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.
1997 season | |||
CEO | ![]() | ||
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Head coach | ![]() | ||
Captain | ![]() | ||
NRL | 6th (out of 12) | ||
Top try scorer | Club: Wayne Clifford (14) | ||
Top points scorer | Club: 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 | ||
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Season Summary
editThe 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
editGains
Player | Previous club |
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Will Robinson | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
Losses
Player | Joined Club |
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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
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Draw and Results
editQuick Summary
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March (2-1-1)
editRound 1: 9 March 1997 Optus Cup |
Illawarra Steelers | (20) 50–10 (10) | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Wollongong, New South Wales | |
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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 Steelers | Sydney, New South Wales | |
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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 Dragons | Wollongong, New South Wales | |
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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 Steelers | Sydney, New South Wales | |
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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)
editRound 5: 6 April 1997 Optus Cup |
Illawarra Steelers | (4) 14–6 (0) | South Queensland Crushers | Wollongong, New South Wales | |
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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 Steelers | Sydney, New South Wales | |
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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 Eels | Wollongong, New South Wales | |
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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 Steelers | Newcastle, New South Wales | |
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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)
editRound 9: 4 May 1997 Optus Cup |
Illawarra Steelers | (18) 34–34 (18) | Manly Sea Eagles | Wollongong, New South Wales | |
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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 Magpies | Wollongong, New South Wales | |
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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 Steelers | Gold Coast, Queensland | |
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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 Steelers | Sydney, New South Wales | |
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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)
editRound 13: 6 June 1997 Optus Cup |
Illawarra Steelers | (0) 6–18 (12) | Balmain Tigers | Wollongong, New South Wales | |
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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 Steelers | Sydney, New South Wales | |
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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
editTeam | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
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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
editRound | Opposition | Venue | Crowd |
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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 |