Cronulla won the elimination qualifying final, defeating the [[Sydney Roosters]] 20-10 at [[Shark Park]]. Cronulla would later upset the minor premiers, the [[Canberra Raiders]] 32-12 at [[GIO Stadium]], to progress to the Preliminary Finals where they would lose to Melbourne 22-14.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/the-mole-2025-season-review-cronulla-sharks-signings-2026-20250930-p5myv7.html/|title=The Mole's season review: Brutal reality facing Sharks as 'marquee playmaker' looms as only saviour|website=www.nine.com.au |date=29 September 2025 }}</ref>

==Emblem, colours, and song==

=== Logo ===
The club wasn't known as the Sharks until after its initial admission into the competition. During Cronulla's first season the crest featured a drawing of [[Captain Cook]]'s ship, {{ship|HM Bark|Endeavour}}. It is alleged that during the first season the club President suggested the 'Lions' while the captain [[Ken Kearney]] recommended the 'Sharks'. The 'Sharks" nickname had already being used for the club in The Rugby League News in January 1967 prior to the start of their inaugural season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-760207936/view?sectionId=nla.obj-761792595&searchTerm=sharks&partId=nla.obj-760215406#page/n9/mode/1up/search/sharks|title=Rugby League News |date=Jan 1967}}</ref> 

From the late 1970s through to the late 1990s, the Sharks used a predominantly black circular crest with a blue shark. This was changed after [[Super League (Australia)|Super League]] in 1997 to a blue and white star-shaped design. Between 1999 and 2002, the name was shortened to the mononym "Sharks", dropping the district name of Cronulla-Sutherland in an attempt to gain more fans from outside the [[Sutherland Shire]]. Since 2003, the name has since been changed back to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and changed their logo again in 2004, which is currently in use.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

<gallery class="center" perrow="6" align="center"
Caption="Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks - Logos>
File:Cronulla-Sutherland_Sharks_Logo_1967.jpg|1967
File:Cronulla-Sutherland_Sharks_Logo_1968.jpg|1968-1969
File:Cronulla-Sutherland_Sharks_Logo_1970.jpg|1970-1977
File:Cronulla-Sutherland_Sharks_Logo_1978.jpg|1978-1997
File:Cronulla-Sutherland_Sharks_Logo_1998.jpg|1998-2003
File:Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks logo.svg|2004-Present
</gallery>

For Cronulla's maiden season in first grade a sky blue jersey with a white V with a black border was adopted from the [[Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club]] colours, although Cronulla had used chocolate and gold jerseys in the Sydney 2nd Division competition. Grey was incorporated into the team colours during the [[Super League (Australia)|Super League]] era, and shortly after on the team's away strip.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

<gallery class="center" perrow="6" align="center"
Caption="Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks - Primary Jerseys>
Image:Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1967.png|1967
Image:Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1968.png|1968–1977
Image:Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1978.png|1978–1980, 1985–1994
Image:Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1981.png|1981–1982
Image:Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1983.png|1983–1984
Image:Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1995.png|1995–1996
Image:Cronulla Jersey 1997.png|1997–2000
</gallery>

Cronulla's club song is known as ''Up Up Cronulla'', and is set to the tune of [[Beer Barrel Polka|Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out The Barrel)]].{{cn|date=August 2025}}

==Stadium==
[[File:CRONULLA RUGBY LEAGUE CHEERGIRLS (3440920272).jpg|150px|thumb|Cheerleaders cheering on the crowd at Endeavour Field.]]
When the Sharks entered the competition in 1967, they played their home games at Sutherland Oval. They only played there for two seasons with the Sharks winning their first game at the ground on 22 April [[1967 NSWRFL season]]. The record attendance for Sutherland Oval was set in the last Cronulla game played at the ground when 12,578 saw the Sharks go down 32–4 to [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs|Canterbury Bankstown]], then known as the Berries, now Bulldogs on 16 June [[1968 NSWRFL season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1968/round-12/cronulla-vs-canterbury/summary.html|title=NSWRFL 1968 – Round 12 – Rugby League Project|website=rugbyleagueproject.org}}</ref> Overall, the Sharks compiled a record of 4 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw at the venue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/venues/sutherland-oval/results.html|title=Sutherland Oval – Results – Rugby League Project|website=rugbyleagueproject.org}}</ref>

In 1969, they then moved to [[Endeavour Field]], where they have remained. This home ground has had numerous names over the years including Ronson Field, Shark Park, Toyota Park and until the end of 2012, Toyota Stadium. In 2013, it returned to the original name Endeavour Field. On 4 July 2013, the Cronulla Sharks announced their new stadium naming rights partner [[Remondis]], an international waste solutions and management company.

In 2016 a new sponsorship deal for naming rights was signed with Southern Cross Group to name the stadium Southern Cross Group Stadium. The new partnership with Southern Cross Group (SCGroup) is a three-year deal, reportedly worth $1.5 million.

Southern Cross Group Stadium has a capacity of 22,000 people with the record attendance of 22,302 being set for a game against local rivals the St George Illawarra Dragons on 1 May 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2004/round-8/cronulla-vs-st-george-illawarra/summary.html|title=NRL 2004 – Round 8 – Rugby League Project|website=rugbyleagueproject.org}}</ref>

==Sharkies Leagues Club==
{{Main|Sharkies Leagues Club}}
[[File:Sharkies Leagues Club.JPG|250px|thumb|right|Sharkies Leagues Club]]
The Cronulla Sutherland Leagues Club is known as Sharkies, and is located on Captain Cook Drive at [[Woolooware, New South Wales|Woolooware]]. The leagues club sits beside the Cronulla Sutherland home ground, [[Endeavour Field]].

Proposals to develop the land assets of the Leagues Club which owns the stadium and land around Endeavour Field stumbled for many years prior to arrival of renowned businessman [[Damian Irvine]]. In partnership with his head of finance Craig Douglas the plans finally became more tangible, as details of a residential and shopping centre were released. In August 2012, the club received final approval for their plans solving a 40-year-old problem of financial instability.

==2026 squad==
{{further|2024 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season}}
{{Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks current squad}}

==Players==
{{further|List of Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks players}}

===Sharks Hall Of Fame===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Name
!Position
!Years
!Year Inducted
|-
|[[Tommy Bishop]]
|Player-Coach
|1969-74
|2025 (Immortal)
|-
|[[Greg Pierce]]
|Player/Coach
|1969-80/1981-82
|2025 (Immortal)
|-
|[[Steve Rogers (rugby league)|Steve Rogers]] 
|Player & CEO
|1973-85
|2025 (Immortal)
|-
|[[Gavin Miller]]
|Player
|1980-92
|2025 (Immortal)
|-
|[[Andrew Ettingshausen]]
|Player
|1983-2000
|2025 (Immortal)
|-
|[[Dane Sorensen]]
|Player
|1977-83/1985-89
|2025
|-
|[[David Peachey]]
|Player
|1994-2005
|2025
|-
|[[Mat Rogers]]
|Player
|1995-2001
|2025
|-
|[[Jason Stevens]]
|Player
|1997-2005
|2025
|-
|[[Paul Gallen]]
|Player
|2001-19
|2025
|-
|[[Brett Kimmorley]]
|Player
|2002-08
|2025
|}

===Representative players===
{{Main|List of Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks representatives}}

===Club captains===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center; font-size:90%"
|-
!Cap No.!!style="width:10em"|Name!!Years As Captain!!Debut Round!!Games As Captain
|-
| 1.||{{Sortname|Monty|Porter}}||1967||Round 1||Unknown
|-
| 2.||{{Sortname|Warren|Ryan}}||1967–68||Unknown||Unknown
|-
| 3.||{{Sortname|Noel|Thornton}}||1968–69||Round 1||Unknown
|-
| 4.||{{Sortname|Graham|Wilson|Graham Wilson (rugby league)}}||1969–70||Unknown||Unknown
|-
| 5.||{{Sortname|Tommy|Bishop}}||1970–71, 1973||Round 1||Unknown
|-
| 6.||{{Sortname|George|Taylforth}}||1970||Unknown||Unknown
|-
| 7.||{{Sortname|Kevin|Hogan|Kevin Hogan (rugby league)}}||1971||Unknown||Unknown
|-
| 8.||{{Sortname|Ron|Turner|Ron Turner (rugby league)}}||1971||Unknown||Unknown
|-
| 9.||{{Sortname|Greg|Pierce}}||1972, 1974–80||Round 1||59<sup>1</sup>
|-
| 10.||{{Sortname|Ken|Maddison}}||1972, 1974||Unknown||Unknown
|-
| 11.||{{Sortname|Cliff|Watson}}||1972–73||Unknown||Unknown
|-
| 12.||{{Sortname|John|Maguire|John Maguire (rugby league)}}||1974–75||Unknown||Unknown
|-
| 13.||{{Sortname|Roger|Millward}}||1976||Unknown||Unknown
|-
| 14.||{{Sortname|John|McMartin|John McMartin (rugby league)}}||1977–79||Round 4||14
|-
| 15.||{{Sortname|Steve|Rogers|Steve Rogers (rugby league)}}||1978–82, 1985||Round 14||120
|-
| 16.||{{Sortname|Dane|Sorensen}}||1982–83, 1985||Round 19||5
|-
| 17.||{{Sortname|Gavin|Miller}}||1983, 1989–92||Round 1||56
|-
| 18.||{{Sortname|Rowland|Beckett}}||1983||Round 16||1
|-
| 19.||{{Sortname|Robert|Lane|Robert Lane (rugby league)}}||1983||Round 25||2
|-
| 20.||{{Sortname|George|Moroko}}||1984||Round 1||7
|-
| 21.||{{sortname|Greg|Nixon|Greg Nixon (rugby league)}}||1984, 1986–87||Round 2||29
|-
| 22.||{{Sortname|David|Hatch}}||1984–89||Round 2||121
|-
| 23.||{{Sortname|Mark|Wakefield|Mark Wakefield (rugby league)}}||1985||Round 15||2
|-
| 24.||{{Sortname|Jonathan|Docking}}||1986–87||Round 6||3
|-
| 25.||{{Sortname|Michael|Porter|Michael Porter (rugby league)}}||1986–88, 1990||Round 14||5
|-
| 26.||{{Sortname|Andrew|Ettingshausen}}||1990, 1992–93, 1995–2000||Round 22||122
|-
| 27.||{{Sortname|Mark|McGaw}}||1991–92||Round 5||5
|-
| 28.||{{Sortname|Dan|Stains}}||1992–94||Round 16||44
|-
| 29.||{{Sortname|Danny|Lee|Danny Lee (rugby league)}}||1994||Round 7||4
|-
| 30.||{{Sortname|Mitch|Healey}}||1995–98, 2000||Round 4||17
|-
| 31.||{{Sortname|Les|Davidson}}||1996||Round 11||1
|-
| 32.||{{Sortname|David|Peachey}}||1998, 2000–05||Round 20||61
|-
| 33.||{{Sortname|Jason|Stevens}}||2000–02||Round 15||12
|-
| 34.||{{Sortname|Andrew|Pierce|Andrew Pierce (rugby league)}}||2000||Round 16||1
|-
| 35.||{{Sortname|Chris|Beattie}}||2002||Round 8||4
|-
| 36.||{{Sortname|Brett|Kimmorley}}||2002–08||Round 12||91
|-
| 37.||{{Sortname|Danny|Nutley}}||2004||Round 14||6
|-
| 38.||{{Sortname|Adam|Dykes}}||2006–07||Round 6||6
|-
| 39.||{{Sortname|Nigel|Vagana}}||2006||Round 10||1
|-
| 40.||{{Sortname|Paul|Gallen}}||2007–09, 2011–19||Round 17||194
|-
| 41.||{{Sortname|Luke|Covell}}||2007, 2009–10||Round 19||11
|-
| 42.||{{Sortname|Greg|Bird|Greg Bird (rugby league)}}||2008||Round 4||4
|-
| 43.||{{Sortname|Trent|Barrett}}||2009–10||Round 5||29
|-
| 44.||{{Sortname|Luke|Douglas}}||2010||Round 17||1
|-
| 45.||{{Sortname|Colin|Best}}||2011||Round 11||1
|-
| 46.||{{Sortname|John|Morris|John Morris (rugby league)}}||2011, 2013||Round 11||4
|-
| 47.||{{Sortname|Jeremy|Smith|Jeremy Smith (rugby league, born 1980)}}||2011–12||Round 17||8
|-
| 48.||{{Sortname|Wade|Graham}}||2012–16, 2018–23||Round 18||118
|-
| 49.||{{Sortname|Todd|Carney}}||2013||Round 19||1
|-
| 50.||{{Sortname|Jeff|Robson}}||2013–14||Round 26||5
|-
| 51.||{{Sortname|Luke|Lewis}}||2013, 2018||Round 26||2
|-
| 52.||{{Sortname|Michael|Ennis}}||2016||Round 18||1
|-
| 53.||{{Sortname|Andrew|Fifita}}||2018–19||Round 7||6
|-
| 54.||{{Sortname|Shaun|Johnson}}||2020||Round 18||2
|-
| 55.||{{Sortname|Aaron|Woods}}||2021||Round 6||13
|-
| 56.||{{Sortname|Dale|Finucane}}||2022–2024||Round 1||22
|-
| 57.||{{Sortname|Nicho|Hynes}}||2022||Round 7||8
|-
|58.
|[[Cameron McInnes]]
|2024–
|Round 1
|
|-
|59.
|[[Blayke Brailey]]
|2025-
|Round 26
|
|}

<sup>1</sup> – Unknown number of matches as captain between 1972 and 1976.

===Dream Team===
''Announced 2006''<ref name="DreamTeam">{{cite web|url=http://rleague.com/news/Cronulla-40-Year-Dream-Team-Announced_95286/ |title=Cronulla 40-Year Dream Team Announced |access-date=25 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426214729/http://rleague.com/news/Cronulla-40-Year-Dream-Team-Announced_95286/ |archive-date=26 April 2014 }}</ref>
{{Rls
|squadname=Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Dream Team
|BC1=black
|FC1=white
|BC2=skyblue
|FC2=black
|source=<ref name="DreamTeam"/>
|date=1 September 2006

|column1_title=Starting 13
|list1a={{Rls player|pos=FB|no=1&nbsp;|name=[[David Peachey]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1b={{Rls player|pos=WG|no=2&nbsp;|name=[[Mat Rogers]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1c={{Rls player|pos=CE|no=3&nbsp;|name=[[Steve Rogers (rugby league)|Steve Rogers]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1d={{Rls player|pos=CE|no=4&nbsp;|name=[[Andrew Ettingshausen]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1e={{Rls player|pos=WG|no=5&nbsp;|name=[[Ray Corcoran]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1f={{Rls player|pos=FE|no=6&nbsp;|name=[[Michael Speechley]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1g={{Rls player|pos=HB|no=7&nbsp;|name=[[Tommy Bishop]]|nat=ENG}}
|list1h={{Rls player|pos=PR|no=8&nbsp;|name=[[Jason Stevens]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1i={{Rls player|pos=HK|no=9&nbsp;|name=[[Ron Turner (rugby league)|Ron Turner]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1j={{Rls player|pos=PR|no=10|name=[[Cliff Watson]]|nat=ENG}}
|list1k={{Rls player|pos=SR|no=11|name=[[Ken Maddison]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1l={{Rls player|pos=SR|no=12|name=[[Gavin Miller]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1m={{Rls player|pos=LK|no=13|name=[[Greg Pierce]]|nat=AUS}}
|column2_title=Reserves
|list4a={{Rls player|pos= |no=14|name=[[Dane Sorensen]]|nat=NZL}}
|list4b={{Rls player|pos= |no=15|name=[[Steve Kneen]]|nat=AUS}}
|list4c={{Rls player|pos= |no=16|name=[[Brett Kimmorley]]|nat=AUS}}
|list4d={{Rls player|pos= |no=17|name=[[Mark McGaw]]|nat=AUS}}
|column3_title=Notes
}}

===Team of the Half Century===
''Announced 2017''<ref name="50years">{{cite web|url=https://www.sharks.com.au/news/2017/03/03/sharks-name-team-of-the-half-century/|title=Sharks name Team of the Half Century|date=3 March 2017|website=Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks}}</ref>
{{Rls
|squadname=Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Team of the Half Century
|BC1=black
|FC1=white
|BC2=skyblue
|FC2=black
|source=<ref name="50years"/>
|date=3 March 2017

|column1_title=Starting 13
|list1a={{Rls player|pos=FB|no=1&nbsp;|name=[[David Peachey]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1b={{Rls player|pos=WG|no=2&nbsp;|name=[[Mat Rogers]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1c={{Rls player|pos=CE|no=3&nbsp;|name=[[Steve Rogers (rugby league)|Steve Rogers]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1d={{Rls player|pos=CE|no=4&nbsp;|name=[[Andrew Ettingshausen]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1e={{Rls player|pos=WG|no=5&nbsp;|name=[[Valentine Holmes]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1f={{Rls player|pos=FE|no=6&nbsp;|name=[[James Maloney (rugby league)|James Maloney]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1g={{Rls player|pos=HB|no=7&nbsp;|name=[[Tommy Bishop]]|nat=ENG}}
|list1h={{Rls player|pos=PR|no=8&nbsp;|name=[[Cliff Watson]]|nat=ENG}}
|list1i={{Rls player|pos=HK|no=9&nbsp;|name=[[Michael Ennis]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1j={{Rls player|pos=PR|no=10|name=[[Dane Sorensen]]|nat=NZL}}
|list1k={{Rls player|pos=SR|no=11|name=[[Greg Pierce]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1l={{Rls player|pos=SR|no=12|name=[[Gavin Miller]]|nat=AUS}}
|list1m={{Rls player|pos=LK|no=13|name=[[Paul Gallen]]|nat=AUS|capt=y}}
|column2_title=Reserves
|list4a={{Rls player|pos= |no=14|name=[[Andrew Fifita]]|nat=NZL}}
|list4b={{Rls player|pos= |no=15|name=[[Brett Kimmorley]]|nat=AUS}}
|list4c={{Rls player|pos= |no=16|name=[[Steve Kneen]]|nat=AUS}}
|list4d={{Rls player|pos= |no=17|name=[[Jason Stevens]]|nat=AUS}}
|column3_title=
|coach=[[Shane Flanagan]]
}}

===Club Legends===
''Announced 2003''

*[[Cliff Watson]]
*[[Greg Pierce]]
*[[Mark McGaw]]
*[[Steve Rogers (rugby league)|Steve Rogers]]
*[[Andrew Ettingshausen]]
*[[Mat Rogers]]
*[[Tommy Bishop]]
*[[Gavin Miller]]
*[[David Hatch (rugby league)|David Hatch]]
*[[David Peachey]]

===Team of the Decade===
''Announced 2020''

{{Rls
|squadname=Cronulla Sharks Team of the Decade
|BC1=black
|FC1=white
|BC2=skyblue
|FC2=black
|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sharks.com.au/news/2020/05/04/team-of-the-decade---2010-2020/|title=Team of the Decade – 2010-2020|date=4 May 2017|website=Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks}}</ref>
|date=4 May 2020
|list1a={{rls player|no=&nbsp;1|nat=AUS|pos=FB|name=[[Ben Barba]]}}
|list1b={{rls player|no=&nbsp;2|nat=AUS|pos=WG|name=[[Valentine Holmes]]}}
|list1c={{rls player|no=&nbsp;3|nat=AUS|pos=CE|name=[[Jack Bird]]}}
|list1d={{rls player|no=&nbsp;4|nat=AUS|pos=CE|name=[[Ricky Leutele]]}}
|list1e={{rls player|no=&nbsp;5|nat=NZL|pos=WG|name=[[Sosaia Feki]]}}
|list1f={{rls player|no=&nbsp;6|nat=AUS|pos=FE|name=[[James Maloney (rugby league)|James Maloney]]}}
|list1g={{rls player|no=&nbsp;7|nat=AUS|pos=HB|name=[[Chad Townsend]]}}
|list1h={{rls player|no=&nbsp;8|nat=AUS|pos=PR|name=[[Andrew Fifita]]}}
|list1i={{rls player|no=&nbsp;9|nat=AUS|pos=HK|name=[[Michael Ennis]]}}
|list1j={{rls player|no=10|nat=AUS|pos=PR|name=[[Matt Prior (rugby league)|Matt Prior]]}}
|list1k={{rls player|no=11|nat=AUS|pos=SR|name=[[Luke Lewis]]}}
|list1l={{rls player|no=12|nat=AUS|pos=SR|name=[[Wade Graham]]}}
|list1m={{rls player|no=13|nat=AUS|pos=LK|name=[[Paul Gallen]]|captain=y}}
|column2_title=Interchange
|list4a={{rls player|no=14|nat=AUS|pos=SR|name=[[Jayson Bukuya]]}}
|list4b={{rls player|no=15|nat=AUS|pos=SR|name=[[Kurt Capewell]]}}
|list4c={{rls player|no=16|nat=AUS|pos=PR|name=[[Ben Ross]]}}
|list4d={{rls player|no=17|nat=AUS|pos=HK|name=[[John Morris (rugby league)|John Morris]]}}
|coach=
|assistant=
|assistant2=
}}

==Award winners==

===Dally M Medal===
*[[Steve Rogers (rugby league)|Steve Rogers]] (1981)
*[[Gavin Miller]] (1988, 1989)
*[[Preston Campbell]] (2001)
*[[Nicho Hynes]] (2022)

===[[Rothmans Medal]]===
*[[Terry Hughes (rugby league)|Terry Hughes]] (1968)
*[[Ken Maddison]] (1973)
*[[Steve Rogers (rugby league)|Steve Rogers]] (1975)
*[[Barry Russell (Cronulla)|Barry Russell]] (1988)
*[[Gavin Miller]] (1989)
*[[Paul Green (rugby league)|Paul Green]] (1995)

===Club Player of the Year (Porter Gallen Medal)===

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center; font-size:90%"
|-
!Year!!style="width:10em"|Name!!Position
|-
| 1989||{{Sortname|Gavin|Miller}}||{{rlp|SR}}
|-
| 1990||{{Sortname|Andrew|Ettingshausen}}||{{rlp|CE}}
|-
| 1991||{{Sortname|Craig|Dimond}}||{{rlp|PR}}
|-
| 1992||{{Sortname|Danny|Lee|Danny Lee (rugby league)}}||{{rlp|PR}}
|-
| 1993|| colspan="2"|''Not awarded''
|-
| 1994||{{Sortname|Andrew|Ettingshausen}}||{{rlp|CE}}
|-
| 1995||{{Sortname|Danny|Lee|Danny Lee (rugby league)}}||{{rlp|PR}}
|-
| 1996||{{Sortname|Paul|Donaghy}}||{{rlp|CE}}
|-
| 1997||{{Sortname|David|Peachey}}||{{rlp|FB}}
|-
| 1998||{{Sortname|Martin|Lang|Martin Lang (rugby league)}}||{{rlp|PR}}
|-
| 1999||{{Sortname|David|Peachey}}||{{rlp|FB}}
|-
| 2000||{{Sortname|David|Peachey}}||{{rlp|FB}}
|-
| 2001||{{Sortname|Adam|Dykes}}||{{rlp|FE}}
|-
| 2002||{{Sortname|Brett|Kimmorley}}||{{rlp|HB}}
|-
| 2003||{{Sortname|Danny|Nutley}}||{{rlp|PR}}
|-
| 2004||{{Sortname|Jason|Stevens}}||{{rlp|PR}}
|-
| 2005||{{Sortname|Danny|Nutley}}||{{rlp|PR}}
|-
| 2006||{{Sortname|Greg|Bird|Greg Bird (rugby league)}}||{{rlp|SR}}
|-
| 2007||{{Sortname|Paul|Gallen}}||{{rlp|LK}}
|-
| 2008||{{Sortname|Paul|Gallen}}||{{rlp|LK}}
|-
| 2009||{{Sortname|Luke|Douglas}}||{{rlp|PR}}
|-
| 2010||{{Sortname|Paul|Gallen}}||{{rlp|LK}}
|-
| 2011||{{Sortname|Paul|Gallen}}||{{rlp|LK}}
|-
| 2012||{{Sortname|Jeremy|Smith|Jeremy Smith (rugby league, born 1980)}}||{{rlp|SR}}
|-
| 2013||{{Sortname|Michael|Gordon|Michael Gordon (rugby league)}}||{{rlp|FB}}
|-
| 2014||{{Sortname|Michael|Gordon|Michael Gordon (rugby league)}}||{{rlp|FB}}
|-
| 2015||{{Sortname|Wade|Graham}}||{{rlp|SR}}
|-
| 2016||{{Sortname|Andrew|Fifita}}<br />{{Sortname|Matt|Prior|Matt Prior (rugby league)}}||{{rlp|PR}}<br />{{rlp|PR}}
|-
| 2017||{{Sortname|Paul|Gallen}}||{{rlp|LK}}
|-
| 2018||{{Sortname|Valentine|Holmes}}||{{rlp|FB}}
|-
| 2019||{{Sortname|Chad|Townsend}}||{{rlp|HB}}
|-
| 2020||{{Sortname|Shaun|Johnson}}||{{rlp|HB}}
|-
| 2021||{{sortname|William|Kennedy|William Kennedy (rugby league, born 1997)}}||{{rlp|FB}}
|-
|2022
|[[Nicho Hynes]]
|{{rlp|HB}}
|-
|2023||{{sortname|Blayke|Brailey}}||{{rlp|HK}}
|-
|2024||{{sortname|Blayke|Brailey}}||{{rlp|HK}}
|}

===[[Clive Churchill Medal]]===
*[[Luke Lewis]] (2016)

===Coaches register===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center; font-size:90%"
|-
!Cap No.!!style="width:10em"|Name!!Years As Coach!!Games As Coach!!Win–loss record!!Win %
|-
| 1.||{{Sortname|Ken|Kearney}}||1967–69||66||14-1-51||21.2%
|-
| 2.||{{Sortname|Tommy|Bishop}}||1970–73, 1980||114||55-2-57||48.3%
|-
| 3.||{{Sortname|Noel|Thornton}}||1974||22||9-0-13||40.9%
|-
| 4.||{{Sortname|Johnny|Raper}}||1975–76||44||18-2-24||40.9%
|-
| 5.||{{Sortname|Ted|Glossop}}||1977||22||13-0-9||59.1%
|-
| 6.||{{Sortname|Norm|Provan}}||1978–79||50||31-2-17||62%
|-
| 7.||{{Sortname|Greg|Pierce}}||1981–82||49||26-2-21||53.1%
|-
| 8.||{{Sortname|Terry|Fearnley}}||1983–84||50||22-1-27||44%
|-
| 9.||{{Sortname|Jack|Gibson|Jack Gibson (rugby league)}}||1985–87||72||31-1-39||43.1%
|-
| 10.||{{Sortname|Allan|Fitzgibbon}}||1988–91||92||50-5-37||54.4%
|-
| 11.||{{Sortname|Arthur|Beetson}}||1992–93||44||17-0-27||38.6%
|-
| 12.||{{Sortname|John|Lang|John Lang (Australian rugby league)}}||1994–01||198||128-5-87||58.2%
|-
| 13.||{{Sortname|Chris|Anderson|Chris Anderson (rugby league)}}||2002–03||51||24-0-27||47.1%
|-
| 14.||{{Sortname|Stuart|Raper}}||2004–06||73||31-0-43||41.9%
|-
| 15.||{{Sortname|Ricky|Stuart}}||2007–10||91||38-0-53||41.8%
|-
| 16.||{{Sortname|Shane|Flanagan}}||2010–13, 2015–18||185||102-2-82||54.8%
|-
| 17.||{{Sortname|Peter|Sharp|dab=rugby league}}||2014||16||4-0-12||25%
|-
| 18.||{{Sortname|James|Shepherd|James Shepherd (rugby league)}}||2014||10||2-0-10||20%
|-
| 19.||{{Sortname|John|Morris|John Morris (rugby league)}}||2019–21||51||24-0-27||47.1%
|-
| 20.||{{Sortname|Josh|Hannay}}||2021||19||8-0-11||42.1%
|-
| 21.||{{Sortname|Craig|Fitzgibbon}}||2022–||67||42-0-25||62.7%
|-
| 22.||{{Sortname|Steve|Price|Steve Price (rugby league, born 1977)}}||2022||1||0-0-1||0%
|}

==Honours==
'''Premierships: 1''' ([[2016 NRL season|2016]])

'''Runners-Up: 3''' ([[1973 NSWRFL season|1973]], [[1978 NSWRFL season|1978]], [[1997 Super League (Australia) season|1997SL]])

'''Minor Premierships: 2''' ([[1988 NSWRL season|1988]], [[1999 NRL season|1999]])

'''Wooden Spoons: 3''' ([[1967 NSWRFL season|1967]], [[1969 NSWRFL season|1969]], [[2014 NRL season|2014]])

'''Finals Appearances: 27''' ([[1973 NSWRFL season|1973]], [[1978 NSWRFL season|1978]], [[1979 NSWRFL season|1979]], [[1981 NSWRFL season|1981]], [[1988 NSWRL season|1988]], [[1989 NSWRL season|1989]], [[1995 ARL season|1995]], [[1996 ARL season|1996]], [[1997 Super League (Australia) season|1997]], [[1999 NRL season|1999]], [[2000 NRL season|2000]], [[2001 NRL season|2001]], [[2002 NRL season|2002]], [[2004 NRL season|2004]], [[2008 NRL season|2008]], [[2012 NRL season|2012]], [[2013 NRL season|2013]], [[2015 NRL season|2015]], [[2016 NRL season|2016]], [[2017 NRL season|2017]], [[2018 NRL season|2018]], [[2019 NRL season|2019]], [[2020 NRL season|2020]], [[2022 NRL season|2022]], [[2023 NRL season|2023]], [[2024 NRL season|2024]], [[2025 NRL season|2025]])

'''Amco Cup:''' ([[1979 Amco Cup|1979]])

==Head-to-head records==
{{table alignment}}
{| class="wikitable sortable defaultcenter col1left"
|-
! Opponent !!style="width:5em"|Played !!style="width:5em"|Won !!style="width:5em"|Drawn !!style="width:5em"|Lost !!style="width:5em"|Win %
|-
|{{leagueicon|North Queensland Cowboys|18}} [[North Queensland Cowboys|Cowboys]] || 61 || 41 || 0 || 20 || '''67.21'''
|-
|{{leagueicon|Gold Coast Titans|18}} [[Gold Coast Titans|Titans]] || 29 || 19 || 1 || 9 || '''65.52'''
|-
|{{leagueicon|New Zealand Warriors|18}} [[New Zealand Warriors|Warriors]] || 51 || 29 || 0 || 22 || '''56.86'''
|-
|{{leagueicon|St. George Illawarra Dragons|18}} [[St. George Illawarra Dragons|Dragons]] || 56 || 31 || 1 || 24 || '''55.36'''
|-
|{{leagueicon|Parramatta Eels|18}} [[Parramatta Eels|Eels]] || 93 || 50 || 0 || 43 || '''53.76'''
|-
|{{leagueicon|South Sydney Rabbitohs|18}} [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|Rabbitohs]] || 98 || 52 || 3 || 43 || '''53.06'''
|-
|{{leagueicon|Penrith Panthers|18}} [[Penrith Panthers|Panthers]] || 102 || 52 || 3 || 47 || '''50.98'''
|-
|{{leagueicon|Canberra Raiders|18}} [[Canberra Raiders|Raiders]] || 85 || 43 || 0 || 42 || '''50.59'''
|-
|{{leagueicon|Newcastle Knights|18}} [[Newcastle Knights|Knights]] || 63 || 30 || 1 || 32 || '''47.62'''
|-
|{{leagueicon|Wests Tigers|18}} [[Wests Tigers|Tigers]] || 39 || 18 || 1 || 20 || '''46.15'''
|-
|{{leagueicon|Bulldogs|18}} [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs|Bulldogs]] || 103 || 43 || 2 || 58 || '''41.75'''
|-
|{{leagueicon|Melbourne Storm|18}} [[Melbourne Storm|Storm]] || 49 || 18 || 0 || 31 || '''36.73'''
|-
|{{leagueicon|Sydney Roosters|18}} [[Sydney Roosters|Roosters]] || 105 || 38 || 2 || 65 || '''36.19'''
|-
|{{leagueicon|Brisbane Broncos|18}} [[Brisbane Broncos|Broncos]] || 64 || 23 || 0 || 41 || '''35.94'''
|-
|{{leagueicon|Dolphins|18}} [[Dolphins (NRL)|Dolphins]] || 3 || 1 || 0 || 2 || '''33.00'''
|-
|{{leagueicon|Manly Sea Eagles|18}} [[Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles|Sea Eagles]] || 101 || 31 || 2 || 68 || '''30.69'''
|- class="sortbottom"
|}

==Rivalries==

===Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles===

This rivalry has been dubbed the "Battle of the Beaches", due to the geographical locations of the two clubs. Manly played the Sharks in two grand finals: 1973 and 1978, which are renowned for being the most brutal in history. Manly won both of these deciders, 10–7 in 1973 and 16–0 in the 1978 replay after the first game ended at 11-all. The Sea Eagles have traditionally had much success over the Sharks, with Cronulla winning at Manly's home ground just five times in their history. However the Sharks' biggest ever win came against Manly, a 68-6 thrashing in 2005. Cronulla and Manly play for the Steve Rogers Trophy when the two clubs meet in the NRL premiership each season. The two teams met in the 2013 finals, when Manly held off Cronulla by 24–18. Most recently the two teams met in the 2019 finals, when Manly beat Cronulla 28–16 at [[Brookvale Oval]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/sharks-and-sea-eagles-bitter-rivarly-four-decades-in-the-making/news-story/6326c674f313f35f5dcc13505893e490|title=Sharks and Sea Eagles Bitter Rivalry Four Decades in the Making|website=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|access-date=29 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/09/14/under-strength-sea-eagles-send-sharks-packing/|title=Under-strength Sea Eagles send Sharks packing|website=NRL|date=14 September 2019 }}</ref>

===St. George Illawarra Dragons===

Cronulla's fiercest rivalry is with their Southern Sydney neighbour, [[St George Illawarra Dragons]]. Cronulla's rugby league origins trace back to the [[St. George Dragons|St George]] junior system. When the Sharks were established in 1967, they emerged from the same southern Sydney region, leading to a natural rivalry. This close geographical and developmental relationship contributed to a "little brother" moniker being used.

This was further emphasised by the Dragons joint-venture with the [[Illawarra Steelers]] in 1998, effectively surrounding the Cronulla-Sutherland region geographically.  On ANZAC Day 1999, Cronulla CEO Peter Gow famously cut up a St. George jersey with a pair of scissors in front of onlookers at Cronulla's leagues club and assaulted former St. George player [[Barry Beath]] who had become involved in the situation.  Gow was later sacked by Cronulla for defacing the jersey and for assaulting a club patron.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/elles-dad-wins-fight-with-sharks-20021004-gdfowv.html/|title=Elle's dad wins fight with Sharks|website=The Sydney Morning Herald.com|date=4 October 2002 }}</ref>

Despite this the head-to-head match-up between the two clubs is surprisingly even. The two teams always lift the intensity when they meet, which has led to some classic matches over the years.  In the 1999 preliminary final, Cronulla-Sutherland had won the minor premiership and looked like cruising to the grand final, before St George Illawarra scored 24 unanswered second half points to win 24–8. They would meet again in the finals in 2002, with Cronulla winning 40–24, and again in 2005 when St George Illawarra won 28–22.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-09-10/dragons-survive-sharks-scare/2100536/|title=Dragons survive Sharks scare|newspaper=ABC News|date=10 September 2005 }}</ref>
In round 18 of the [[2023 NRL season]], Cronulla recorded their biggest ever victory over either St. George or St. George Illawarra defeating the latter 52-16.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-cronulla-sharks-v-st-george-illawarra-dragons-live-blog-updates-video-stats-ins-and-outs-injuries-ben-hunt/news-story/3cedb01ddff778981ebd7c6559648643/|title=Dragons cop worst ever beatdown from brutal Sharks as Hynes sends Origin message — 3 Big Hits|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=29 June 2023 }}</ref>

===Melbourne Storm===
A fairly recent rivalry that reached its height in the [[2016 NRL Grand Final]] which was won by Cronulla.

Round 2 of the [[2008 NRL season]] saw the sides meet at Olympic Park in Melbourne, and Cronulla was able to reverse the result by the same scoreline via a Brett Kimmorley field goal. The match was marred by an ugly brawl which saw Cronulla's Ben Ross and Melbourne's Brett White sent from the field. It was the only loss Melbourne suffered at home during the 2008 regular season.

The two sides met again in the preliminary final where Melbourne, despite missing captain Cameron Smith to suspension, defeated Cronulla 28–0 to advance to the grand final against Manly-Warringah.

Melbourne began the [[2012 NRL season]] with nine straight victories, before a Paul Gallen-less Sharks pipped them 12-10 thanks to a Jeremy Smith try and clutch conversion from Todd Carney. It looked like Cronulla would land two wins over Melbourne that year, leading 18–10 with 90 seconds to go in the second game between the sides.

Melbourne somehow scored twice to win 20–18. The competitive rivalry between the two sides officially began in late 2015 when Melbourne beat Cronulla 30–2 in spiteful circumstances. Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan accused Melbourne of slowing down the game with their wrestling tackle technique. The loss meant that Melbourne leap-frogged Cronulla into 4th place heading into the finals. Again Cronulla-Sutherland handed Melbourne their first loss of the [[2016 NRL season]], winning the round 4 clash 14–6. It was the first match in Cronulla's record-breaking 15 matches winning streak.

The two sides would meet in the final round of the regular season with the winner taking out the minor premiership. Melbourne won 26-6 and took out the JJ Giltinan Shield. However, Cronulla-Sutherland would win the biggest game ever between the two sides 4 weeks later, winning the 2016 grand final by 14–12 in a thriller.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2016/oct/02/nrl-grand-final-2016-cronulla-sharks-vs-melbourne-storm-live/|title=Cronulla defeat Storm to break 50-year NRL grand final hoodoo – as it happened|website=The Guardian|date=2 October 2016 |last1=Connolly |first1=Paul }}</ref>

The two teams traded close wins in 2017, with Cronulla winning 11–2 at AAMI Park before Melbourne returned serve with an 18–13 victory at Southern Cross Group Stadium. 2018 saw Cronulla win both encounters with Melbourne during the regular season, yet despite this, lost to them in the preliminary final 22 to 6.

The match featured a controversial moment when Melbourne player [[Billy Slater]] made an illegal tackle on Cronulla winger Sosaia Feki while he was in the act of scoring, therefore constituting a professional foul. Slater managed to avoid the Sin Bin despite being penalised for the action, as well as avoiding suspension, with the NRL judiciary controversially ruling that the tackle did not constitute a shoulder charge. Their round 4 clash in 2018 saw a record 33 penalties blown, and Cameron Smith was sin-binned for the first time in his career.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2016/oct/02/nrl-grand-final-2016-cronulla-sharks-vs-melbourne-storm-live/|title=Cronulla defeat Storm to break 50-year NRL grand final hoodoo – as it happened|website=The Guardian|date=2 October 2016 |last1=Connolly |first1=Paul }}</ref>

In the [[2021 NRL season]], former Melbourne player Will Chambers signed a contract to join Cronulla-Sutherland which closed the chapter of the two sides competitive rivalry.  Chambers had previously labelled Cronulla captain [[Paul Gallen]] and other Cronulla players as "Drug Cheats" during a 2017 game between the two sides.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-contracts-full-squads-will-chambers-sharks-transfer-centre-signings-every-team/news-story/a9b3ee78e067f66b0e163be2259829f5/|title=Tigers confirm Hastings capture as Chambers signs on with Sharks: Transfer Centre|website=foxsports.com.au|date=21 April 2021 }}</ref>

==Supporters==
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks receive support from groups of fans, including the "Cronulla-Sutherland Supporters Club",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cronullasupporters.com/|title=Welcome to cronullasupporters.com|website=cronullasupporters.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecssc.com.au/|title=Home – The CSSC|first=RSM Digital|last=Australia|date=24 December 2014|website=thecssc.com.au}}</ref> supporter's website "Sharks Forever", and fan forum "Sharks Forever".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sharksforever.com/|title=Sharks Forever Forums|website=sharksforever.com}}</ref>

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks fans became widely known for the '[[Spirit Fingers]]', when someone has a [[Place kick]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/tis-the-end-of-the-season-to-be-jolly/news-story/ad08d6995a240a828f0486b0e334daa0|title='Tis the end of the season to be jolly|date=7 September 2008|website=couriermail.com.au}}</ref>

Notable Celebrity Supporters of the club:
{{col-begin}}
| valign=top |
* [[Lara Bingle]], Australian model and actress
* [[John Boldeman]], Australian nuclear scientist
* [[Stuart Clark]], former Australian cricketer
* [[Bill Collins (television presenter)|Bill Collins]], Australian film critic and author
* [[Peter Costello]], former [[Treasurer of Australia|Federal Treasurer of Australia]]
* [[Brendan Cowell]], Australian actor, screenwriter, comedian and director
* [[Dave Faulkner (musician)|Dave Faulkner]], Australian rock musician
* [[Cathy Freeman]], Australian former sprinter
* [[Samuel Johnson (actor)|Samuel Johnson]], Australian actor, radio presenter, voiceover artist and philanthropist
| valign=top |
* [[Brendan Jones (radio personality)|Brendan Jones]], Australian radio presenter
* [[Daniel MacPherson]], Australian actor and television presenter
* [[Elle Macpherson]], Australian model
* [[Glenn McGrath]], former Australian international cricketer and commentator
* [[Scott Morrison]], 30th [[Prime Minister of Australia]]
* [[Shannon Noll]], Australian singer-songwriter
* [[Mark Occhilupo]], Australian surfer
* [[Glenn Wheeler]] Australian radio personality
* [[Markus Zusak]], Australian writer
{{col-end}}

==Women's team==
{{main|Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Women}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Sports}}
*[https://www.sharks.com.au/ Official website]
*[http://membership.sharks.com.au/ Official Cronulla Sharks Membership website]
*[http://sharksstore.com.au/ Official Cronulla Sharks Merchandise website]
*[http://www.sharkies.com.au/ Official Cronulla Sharks Leagues Club website]
*[http://www.sharksforever.com/ Cronulla Sharks image and news archive, with game stats back to 1967]
* [https://www.flashscore.com.au/team/cronulla-sharks/I33IunsQ/results/ Cronulla Sharks results] - Latest scores for Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

{{Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks}}
{{NRL}}
{{NSW Cup}}
{{Sydney Sports Teams}}

[[Category:Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks| ]]
[[Category:National Rugby League clubs]]
[[Category:Rugby league teams in Sydney]]
[[Category:Rugby clubs established in 1963]]
[[Category:1963 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Fan-owned football clubs]]
[[Category:Sharks in popular culture]]