Sharks name three immortals
Thursday, July 31 2003
Steve Rogers was humble, Andrew Ettingshausen excited and proud, while Gavin Miller stole the show with an emotional address to the crowd of about 400, when the three greatest Shark players of all time were unveiled.
The three players were the first to be inducted into the Sharks Hall of Fame and will be the first to be honoured on the new Sharks Immortals Walk at Toyota Park. The three Sharks Immortals were announced at a gala function held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney on Wednesday night.
A panel comprising Neil Cadigan the editor of Big League Magazine, Peter Frilingos, the chief rugby league writer at the Daily Telegraph, Gary Lester, journalist and Cronulla club Historian, along with long-time club doctor Peter Malouf, selected the three Sharks legends after fan polls had narrowed the final field down to 10 club greats.
Of the three worthy recipients however, it was Millers speech that touched the hearts those assembled on the evening.
Its a lifelong dream for me, Miller said before calming himself with a few deep breaths. To be recognised as one of the immortals of this club is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.
A tough centre-come-back rower, Miller, who played for distinction for NSW and Australia, as well as in 180 first grade games for Cronulla, went on to thank family and friends, and to praise the Rogers and Ettingshausen, the other two immortals named on the night.
A lot of people dont realise there were 368 players who have passed through the ranks since 1967 in first grade for the Sharks. 15 of those have played for NSW, nine for Queensland, 19 have been selected in the Australian side, not a bad achievement. But out of all of them, the guys who stand behind me are unprecedented, Miller said.
Back in 1980 when I came to the club Steve Rogers, at that stage was the most gifted player Id played with or against. As for Andrew Ettingshausen, as a player, as an athlete, as a finisher, as a loyal servant to this club, he was one of the greatest players Ive ever seen in my life.
Rogers, who was just an 18-year-old in that brutal Grand Final of 1973 and the man came within a whisker of leading the Sharks to that elusive premiership victory back in 1978, explained how the occasion was still emotional and exciting despite the fact he was tipped by many to be one of the first three immortals.
Theres always people saying youre going to be there, but until your name is read out its no different to waiting for your name to be read out in a Test side and Im equally thrilled to be a part of this tonight, Rogers said.
Im really overawed by this. Ive been involved with this club since playing junior footy in the area. I love this place, am very proud to be a part of it and now through administration, look forward to being an integral part of our first premiership win.
Rogers also went on to praise his former captain and coach Tommy Bishop for his coaching and guidance during his early years at the club.
For Ettingshausen, a proud shire boy as he chose to put it, being recognised as a Sharks immortal capped off a career that began way back in the days when his father took him to Sharks home games as a child.
Its been a tremendous thrill to go down to play for the Cronulla Sharks, he said. Playing 18 years for the Sharks is something Ill never forget. There are so many memories I can look back on with a great deal of pride.
The three inaugural Sharks immortals were selected from a final field of former champions that included a Great Britain captain in Tommy Bishop, a Kangaroo skipper in Greg Pierce, David Hatch, Mat Rogers, Mark McGaw, Cliff Watson and the only current Shark in David Peachey. Only Pierce, who is battling a serious illness, and McGaw, who had interstate commitments, were unable to attend on the evening.
Rogers, Ettingshausen and Miller all had excellent credentials that were difficult for the judges to ignore.
The current Sharks General Manager, Rogers, played for the Sharks from 1973 through 1982, then again in 1985. He played 202 first grade games for the club as well as numerous tests for Australia and state games for NSW. Rogers, a member of both the 1973 and 1978 Sharks Grand Final teams, was a recipient of a Rothmans Medal and is still recognised as one of the best centres of all time.
Miller came to the Sharks in 1980, played for the club until 1983, left to have a stint in the UK, then returned to play for Cronulla from 1986-1992. A gifted ball player who began as a back then made a successful transition into the forwards, Miller won back to back Dally M medals in 1988 and 1989 as well as the 1989 Rothmans Medal.
After beginning his first grade career while still a schoolboy, ET, as he came to be known, played a record 328 games for the club, joining an elite group of players to take to field in over 300 first grade games all for the one club. A flying fullback, winger or centre, Ettingshausen was a try-scoring machine at club, state and international level and later in his career became one of the games most punishing backline defenders.
A collection of current Sharks first grade players including Brett Kimmorley, Jason Stevens, Phil Bailey, Chris Beattie and Danny Nutley, along with coach Chris Anderson, attended on the night.
