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Coping With Loss
By Brad Forrest
The world of Cronulla Sharks utility Michael Sullivan, one of the stars of his team's 38-18 win over South Sydney on Saturday night, has been turned upside down. His mother, a big fan who put her battle with cancer aside to drive hundreds of kilometres to watch him play, has gone.
Now her son is poised to step up to the mark as the starting half-back with his captain Brett Kimmorley certain to take over from the injured Craig Gower as NSW half for the second state of Origin match in Brisbane. The Sharks heaped plenty of praise on the lightning-fast Sullivan, both on and off the field. He has not missed a game but has missed training sessions the past month, as he's regularly journeyed north to be beside his mother, Lee Anne, before she died a fortnight ago.
"Mum was probably my biggest driving force," said Sullivan, who along with other Sharks players died his hair in a charity event to help raise funds for cancer. "Three years ago they gave her only six months to live, but Mum fought on bravely. Last year she encouraged Dad (John) to drive down most weekends from their home in Wingham to see me play. It was a lot of travelling and Mum kept it from us how sick she was.
This year the cancer spread and she couldn't travel." But she encouraged her son to play to the best of his ability, telling him, "life must go on." And that's exactly what he's done since a knee reconstruction ruined the former Norths and Manly halfback's first season with the Sharks. "Sully certainly helps to take the pressure of me when he is on." said his captain Kimmorley, the replacement hooker whose darting runs and kicking game deflects the defensive attention from Kimmorley.
Coach Stuart Raper said the Sharks suffered from "over-play" in the first half, failing to take 10 chances as Souths, running with the wind, went to a 12-10 half-time lead. "We talked about patience at the break and we played a lot better," he acknowledged of the Sharks game which saw Andrew Lomu, Sullivan (second try), Nath Merrit and Ryan McGoldrick (2 tries) whip up 26 unanswered points before Souths scored on full-time.
Sharks utility Phil Bailey celebrated signing a new three year deal with the Sharks with a strong game at lock. Bailey, who turned 24, joins Kimmorley as a long-term signing until 2007. "I want to be here to help bring the first premiership to the club," said Bailey, a Kangaroo tourist who unselfishly slotted into the unfamiliar centre position. Raper said, "Phils chances in rep football haven't been helped by his flexibility...but I can see him making more rep teams in the future."
Chief executive Steve Rogers said he also hopes to soon finalise negotiations to re-sign Paul Gallen, Danny Nutley and Michael Sullivan.
By Brad Forrest
The world of Cronulla Sharks utility Michael Sullivan, one of the stars of his team's 38-18 win over South Sydney on Saturday night, has been turned upside down. His mother, a big fan who put her battle with cancer aside to drive hundreds of kilometres to watch him play, has gone.
Now her son is poised to step up to the mark as the starting half-back with his captain Brett Kimmorley certain to take over from the injured Craig Gower as NSW half for the second state of Origin match in Brisbane. The Sharks heaped plenty of praise on the lightning-fast Sullivan, both on and off the field. He has not missed a game but has missed training sessions the past month, as he's regularly journeyed north to be beside his mother, Lee Anne, before she died a fortnight ago.
"Mum was probably my biggest driving force," said Sullivan, who along with other Sharks players died his hair in a charity event to help raise funds for cancer. "Three years ago they gave her only six months to live, but Mum fought on bravely. Last year she encouraged Dad (John) to drive down most weekends from their home in Wingham to see me play. It was a lot of travelling and Mum kept it from us how sick she was.
This year the cancer spread and she couldn't travel." But she encouraged her son to play to the best of his ability, telling him, "life must go on." And that's exactly what he's done since a knee reconstruction ruined the former Norths and Manly halfback's first season with the Sharks. "Sully certainly helps to take the pressure of me when he is on." said his captain Kimmorley, the replacement hooker whose darting runs and kicking game deflects the defensive attention from Kimmorley.
Coach Stuart Raper said the Sharks suffered from "over-play" in the first half, failing to take 10 chances as Souths, running with the wind, went to a 12-10 half-time lead. "We talked about patience at the break and we played a lot better," he acknowledged of the Sharks game which saw Andrew Lomu, Sullivan (second try), Nath Merrit and Ryan McGoldrick (2 tries) whip up 26 unanswered points before Souths scored on full-time.
Sharks utility Phil Bailey celebrated signing a new three year deal with the Sharks with a strong game at lock. Bailey, who turned 24, joins Kimmorley as a long-term signing until 2007. "I want to be here to help bring the first premiership to the club," said Bailey, a Kangaroo tourist who unselfishly slotted into the unfamiliar centre position. Raper said, "Phils chances in rep football haven't been helped by his flexibility...but I can see him making more rep teams in the future."
Chief executive Steve Rogers said he also hopes to soon finalise negotiations to re-sign Paul Gallen, Danny Nutley and Michael Sullivan.
Good on ya Sully. Keep it up champ.
