1997 Illawarra Steelers season

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.

Illawarra Steelers
1997 season
CEOAustralia Bob Millward
Head coachAustralia Andrew Farrar
CaptainAustralia Paul McGregor
NRL6th (out of 12)
Top try scorerClub: Wayne Clifford (14)
Top points scorerClub: Wayne Clifford (56)
Highest home attendance12,089 (vs. Gold Coast Chargers, 30 August 1997, at WIN Stadium)
Lowest home attendance5,546 (vs. Western Suburbs Magpies, 10 May 1997, at WIN Stadium)
Average home attendance8,695

Season Summary

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The Steelers lost several players before the start of this season, including veterans Neil Piccinelli, David Riolo, Brendan O'Meara and Darren Fritz, leaving a massive hole to be filled by many inexperienced juniors. They gained only halfback/hooker Will Robinson from Souths. The beginning of the season looked promising for the Steelers with four wins, one draw and one loss from their first six games, leaving them sitting third on the ladder. However, they failed to win any of their next seven games, which included two draws. This middle portion of the season did not bode well for the club’s finals prospects, but to their credit, they won four of their next five games and the final two matches of the season when a post-season berth was on the line. Disappointingly for the Steelers, a 25-14 loss at Parramatta Stadium at the hands of the Gold Coast Chargers in the first week of the finals spelt a disastrous end to a season which could have produced so much more, as some of the country’s most formidable sides were competing in the rival Telstra Super League tournament.

Player movements

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Gains

PlayerPrevious club
Will RobinsonSouth Sydney Rabbitohs

Losses

PlayerJoined Club
Paul CarigeParramatta Eels
Darrien DohertyHunter Mariners
Darren FritzNorth Sydney Bears
Brendan O'MearaSouth Sydney Rabbitohs
Neil PiccinelliHunter Mariners
Wayne RichardsNewcastle Knights
David RioloParramatta Eels
Craig SimonSouth Sydney
Josh WhiteLondon Broncos

Squad

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No.PositionPlayer

Glen Air HB Trent Barrett FE Darren Bradstreet SR Adam Bristow LK Jonathan Britten WG Dean Callaway HK Wayne Clifford WG David Cox PR Scott Cram PR John Cross LK Michael Cross SR Maea David PR Andrew Hart PR Brendon Hauville WG Jason Hooper CE

No.PositionPlayer

Terry Lamey SR Chris Leikvoll PR Brad Mackay LK Paul McGregor CE (captain) Dean Moon WG Andrew Purcell HK Brendon Reeves FB Will Robinson HB Brett Rodwell CE Fili Seru WG Craig Simon CE Craig Smith PR Shaun Timmins CE Brendon Tunbridge SR Rod Wishart WG

Draw and Results

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Quick Summary

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1997 Illawarra Steelers season summary
RoundHomeScoreAway
1Steelers50-10 Souths
2 Balmain10-18Steelers
3Steelers8-20 St. George
4 Norths18-18Steelers
5Steelers14-6 Sth Qld
6 Sydney20-26Steelers
RoundHomeScoreAway
7Steelers16-23 Parramatta
8 Newcastle20-4Steelers
9Steelers34-34 Manly
10Steelers2-6 Wests
11Gold Coast10-11Steelers
12 Souths28-28Steelers
RoundHomeScoreAway
13Steelers6-18 Balmain
14 St. George10-12Steelers
15Steelers15-8 Norths
16 Sth Qld8-34Steelers
17Steelers12-34 Sydney
18 Parramatta24-28Steelers
RoundHomeScoreAway
19Steelers12-22 Newcastle
20 Manly30-14Steelers
21 Wests10-34Steelers
22Steelers28-6Gold Coast
F1Steelers14-25Gold Coast

March (2-1-1)

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Round 1: 9 March 1997
Optus Cup
Illawarra Steelers(20) 50–10 (10) South Sydney RabbitohsWollongong, New South Wales
Tries: Goals: Tries:
  • M.Manning
Goals:
  • M.Manning 3/3
Stadium: WIN Stadium
Attendance: 7,697
Referee: Paul McBlane (field)

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Wishart, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Callaway, Smith, Bristow, Mackay, Rodwell. Interchange: Cram, Tunbridge, David, Hart.


Round 2: 15 March 1997
Optus Cup
Balmain Tigers(10) 10–18 (0) Illawarra SteelersSydney, New South Wales
Tries: Goals:
Tries: Goals: Stadium: Leichhardt Oval
Attendance: 8,211
Referee: David Manson (field)

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Wishart, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Callaway, Smith, Bristow, Mackay, Rodwell. Interchange: Tunbridge, Cram, David, J.Cross.


Round 3: 22 March 1997
Optus Cup
Illawarra Steelers(4) 8–20 (18) St. George DragonsWollongong, New South Wales
Tries: Goals: Tries: Goals: Stadium: WIN Stadium
Attendance: 8,661
Referee: Paul Simpkins (field)

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Wishart, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Callaway, Smith, Bristow, Mackay, Rodwell. Interchange: Tunbridge, Cram, David, J.Cross.


Round 4: 28 March 1997
Optus Cup
North Sydney Bears(4) 18–18 (14) Illawarra SteelersSydney, New South Wales
Tries: Goals: Tries: Goals: Stadium: North Sydney Oval
Attendance: 8,319
Referee: Paul McBlane (field)

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)

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Round 5: 6 April 1997
Optus Cup
Illawarra Steelers(4) 14–6 (0) South Queensland CrushersWollongong, New South Wales
Tries: Goals: Tries: Goals: Stadium: WIN Stadium
Attendance: 6,144
Referee: Matt Hewitt (field)

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Hauville, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Robinson, Smith, Cram, Mackay, J.Cross. Interchange: Bristow, Tunbridge, David, Hart.


Round 6: 13 April 1997
Optus Cup
Sydney City Roosters(12) 20–42 (16) Illawarra SteelersSydney, New South Wales
Tries: Goals: Tries: Goals: Stadium: Sydney Football Stadium
Attendance: 7,600
Referee: Paul Simpkins (field)

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Hauville, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Robinson, Smith, Cram, Mackay, J.Cross. Interchange: Bristow, Tunbridge, David, Hart.


Round 7: 19 April 1997
Optus Cup
Illawarra Steelers(8) 16–23 (20) Parramatta EelsWollongong, New South Wales
Tries: Goals: Tries: Goals:
Stadium: WIN Stadium
Attendance: 11,992
Referee: Sean Hampstead (field)

Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Hauville, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Robinson, Smith, Cram, Mackay, J.Cross. Interchange: Bristow, David, Tunbridge, Seru.


Round 8: 27 April 1997
Optus Cup
Newcastle Knights(6) 20–4 (4) Illawarra SteelersNewcastle, New South Wales
Tries: Goals: Tries: Goals: Stadium: Marathon Stadium
Attendance: 12,582
Referee: Kelvin Jeffes (field)

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)

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Round 9: 4 May 1997
Optus Cup
Illawarra Steelers(18) 34–34 (18) Manly Sea EaglesWollongong, New South Wales
Tries: Goals:
Tries: Goals: Stadium: WIN Stadium
Attendance: 9,835
Referee: David Manson (field)

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: 10 May 1997
Optus Cup
Illawarra Steelers(0) 2–6 (0) Western Suburbs MagpiesWollongong, New South Wales
Goals: Tries: Goals: Stadium: WIN Stadium
Attendance: 5,546
Referee: Sean Hampstead (field)

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: 17 May 1997
Optus Cup
Gold Coast(6) 11–10 (4)Illawarra SteelersGold Coast, Queensland
Tries: Goals:
Tries:
Goals:
Stadium: Carrara Stadium
Attendance: 5,813
Referee: David Manson (field)

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: 25 May 1997
Optus Cup
South Sydney Rabbitohs(12) 28–28 (18) Illawarra SteelersSydney, New South Wales
Tries: Goals: Tries:
  • Darren Bradstreet
  • Brendon Reeves
  • David Cox
  • Will Robinson
  • Wayne Clifford
Goals:
  • Darren Bradstreet 2/2
  • Brendon Reeves 2/4
Stadium: Sydney Football Stadium
Attendance: 4,271
Referee: Mogsheen Jadwat (field)

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)

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Round 13: 6 June 1997
Optus Cup
Illawarra Steelers(0) 6–18 (12) Balmain TigersWollongong, New South Wales
Tries: Goals: Tries: Goals: Stadium: WIN Stadium
Attendance: 8,184
Referee: Matt Hewitt (field)

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: 22 June 1997
Optus Cup
St. George Dragons(4) 10–12 (8) Illawarra SteelersSydney, New South Wales
Tries: Goals:
  • Steven Price 1/2
  • Gavin Clinch 0/2
Tries: Goals:
  • Darren Bradstreet 0/2
  • Brendon Reeves 0/2
Stadium: Kogarah Oval
Attendance: 7,257
Referee: Paul Simpkins (field)

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

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TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts
1 Manly221525521366+15532
2 Newcastle221417512320+19229
3 Parramatta221417431359+7229
4 North Sydney221318529341+18827
5 Sydney City221318487366+12127
6 Illawarra221039423376+4723
7 Gold Coast2210111438466-2821
8 Balmain2210012339340-120
9 Western Suburbs2210012355424-6920
10 St. George229112331392-6119
11 South Sydney224117323630-3079
12 South Queensland224018321630-3098

Home Crowd Averages

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RoundOppositionVenueCrowd
Round 1South Sydney RabbitohsWIN Stadium, Wollongong7,697
Round 3St. George DragonsWIN Stadium, Wollongong8,661
Round 5South Queensland CrushersWIN Stadium, Wollongong6,144
Round 7Parramatta EelsWIN Stadium, Wollongong11,992
Round 9Manly Sea EaglesWIN Stadium, Wollongong9,835
Round 10Western Suburbs MagpiesWIN Stadium, Wollongong5,546
Round 13Balmain TigersWIN Stadium, Wollongong8,184
Round 15North Sydney BearsWIN Stadium, Wollongong7,219
Round 17Sydney City RoostersWIN Stadium, Wollongong8,241
Round 19Newcastle KnightsWIN Stadium, Wollongong10,038
Round 22Gold Coast ChargersWIN Stadium, Wollongong12,089
Total95,646
Average8,695

References

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