They were the pioneers for rugby league in the Sutherland Shire. The very first men to wear the famous black, white and blue.
Their place among the history of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks is secure forever. And on May 12 they will come together at the Sharkies Leagues Club to be acknowledged.
The Men of League Foundation will host a luncheon to celebrate the 1967 Cronulla side, the club’s first ever first grade team, as part of the Sharks’ 50th year milestone.
The team of ‘67 paved the way for the club’s historic premiership-winning side of 2016. They were mostly a team of players looking for an opportunity and found it in the shire under coach Ken Kearney.
The Sharks won their first ever game, an 11-5 victory over Eastern Suburbs at the Sydney Sports Ground. Playing out of Sutherland Oval they also won their first home game, downing Parramatta 23-11 in round four.
While they eventually ran last in their inaugural season with three wins and a draw from their 22 games, they would help build a legacy.
Brian Cox, the fullback in the ‘67 team, told the Leader it was an honour to be remembered.
“We were the first and you can’t take that away from us,” he said.
“We’ll always be there as the first team. I’m very proud of that. We weren’t expected to win too many games in the year.
“When we came to Cronulla most of us were probably not making first grade at other clubs. But I remember there was exhilaration at being out there.”
It was a team full of characters. A man who became one of the greatest coaches in the game’s history, Warren Ryan, played in the centres. Halfback Terry Hughes won the first ever Rothmans Medal in 1968. His halves partner, Jack Danzey, became a leading referee.
Then, of course, was the club’s first ever captain. The great Monty Porter.
“We were seasoned footballers. There were a lot of characters who knew how to enjoy themselves,” Cox said.
“John Hynes, ‘Bomber’ we called him, would have a cigar after the game in the shower. And he’d come out with the cigar still in his mouth. I don’t know how he did it.
“Training was nothing like it is now. We’d train twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday nights usually. Blokes would work for 40 hours during the week then go to training at seven o’clock at night. It was a lot different back in those days.”
Former Sharks player Alan Wilson will MC the event and interview players past and present. There will also be a raffle.
Details: Brian Cox 0412 079 692, Denis Stapleton 0450 098 947, Bruce Thompson 0419 475 465
