2016 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season
The 2016 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season is the 50th in the club's history. Coached by Shane Flanagan and captained by Paul Gallen, they competed in the NRL's 2016 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season 3rd (out of 16) to make the finals. In the first week on the finals, they took on the Canberra Raiders, who at that stage were on a 10-game winning streak, at GIO Stadium. A day before the game, Sharks captain, Paul Gallen did not take the trip and was ruled out with a back injury. 7 minutes  into the game, stand-in captain Wade Graham was taken off the field and would not return due to a concussion. Despite playing with one less player (16) for more than 70 minutes, the Sharks managed to earn a week off and advance to the preliminary finals with a 16-14 win, one of the Sharks' more memorable wins in their history. In the preliminary final, they took on the North Queensland Cowboys, who managed to narrowing beat the Brisbane Broncos in a 90-minute thriller the week before, at Allianz Stadium. Paul Gallen and Wade Graham returned from their  respective injuries to line up in a near fully strengthed Cronulla side. With James Maloney and Chad Townsend leading the way, the Sharks defeated the Cowboys 32-20 to progress into the 2016 NRL Grand Final, their first grand final appearance since the 1997 Super League Season. It was only the fourth time they had appeared in a grand final in their history. Playing in front of 83,625 fans, the Cronulla Sharks broke their 49 year drought without a premiership, with a 14-12 win over the minor premiers, the Melbourne Storm. It sent Michael Ennis out a winner in  his final game in the NRL. The Clive Churchill Medal Winner was Luke Lewis. Tries: Chad Townsend, Jack Bird Tries: Ben Barba, Valentine Holmes, Chad Townsend, Jayson Bukuya, Ricky Leutele Tries: Luke Lewis, Valentine Holmes Tries: Ben Barba, Chad Townsend Tries: Luke Lewis, James Maloney, Sosaia Feki, Paul Gallen, Ben Barba Tries: Ben Barba, Sosaia Feki, Matt Prior, Andrew Fifita, Valentine Holmes Results. Field Goal: Chad Townsend Tries: Ben Barba (2), Jack Bird, Jayson Bukuya, Valentine Holmes, Matt Prior, James Maloney Tries: Michael Ennis, James Maloney, Valentine Holmes Tries: Sosaia Feki (2), Paul Gallen, James Maloney, Chad Townsend Tries: Valentine  Holmes (4), Sosaia Feki (3), Luke Lewis (2), Ben Barba, Wade Graham Tries: Sosaia Feki, Valentine Holmes, Ben Barba Tries: Chad Townsend, Valentine Holmes, Ben Barba, Ricky Leutele Tries: Valentine Holmes Field Goal: James Maloney Tries: Michael Ennis, Ricky Leutele, Jayson Bukuya Field Goal: James Maloney Sosaia Feki (2), Ricky Leutele (2), Gerard Beale (2) Tries: Ben Barba (2), Mitch Brown, Joseph Paulo, Luke Lewis Tries: Sosaia Feki (2), Valentine Holmes, Jack Bird, Luke Lewis, Chad Townsend Tries: Jack Bird (2), Ben Barba (2), Valentine Holmes (2), Sosaia Feki, Gerard Beale Tries: Valentine Holmes, Jack Bird, Andrew Fifita Tries: James  Maloney, Paul Gallen Tries: Valentine Holmes, Ben Barba, Ricky Leutele Tries: Wade Graham Tries: Matt Prior, Ben Barba, Gerard Beale, Paul Gallen, Jayson Bukuya, Valentine Holmes Field Goal: James Maloney Tries: Gerard Beale Tries: Matt Prior, Valentine Holmes Tries: James Maloney (2), Sosaia Feki, Chad Townsend, Luke Lewis Tries: Ben Barba, Andrew Fifita Clive Churchill Medal Winner: Luke Lewis