Sharks legend Andrew Ettingshausen believes Cronulla can achieve more success

Ettingshausen never managed to lift a premiership trophy for his beloved Sharks but one of the club’s all-time greatest players believes now that the Sharks have made history the only way is up.

“There were a few tears rolling down from my eyes I can tell you – it’s been such a long time coming,” Ettingshausen said.

“Everyone’s tried, I mean I played 18 years of the game and got here a few times but never got close enough to win and hold that trophy up.

“The boys have finally done it so, wow, it’s a relief off our shoulders but there arre bigger and better things to come.”

Ettingshausen, who retired in 2000 having played 324 games for Cronulla, including the 1997 Super League grand final defeat against Brisbane, said the atmosphere at ANZ Stadium was electric and he felt before the game that this was the night the Sharks would end 50 years of waiting.

“It’s like Shark Park by 10,” he said of the crowd support. “There are so many Sharks fans here.

“This is just amazing for all Sharks fans and of course the team – they’ve just played so well this year.

“Everybody had a really strong belief this year that the team was such a good team, quality team all the way through, couldn’t see a weakness, so we were expecting big things and the boys produced.”

The man affectionately known as ‘ET’, who made his first grade debut while still at De La Salle High School in 1983. became the first player to surpass 300 first grade games with the one club.

He has seen his club stagger through some tough times and praised the club’s current management for the success they are now bringing to the fans. 

“They’ve really climbed out of a pretty tough old spot a couple of years ago and all credit to Shane Flanagan, Gal and all the boys,” Ettingshausen said.

“Putting a win like this together is not an easy thing so they’ve done an incredible job in a few years.”