CRONULLA Sharks might have denied a report today that the club could be moved to become the Queensland Sharks, but ...
Sharks media manager Rob Willis said north or central Queensland ‘‘do have some nice golf courses’’.
‘‘Yeppoon, for one is a real beauty and not far out of Rocky [Rockhampton],’’ joked Willis.
Willis would know, of course. As a former professional golfer and sometime golfing commentator, he has played on most courses in Australasia.
Sharks fans were none too happy with the report and sent out a flurry of Tweets (see below).
“@NRLclubNEWS: #NRL NRL's Sharks aren't going anywhere: Noyce http://t.co/mxgjYyj6Nd” @telegraph_sport we want an official apology from you
— Matt (@Croz_au) September 24, 2013
I'm one extremely disillusioned #NRL supporter at the moment. Paper talk of a team relocating makes me sick. Over to you @DaveSmithNRL !!!!!
— Badders (@LordTonyofMacca) September 24, 2013
@DaveSmithNRL if the sharks are forced to relocate, I will NEVER watch another NRL game, buy a membership, or merchandise, I won't be alone!
— Andrew Howard (@sharkies80) September 24, 2013
Another day and another cynical skim of your time, cash and attention. Surely you're getting tired of being harvested?
— fitz (@ultrafitz) September 24, 2013
Responding to a Daily Telegraph report today, Sharks chief executive Steve Noyce said the Sharks had not been told by the NRL they will be moved to Queensland in two years and had ‘‘no plans to move’’ from their Woolooware headquarters.
SHARKS chief executive Steve Noyce said today the Sharks were going to ‘‘be around for 100 years.’’
Speaking on the Sharks website, Noyce said: “For 47 years we’ve been proudly a part of the Cronulla-Sutherland Shire and we are planning to be here for another 100 years.
‘‘We’re a club that’s resilient, we’re determined and we’re proud to be a part of the Shire. There is a lot to be excited about our future.’’
Noyce said there has been no indication and no discussion with the club that relocation is on the NRL agenda, in ‘‘either the short or long term.’’
‘‘The Sharks have enjoyed a successful season on the field and with a number of new sponsors on board, coupled with the projected income stream from the soon to be commenced Woolooware Bay Development, have no doubt they have the financial stability to sustain the club well into the future,’’ he said.
‘‘The development, which includes approximately 630 residential units and a 17,000 square metre retail, services and entertainment precinct, is set to provide a $30-$40million injection of funds to the Sharks over the next six to seven years.
‘‘A key quote from the newspaper report today from NRL CEO Dave Smith stated; “We don’t have plans to move any team.” Smith later reaffirmed the NRL's stance on social media.“I can't be clearer: we have no plans to move Cronulla,” Smith added via Twitter.
Noyce reiterated these words from Smith. ‘‘The Sharks enjoyed a successful season on the field, finishing fifth after the home and away season before progressing to week two of the finals, while at the same time they attracted a number of new major corporate partners and sponsors including One Solutions, Pain Away, Reozone, Remondis, Shore Hire and The Tradies,’’ Noyce added.
“In the same way that Shane [coach Shane Flanagan] and the team have responded to the off-field challenges by strong on-field performance, everyone in the Shire and all Sharks fans can play a significant role in our exciting future by remaining or become a member or sponsor in 2014...UP UP CRONULLA.’’
Coach Flanagan praised the Sharks fans on the website.
‘‘It was a reasonably successful year, but at the same time a difficult year, one with plenty of disruptions and distractions, however through it all you stuck solid and we could in no way fault our members and fans for getting behind us all season,’’ he said.
‘‘You the fans were terrific this year, all the way from round one when we played the Titans in front of a passionate home crowd, through until the Cowboys and Manly matches in the final series when blue, black and white was dominant at Allianz Stadium and your vocal support undoubtedly helped to lift the boys in times of need.
‘‘While pleased we managed to progress to the second week of the finals, all of us here think we may have slightly underachieved in that for the first time since I took over control of the Sharks I truly believed we had a team which had the ability to beat any one of the remaining teams on our day.
‘‘We had already beaten the Roosters, Rabbits and Knights during the year, and you all saw how close we went with Manly, so I am sure you share my frustration at the way it ended for us last Friday.’’
See a full report in the Leader on Thursday with an interview with Sharks chairman Damian Keogh.
What do you think of the rumours or the idea Sharks should move?
