1997 Illawarra Steelers season

Illawarra Steelers
Season 1997
CEO	Bob Millward
Head Coach	Andrew Farrar
Captain	Paul McGregor
NRL	6th (out of 12)
Top Try scorer	Wayne Clifford (14)
Top Points scorer	Wayne Clifford (56)
Highest home attendance	12,089 (vs. Gold Coast Chargers, 30 August 1997, at WIN Stadium)
Lowest home attendance	5,546 (vs. Western Suburbs Magpies, 10 May 1997, at WIN Stadium)
Average home attendance	8,695
← Previous season 1996	Next season → 1998

The 1997 Illawarra Steelers season was the sixteenth in the club's history. The side made its second appearance in the play-offs, the first ending with the infamous 1992 semi-finals 4-0 loss to the St. George Dragons. Whilst making the finals, the season ultimately ended up as a disappointment, losing in the first week to the Gold Coast Chargers. Many expected them to win this match easily as they had beaten their opponents comfortably 28-6 the week before.

Season Summary

The Steelers lost many players before the start of this season, including veterans Neil Piccinelli, David Riolo, Brendan O'Meara and Darren Fritz, leaving a massive hole to fill by many inexperienced juniors. They gained only halfback/hooker Will Robinson from Souths. The beginning of the season looked promising for the Steelers with 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss from the first six games, sitting third on the ladder. They failed to win any of their next seven games, which included 2 draws. The middle of season didn't suggest a good outcome for the end of the season. To their credit however, they won the next four out of five games and the final two games of the season when they knew a finals berth was on the line. A 25-14 loss at Parramatta Stadium to the hands of the Gold Coast Chargers in the first week of the finals spelt disaster on a season which could have produced so much more during this year without some formidable sides who were competing in the rival Telstra Super League tournament.

Player Movements

Gains

Player	Previous Club
Will Robinson	South Sydney Rabbitohs

Losses

Player	Joined Club
Paul Carige	Parramatta Eels
Darrien Doherty	Hunter Mariners
Darren Fritz	North Sydney Bears
Brendan O'Meara	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Neil Piccinelli	Hunter Mariners
Wayne Richards	Newcastle Knights
David Riolo	Parramatta Eels
Craig Simon	South Sydney
Josh White	London Broncos

Squad

No. Position Player HB Glen Air FE Trent Barrett SR Darren Bradstreet LK Adam Bristow WG Jonathon Britten HK Dean Callaway WG Wayne Clifford PR David Cox PR Scott Cram LK John Cross SR Michael Cross PR Maea David PR Andrew Hart WG Brendon Hauville CE Jason Hooper

No. Position Player SR Terry Lamey PR Chris Leikvoll LK Brad Mackay CE Paul McGregor (captain) WG Dean Moon HK Andrew Purcell FB Brendon Reeves HB Will Robinson CE Brett Rodwell WG Fili Seru CE Craig Simon PR Craig Smith CE Shaun Timmins SR Brendon Tunbridge WG Rod Wishart

Draw and Results

Quick Summary

1997 Illawarra Steelers season summary
Round Home Score Away 1 Steelers 50-10 Souths 2 Balmain 10-18 Steelers 3 Steelers 8-20 St. George 4 Norths 18-18 Steelers 5 Steelers 14-6 Sth Qld 6 Sydney 20-26 Steelers	Round Home Score Away 7 Steelers 16-23 Parramatta 8 Newcastle 20-4 Steelers 9 Steelers 34-34 Manly 10 Steelers 2-6 Wests 11 Gold Coast 10-11 Steelers 12 Souths 28-28 Steelers	Round Home Score Away 13 Steelers 6-18 Balmain 14 St. George 10-12 Steelers 15 Steelers 15-8 Norths 16 Sth Qld 8-34 Steelers 17 Steelers 12-34 Sydney 18 Parramatta 24-28 Steelers	Round Home Score Away 19 Steelers 12-22 Newcastle 20 Manly 30-14 Steelers 21 Wests 10-34 Steelers 22 Steelers 28-6 Gold Coast F1 Steelers 14-25 Gold Coast

March (2-1-1)

Round 1: Illawarra Steelers vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs

9 March 1997 Competition: Optus Cup Referee (F): Paul McBlane Venue: WIN Stadium Location: Wollongong, New South Wales Attendance: 7,697 Illawarra Steelers (20) 50 - 10 (10) South Sydney Rabbitohs   Tries: Brett Rodwell 3 Rod Wishart 2 Wayne Clifford 2 Brad Mackay Shaun Timmins Tries: M.Manning Goals: Rod Wishart 7/9 Goals: M.Manning 3/3 Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Wishart, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Callaway, Smith, Bristow, Mackay, Rodwell. Interchange: Cram, Tunbridge, David, Hart. Round 2: Balmain Tigers vs. Illawarra Steelers 15 March 1997 Competition: Optus Cup Referee (F): David Manson Venue: Leichhardt Oval Location: Sydney, New South Wales Attendance: 8,211 Balmain Tigers (10) 10 - 18 (0) Illawarra Steelers   Tries: William Kennedy Tries: Wayne Clifford 2 Rod Wishart Goals: C.Freer 2/3 Michael Withers 1/1 Goals: Rod Wishart 3/4 Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Wishart, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Callaway, Smith, Bristow, Mackay, Rodwell. Interchange: Tunbridge, Cram, David, J.Cross. Round 3: Illawarra Steelers vs. St. George Dragons 22 March 1997 Competition: Optus Cup Referee (F): Paul Simpkins Venue: WIN Stadium Location: Wollongong, New South Wales Attendance: 8,661 Illawarra Steelers (4) 8 - 20 (18) St. George Dragons   Tries: Glen Air Tries: Daniel Wagon Jim Lenihan S.Kenward Goals: Rod Wishart 2/3 Goals: Wayne Bartrim 4/5 Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Wishart, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Callaway, Smith, Bristow, Mackay, Rodwell. Interchange: Tunbridge, Cram, David, J.Cross. Round 4: North Sydney Bears vs. Illawarra Steelers 28 March 1997 Competition: Optus Cup Referee (F): Paul McBlane Venue: North Sydney Oval Location: Sydney, New South Wales Attendance: 8,319 North Sydney Bears (4) 18 - 18 (14) Illawarra Steelers   Tries: Chris Caruana Matt Seers Jason Taylor Tries: Brendon Reeves Wayne Clifford Dean Callaway Bredon Hauville Goals: Jason Taylor 3/4 Goals: Rod Wishart 1/3 Shaun Timmins 0/1 It was a day of draws for the Steelers and the Bears. All three grades were drawn (U-20s: 12-all, Reserves: 18-all, Firsts: 18-all). After capitulating in the second half, the Steelers saw themselves down 18-14, losing their 14-4 lead at half-time. Brendon Hauville scored in the final minutes, in what seemed to be a get-out-jail move by the substitute, who had come on for winger and regular goal-kicker Rod Wishart. What should have been a last-minute victory for the Steelers instead became a fruitless event when Shaun Timmins missed the conversion from in front of the uprights. It was just not their day for defeating the Bears. Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Wishart, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Robinson; Bradstreet, Callaway, Smith, Cram, Mackay, Rodwell. Interchange: Tunbridge, J.Cross, Bristow, Hauville. April (2-0-2) Round 5: Illawarra Steelers vs. South Queensland Crushers 6 April 1997 Competition: Optus Cup Referee (F): Matt Hewitt Venue: WIN Stadium Location: Wollongong, New South Wales Attendance: 6,144 Illawarra Steelers (4) 14 - 6 (0) South Queensland Crushers   Tries: Adam Bristow Shaun Timmins Trent Barrett Tries: Jason Hudson Goals: Darren Bradstreet 1/1 Brendon Reeves 0/2 Goals: Jason Hudson 1/2 Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Hauville, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Robinson, Smith, Cram, Mackay, J.Cross. Interchange: Bristow, Tunbridge, David, Hart. Round 6: Sydney City Roosters vs. Illawarra Steelers 13 April 1997 Competition: Optus Cup Referee (F): Paul Simpkins Venue: Sydney Football Stadium Location: Sydney, New South Wales Attendance: 7,600 Sydney City Roosters (12) 20 - 42 (16) Illawarra Steelers   Tries: Ivan Cleary Andrew Walker Shane Rigon Tries: Trent Barrett 2 Brendon Reeves 2 John Cross Goals: Ivan Cleary 4/4 Goals: Darren Bradstreet 2/3 Brendon Reeves 1/2 Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Hauville, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Robinson, Smith, Cram, Mackay, J.Cross. Interchange: Bristow, Tunbridge, David, Hart. Round 7: Illawarra Steelers vs. Parramatta Eels 19 April 1997 Competition: Optus Cup Referee (F): Sean Hampstead Venue: WIN Stadium Location: Wollongong, New South Wales Attendance: 11,992 Illawarra Steelers (8) 16 - 23 (20) Parramatta Eels   Tries: Will Robinson Adam Bristow Wayne Clifford Tries: Stuart Kelly 2 Shane Whereat Jason Bell Goals: Darren Bradstreet 1/3 Brendon Reeves 1/1 Goals: Ian Herron 3/5 John Simon field goal Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Hauville, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Robinson, Smith, Cram, Mackay, J.Cross. Interchange: Bristow, David, Tunbridge, Seru. Round 8: Newcastle Knights vs. Illawarra Steelers 27 April 1997 Competition: Optus Cup Referee (F): Kelvin Jeffes Venue: Marathon Stadium Location: Newcastle, New South Wales Attendance: 12,582 Newcastle Knights (6) 20 - 4 (4) Illawarra Steelers   Tries: Jason Moodie Owen Craigie Mathew Gidley Robbie O'Davis Tries: Glen Air Goals: Robbie O'Davis 2/3 Leo Dynevor 0/2 Goals: Brendon Reeves 0/1 Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Seru, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Cram, Robinson, Smith, Bradstreet, Mackay, J.Cross. Interchange: Bristow, David, Rodwell, Tunbridge. May (0-2-2) Round 9: Illawarra Steelers vs. Manly Sea Eagles 4 May 1997 Competition: Optus Cup Referee (F): David Manson Venue: WIN Stadium Location: Wollongong, New South Wales Attendance: 9,835 Illawarra Steelers (18) 34 - 34 (18) Manly Sea Eagles   Tries: Brad Mackay Trent Barrett John Cross Brendon Reeves Scott Cram Shaun Timmins Tries: Craig Innes 3 Terry Hill 2 Danny Moore Goals: Darren Bradstreet 3/4 Brendon Reeves 2/3 Goals: Craig Field 5/6 A gripping twelve try game. By the end of the match these two clubs equalled the premiership record for the highest score for a drawn game at 34-all. Manly started great and finished strong. The Steelers were up 34-22 with six minutes remaining. However, they only had eleven men on the field and the Sea Eagles ran them home. Five-Eighth Trent Barrett was sent off in the 66th minute for a high tackle on Steve Menzies and David Cox was sin binned in the 69th minute. Manly stayed at the top of the table with 15 points and the Steelers were sitting fifth with ten by the end of the round. Barrett received a two-match ban for the tackle. Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Seru, Rodwell, Timmins, Clifford; Barrett, Air; Smith, Robinson, Bradstreet, Bristow, Mackay, J.Cross (c). Interchange: Cram, David, Cox, Purcell. Round 10: Illawarra Steelers vs. Western Suburbs Magpies 10 May 1997 Competition: Optus Cup Referee (F): Sean Hampstead Venue: WIN Stadium Location: Wollongong, New South Wales Attendance: 5,546 Illawarra Steelers (0) 2 - 6 (0) Western Suburbs Magpies   Tries: Tries: Des Hasler Goals: Darren Bradstreet 1/3 Goals: Andrew Leeds 1/3 The supporters stayed away from Saturday night's wind and rain. Everything about the night was miserable for the five-thousand Steelers fans that bothered to show up. Only one try was scored in stark contrast to the entertaining twelve-try feast of the previous week against the Manly Sea Eagles at the same venue. Both fullbacks, Brendon Reeves (Illawarra) and Andrew Leeds (Wests), were sin binned during the game. Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Seru, Timmins, Rodwell, Clifford; Purcell, Air; Bradstreet, Robinson, Smith, David, Bristow, J.Cross (c). Interchange: Cram, Cox, Hart, Hooper. Round 11: Gold Coast vs. Illawarra Steelers 17 May 1997 Competition: Optus Cup Referee (F): David Manson Venue: Carrara Stadium Location: Gold Coast, Queensland Attendance: 5,813 Gold Coast (6) 11 - 10 (4) Illawarra Steelers   Tries: Jamie Goddard Graham Mackay Tries: Shaun Timmins Will Robinson Goals: Brendan Hurst 1/3, field goal Goals: Rod Wishart 1/2 Brendan Hurst's late field goal leaves Illawarra's chances in the competition diminishing, dropping to seventh on ten points with Wests and St. George waiting eagerly below them, also with ten points. Steelers Lineup: Seru; Wishart, Rodwell, McGregor (c), Clifford; Timmins, Robinson; Cram, J.Cross, Smith, Bristow, Bradstreet, Hart. Interchange: Reeves, Cox, David, M.Cross. Round 12: South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Illawarra Steelers 25 May 1997 Competition: Optus Cup Referee (F): Mogsheen Jadwat Venue: Sydney Football Stadium Location: Sydney, New South Wales Attendance: 4,271 South Sydney Rabbitohs (12) 28 - 28 (18) Illawarra Steelers   Tries: Darrell Trindall Paul Sutton Craig Simon Phil Howlett Marty Moore Tries: Darren Bradstreet Brendon Reeves David Cox Will Robinson Wayne Clifford Goals: Julian O'Neill 4/7 Goals: Darren Bradstreet 2/2 Brendon Reeves 2/4 Illawarra's thrilling third draw of the campaign, and a high scoring one at that (28-all). Another ten-tries put on by the players, giving the crowd of less than five-thousand their money's worth. Steelers supports certainly couldn't help but feel if they had of gotten over the line in at least two of these three games their season might have shaped up differently. After this game, Illawarra was sitting in eighth place, outside of play-off's contention for the first time this season. Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Seru, Rodwell, Timmins, Clifford; Barrett, Robinson; Cram, J.Cross (c), Bradstreet, Bristow, Hart, Mackay. Interchange: Cox, Tunbridge, Lamey, Leikvoll. June (1-0-1) Round 13: Illawarra Steelers vs. Balmain Tigers 6 June 1997 Competition: Optus Cup Referee (F): Matt Hewitt Venue: WIN Stadium Location: Wollongong, New South Wales Attendance: 8,184 Illawarra Steelers (0) 6 - 18 (12) Balmain Tigers   Tries: Trent Barrett Tries: Laloa Milford William Kennedy Adam Starr Goals: Darren Bradstreet 1/1 Goals: Michael Withers 3/3 It was a disappointing first Friday Night Football of the season for the Illawarra side at home, losing 18-6 to a Balmain Tigers side seething from their second-round loss at Leichhardt the first time these two teams met in the season. The Tigers held onto their 12-0 lead at the break. Barrett got one back for the Steelers, taking them only six points behind, but an Adam Starr try held-off any attempted comeback. The result aided the Steelers slip down the ladder into tenth. Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Seru, Rodwell, Timmins, Clifford; Barrett, Robinson; Cram, Callaway, Bradstreet, Hart, Mackay, J.Cross (c). Interchange: Cox, Bristow, Leikvoll, Air. Round 14: St. George Dragons vs. Illawarra Steelers 22 June 1997 Competition: Optus Cup Referee (F): Paul Simpkins Venue: Kogarah Oval Location: Sydney, New South Wales Attendance: 7,257 St. George Dragons (4) 10 - 12 (8) Illawarra Steelers   Tries: Colin Ward Mark Bell Tries: Brett Rodwell 2 Glen Air Goals: Steven Price 1/2 Gavin Clinch 0/2 Goals: Darren Bradstreet 0/2 Brendon Reeves 0/2 The third and final game of weekend due to the split round saw the Steelers side completely dominate the St. George team, but they failed to convert their superiority into points. They eventually got themselves over the line with two minutes remaining through experienced centre Brett Rodwell, winning 12-10. The win saw them leap-frog St. George and Balmain back up into eighth position, one place away from finals footy. Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Britten, Rodwell, Timmins, Clifford; Air, Robinson; Cram, Callaway, Bradstreet, Hart, Mackay, J.Cross (c). Interchange: Leikvoll, Lamey, Cox. Ladder Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts 1 Manly 22 15 2 5 521 366 +155 32 2 Newcastle 22 14 1 7 512 320 +192 29 3 Parramatta 22 14 1 7 431 359 +72 29 4 North Sydney 22 13 1 8 529 341 +188 27 5 Sydney City 22 13 1 8 487 366 +121 27 6 Illawarra 22 10 3 9 423 376 +47 23 7 Gold Coast 22 10 1 11 438 466 -28 21 8 Balmain 22 10 0 12 339 340 -1 20 9 Western Suburbs 22 10 0 12 355 424 -69 20 10 St. George 22 9 1 12 331 392 -61 19 11 South Sydney 22 4 1 17 323 630 -307 9 12 South Queensland 22 4 0 18 321 630 -309 8 Home Crowd Averages Round Opposition Venue Crowd Round 1 South Sydney Rabbitohs WIN Stadium, Wollongong 7,697 Round 3 St. George Dragons WIN Stadium, Wollongong 8,661 Round 5 South Queensland Crushers WIN Stadium, Wollongong 6,144 Round 7 Parramatta Eels WIN Stadium, Wollongong 11,992 Round 9 Manly Sea Eagles WIN Stadium, Wollongong 9,835 Round 10 Western Suburbs Magpies WIN Stadium, Wollongong 5,546 Round 13 Balmain Tigers WIN Stadium, Wollongong 8,184 Round 15 North Sydney Bears WIN Stadium, Wollongong 7,219 Round 17 Sydney City Roosters WIN Stadium, Wollongong 8,241 Round 19 Newcastle Knights WIN Stadium, Wollongong 10,038 Round 22 Gold Coast Chargers WIN Stadium, Wollongong 12,089 Total 95,646 Average 8,695 References