Sharks target discipline
By Peter Frilingos
April 6, 2004
SHARKS coach Stuart Raper fears his team has become addicted to breaking the rules as it was revealed Cronulla are the most ill-disciplined team in the competition.
Greg Bird - awaiting judiciary outcome
Raper delivered his comments after five-eighth Greg Bird had his kneeing charge referred directly to the NRL judiciary yesterday while prop Jason Stevens is facing a maximum two weeks on the sideline for tripping.
Bird could be out for at least six weeks for kneeing South Sydney winger Shane Marteene in the face at Aussie Stadium on Saturday night.
But it is the overall attitude of the Sharks that has Raper concerned.
Statistics reveal they are the most ill-disciplined team in the competition, having conceded more penalties than any other club after four rounds and having the most send-offs in the last 12 months.
"There was an attitude problem in the club last year and it's still there," Raper said. "It's like an addiction and while I don't know if that's the case we have to do something about it.
"We're like an alcoholic who's got a problem. We've got to admit it and confront it and I'm confident we've done that."
Raper called a meeting yesterday to address the problem, with chief executive Steve Rogers and captain Brett Kimmorley also speaking. Rogers read out scathing emails from frustrated fans.
Raper said the Sharks had to learn to be disciplined instead of whingeing on the field.
The players have to accept responsibility. It's a bit out of frustration and it's also a little bit of an attitude issue that's been building over the last couple of years in this place," he said.
"I don't like to use the word dumb but that's how it looks as the penalties mount against us."
Sharks prop Chris Beattie said the players were aware of the problem and had agreed to change their ways.
"The game against Souths was disgraceful. I don't think there's too many sides that could win a football game from a 15-4 penalty count," Beattie said.
"It's just ridiculous. You can't just blame the referees for it. We've dug ourselves a hole.
"You can blow up and swear and do whatever you like but the referee is never going to say 'Oh geez, you're right' and reverse his decision.
"Obviously we've brought a lot of it on ourselves. It's easy to get frustrated, I've done it plenty of times before.
"It's a simple thing we will be fixing as of this weekend.
"Purely it becomes a frustration thing for us as players and then the referee just does his job."
Bird's offence was considered so serious that the NRL's match review panel, headed by former leading referee Greg McCallum, declined to grade the charge.
Instead it was referred to the judiciary panel for determination tomorrow night.
