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'Misfits' inspire Sharks
By James Hooper
June 29, 2006
SHARKS coach Stuart Raper last night lauded his collection of rejects, misfits and unheralded juniors who are silently spearheading the outfit towards smashing a 39-year premiership drought.
Ridiculed and written off after losing four of their opening five games, Raper has paid tribute to the unsung Sharks who include five stars cut by rival NRL clubs before finding a second chance at the club. Utility Brett Kearney was shown the door at South Sydney and still has the majority of his wages paid by the Rabbitohs.
Goalkicking winger Luke Covell was dumped by premier Wests Tigers but was last night rewarded with a new two-year deal at the Sharks.
Rookies Luke Douglas and Beau Scott slipped out of the system at
St George-Illawarra before finding a new home in the shire.
Hooker Kevin Kingston was axed by the Sharks at the end of 2004 before joining Newtown, where his form was so impressive he carved out a new contract at Cronulla.
"We gave some of these guys another opportunity and they've rewarded our good faith with some outstanding form over the last couple of months," Raper said.
"At the beginning of the year we were probably getting harshly judged when we lost a few games by only small margins but through that tough period all of these blokes really put their hands up.
"There's a lot of belief and confidence in the players that they can do the job and a lot of these guys have really made the most of it.
"Our local juniors just keep getting better too, the likes of Reece Williams and Dave Simmons, they're going from strength to strength."
After losing key forwards Jason Stevens to retirement and Danny Nutley to England the Sharks were expected to struggle this season, drifting to $51 in premiership betting with SportsTAB after a poor start.
The forecast worsened when prize recruit Ben Ross was ruled out for the year in round eight but after winning eight of their past nine games the Sharks are now $8 to win a watershed NRL premiership.
Raper intends to use the examples of what winning maiden premierships did for Newcastle, Canberra and Penrith as the Sharks edge closer to the business end of the season.
"I can't change history books, we haven't won a title - but I do know every year the club is different," Raper said.
"History is the black and white of what's read or said, it's not what's done. We'll be drawing on what we can do, not what's happened in the past.
"Obviously it would be very exciting to be the first team to win the premiership in this area."
Typifying the relaxed atmosphere at Sharks training yesterday, chief executive Greg Pierce strolled up to winger Covell during the session and shook hands on a new two-year contract.
"It was a chance for a fresh start for me coming to (the Sharks). I knew I had to take the opportunity I'd been given and run with it," Covell said.
The Daily Telegraph
By James Hooper
June 29, 2006
SHARKS coach Stuart Raper last night lauded his collection of rejects, misfits and unheralded juniors who are silently spearheading the outfit towards smashing a 39-year premiership drought.
Ridiculed and written off after losing four of their opening five games, Raper has paid tribute to the unsung Sharks who include five stars cut by rival NRL clubs before finding a second chance at the club. Utility Brett Kearney was shown the door at South Sydney and still has the majority of his wages paid by the Rabbitohs.
Goalkicking winger Luke Covell was dumped by premier Wests Tigers but was last night rewarded with a new two-year deal at the Sharks.
Rookies Luke Douglas and Beau Scott slipped out of the system at
St George-Illawarra before finding a new home in the shire.
Hooker Kevin Kingston was axed by the Sharks at the end of 2004 before joining Newtown, where his form was so impressive he carved out a new contract at Cronulla.
"We gave some of these guys another opportunity and they've rewarded our good faith with some outstanding form over the last couple of months," Raper said.
"At the beginning of the year we were probably getting harshly judged when we lost a few games by only small margins but through that tough period all of these blokes really put their hands up.
"There's a lot of belief and confidence in the players that they can do the job and a lot of these guys have really made the most of it.
"Our local juniors just keep getting better too, the likes of Reece Williams and Dave Simmons, they're going from strength to strength."
After losing key forwards Jason Stevens to retirement and Danny Nutley to England the Sharks were expected to struggle this season, drifting to $51 in premiership betting with SportsTAB after a poor start.
The forecast worsened when prize recruit Ben Ross was ruled out for the year in round eight but after winning eight of their past nine games the Sharks are now $8 to win a watershed NRL premiership.
Raper intends to use the examples of what winning maiden premierships did for Newcastle, Canberra and Penrith as the Sharks edge closer to the business end of the season.
"I can't change history books, we haven't won a title - but I do know every year the club is different," Raper said.
"History is the black and white of what's read or said, it's not what's done. We'll be drawing on what we can do, not what's happened in the past.
"Obviously it would be very exciting to be the first team to win the premiership in this area."
Typifying the relaxed atmosphere at Sharks training yesterday, chief executive Greg Pierce strolled up to winger Covell during the session and shook hands on a new two-year contract.
"It was a chance for a fresh start for me coming to (the Sharks). I knew I had to take the opportunity I'd been given and run with it," Covell said.
The Daily Telegraph
