1998 Illawarra Steelers season
{{Unreferenced|date=May 2010}}
{{Infobox football club season2
| club = Illawarra Steelers
| season = 1998
| ceo = {{flagicon|AUS}} Bob Millward
| head coach = {{flagicon|AUS}} Andrew Farrar
| captain = {{flagicon|AUS}} Paul McGregor
| league = NRL
| league result = 12th (out of 20)
| club try scorer = Trent Barrett (18)
| club points scorer = Craig Fitzgibbon (84)
| league2 =
| league2 result =
| league3 =
| league3 result =
| highest attendance = 13,106
(vs Canterbury, 23 August 1998, WIN Stadium)
| lowest attendance = 6,558
(vs North Queensland Cowboys, 25 June 1998, WIN Stadium)
| average attendance = 9,248 (Season total: 110,975)
| prevseason = 1997
| nextseason = n/a
}}
The 1998 Illawarra Steelers season was the club's seventeenth and final season in its history, spanning across the three competitions of the NSWRL, ARL and NRL. A home loss by a field goal to the hands of the Craig Polla-Mounter and his Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs team, plus results going against them in the final round of the regular season saw the Steelers finish 12th. Andrew Farrar's team of hopefuls were unable to make the finals series and were put under pressure to merge or fold when the league was expected to cut the twenty-team competition down to fourteen for the 1999 season. The club would eventually form a joint-venture with the St. George Dragons for the start of the 1999 NRL season.
Players
= Squad =
{{Rugby league squad start}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=FE|name=Trent Barrett}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=SR|name=Darren Bradstreet}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=LK|name=Adam Bristow}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=WG|name=Jonathan Britten}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=HK|name=Dean Callaway}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=WG|name=Wayne Clifford}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=PR|name=Scott Cram}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=PR|name=Andrew Hart}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=CE|name=Jason Hooper}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=SR|name=Terry Lamey}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=PR|name=Chris Leikvoll}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=LK|name=Brad Mackay}}
{{Rugby league squad mid}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=CE|name=Paul McGregor}}(captain)
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=WG|name=Dean Moon}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=HK|name=Andrew Purcell}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=FB|name=Brendon Reeves}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=HB|name=Will Robinson}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=CE|name=Craig Simon}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=PR|name= Craig Smith}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=CE|name=Shaun Timmins}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=SR|name=Brendon Tunbridge}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=SR|name=Craig Wilson}}
{{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=WG|name=Rod Wishart}}
{{Rugby league squad end}}
= Player Movements =
Gains
| class="wikitable" | |
| style="background:#bdb76b;"
! Player !! Previous Club | |
| Craig Wilson | South Queensland Crushers |
Losses
| class="wikitable" | |
| style="background:#bdb76b;"
! Player !! Joined Club | |
| John Cross | Penrith Panthers |
| Fili Seru | retired |
Ladder
{{Nrl1998ladder}}
Draw and Results
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=FFBBBB
|round = Round 1
|date = 14 March 1998
|time = 19:30
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|score = 12–14
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Melbourne}} Melbourne Storm
|points1 = Tries: Craig Wilson
Will Robinson
Goals: Dean Moon 2/4
|points2 = Tries: Scott Hill 2
Goals: Craig Smith 3/3
|stadium = WIN Stadium
|location = Wollongong, New South Wales
|attendance = 10,695
|referee = Sean Hampstead
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=BBF3BB
|date = 22 March 1998
|time = 14:30
|team1 = {{leagueicon|South Sydney}} South Sydney Rabbitohs
|score = 14–22
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|points1 = Tries: Chris Caruana
Troy Slattery
Goals: Julian O'Neill 3/3
|points2 = Tries: Rod Wishart
Brad Mackay
Paul McGregor
Trent Barrett
Goals: Rod Wishart 3/5
|stadium = Aussie Stadium
|location = Sydney, New South Wales
|attendance = 8,708
|referee = Paul McBlane
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=FFBBBB
|date = 28 March 1998
|time = 15:30
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|score = 18–37
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Newcastle}} Newcastle Knights
|points1 = Tries: Trent Barrett 2
Andrew Hart
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 2/2
Tim Horan 1/1
|points2 = Tries: Bill Peden 2
Owen Craigie
Andrew Johns
Robbie O'Davis
Neil Piccinelli
Goals: Andrew Johns 5/6
Owen Craigie 1/1
Field Goals: Andrew Johns 1
|stadium = WIN Stadium
|location = Wollongong, New South Wales
|attendance = 9,141
|referee = Steve Clark
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=FFBBBB
|date = 3 April 1998
|time = 19:30
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Easts}} Sydney City Roosters
|score = 30–16
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|points1 = Tries: Andrew Walker 2
Nigel Gaffey
Ivan Cleary
Scott Gouley
Goals: Ivan Cleary 5
|points2 = Tries: Will Robinson
Trent Barrett
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 4
|stadium = Aussie Stadium
|location = Sydney, New South Wales
|attendance = 7,106
|referee = Paul McBlane
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=FFBBBB
|date = 11 April 1998
|time = 00:00
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|score = 12–19
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|St. George}} St. George Dragons
|points1 = Tries: Craig Wilson
Shaun Timmins
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 2
|points2 = Tries: Corey Pearson
Jim Lenihan
Jamie Ainscough
Mark Coyne
Goals: Lee Murphy 1
Field Goals: Jamie Ainscough 1
|stadium = WIN Stadium
|location = Wollongong, New South Wales
|attendance = 9,427
|referee = Brian Grant
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=BBF3BB
|date = 18 April 1998
|time = 15:30
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Canberra}} Canberra Raiders
|score = 20–22
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|points1 = Tries: Jason Croker
Ben Kennedy
Luke Priddis
Goals: David Furner 4
|points2 = Tries: Shaun Timmins
Brendon Reeves
Andrew Purcell
Craig Fitzgibbon
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 2
Darren Bradstreet 1
|stadium = Bruce Stadium
|location = Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
|attendance = 8,238
|referee = Sean Hampstead
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=BBF3BB
|date = 26 April 1998
|time = 14:30
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|score = 20–12
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Parramatta}} Parramatta Eels
|points1 = Tries: Paul McGregor
Trent Barrett
Terry Lamey
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 4
|points2 = Tries: Shane Whereat
John Simon
Goals: Clinton Schifcofske 2
|stadium = WIN Stadium
|location = Wollongong, New South Wales
|attendance = 9,119
|referee = Tim Mander
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=BBF3BB
|date = 2 May 1998
|time = 00:00
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Penrith}} Penrith Panthers
|score = 38–14
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|points1 = Tries: Robbie Beckett 2
Andrew Hinson
Ryan Girdler
Gordon Falcon
Peter Jorgensen
Craig Wise
Goals: Ryan Girdler 5
|points2 = Tries: Jonathon Britten
Craig Simon
Paul McGregor
Goals: Brendon Reeves 1
|stadium = Penrith Stadium
|location = Penrith, New South Wales
|attendance = 6,154
|referee = Matt Hewitt
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=BBF3BB
|date = 9 May 1998
|time = 19:30
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|score = 42–20
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Western Suburbs}} Western Suburbs Magpies
|points1 = Tries: Craig Simon 2
Will Robinson
Andrew Purcell
Terry Lamey
Paul McGregor
Rod Wishart
Goals: Rod Wishart 7
|points2 = Tries: Ken McGuiness
Jared Mills
Ron Jones
Kevin McGuiness
Goals: Brett Warton 2
|stadium = WIN Stadium
|location = Wollongong, New South Wales
|attendance = 7,636
|referee = Paul McBlane
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=FFBBBB
|date = 16 May 1998
|time = 19:30
|team1 = {{leagueicon|St. George}} St. George Dragons
|score = 32–16
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|points1 = Tries:
Goals:
|points2 = Tries:
Goals:
|stadium = Kogarah Oval
|location = Kogarah, New South Wales
|attendance = 6,296
|referee = Sean Hampstead
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=FFFFBB
|date = 24 May 1998
|time =
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Melbourne}} Melbourne Storm
|score = 14–14
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|points1 = Tries: Glenn Lazarus
Robbie Ross
Goals: Craig Smith 3
|points2 = Tries: Trent Barrett 2
Brendon Reeves
Goals: Rod Wishart 1
|stadium = Olympic Park
|location = Melbourne, Victoria
|attendance = 9,018
|referee = Paul Simpkins
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=BBF3BB
|date = 31 May 1998
|time = 14:30
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|score = 18–12
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|South Sydney}} South Sydney Rabbitohs
|points1 = Tries: Trent Barrett
Paul McGregor
Andrew Hart
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 3
|points2 = Tries: Tim Brasher
Julian O'Neill
Goals: Simon Forrest 2
|stadium = WIN Stadium
|location = Wollongong, New South Wales
|attendance = 8,174
|referee = Mogsheen Jadwat
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=BBF3BB
|date = 6 June 1998
|time = 19:30
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Gold Coast Chargers}} Gold Coast Chargers
|score = 10–32
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|points1 = Tries: Jason Hudson
Andrew King
Goals: Scott Thorburn
|points2 = Tries: Trent Barrett 2
Rod Wishart
Dean Callaway
Will Robinson
Craig Wilson
Goals: Rod Wishart 4
|stadium = Carrara Stadium
|location = Gold Coast, Queensland
|attendance = 3,762
|referee = Eddie Ward
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=FFBBBB
|date = 14 June 1998
|time = 14:30
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|score = 16–38
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Balmain}} Balmain Tigers
|points1 = Tries: Craig Simon
Jonathon Britten
Trent Barrett
Goals: Rod Wishart
Craig Fitzgibbon
|points2 = Tries: Laloa Milford 3
Michael Gillett
William Kennedy
Brendan Magnus
Jason Webber
Goals: Shannon Nevin 5
|stadium = WIN Stadium
|location = Wollongong, New South Wales
|attendance = 10,076
|referee = Paul McBlane
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=BBF3BB
|date = 20 June 1998
|time = 14:30
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Adelaide}} Adelaide Rams
|score = 4–39
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|points1 = Tries: David Kidwell
Goals: Luke Williamson 0/1
|points2 = Tries: Dean Callaway 2
Wayne Clifford 2
Andrew Hart
Craig Fitzgibbon
Luke Patten
Goals: Brad Mackay 3/5
Craig Fitzgibbon 2/3
Field Goals: Trent Barrett 1
|stadium = Bennett Oval
|location = Whyalla, South Australia
|attendance = 5,153
|referee = Steve Chiddy
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=BBF3BB
|date = 28 June 1998
|time = 14:30
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|score = 24–18
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|North Queensland}} North Queensland Cowboys
|points1 = Tries: Andrew Purcell
Jonathon Britten
Trent Barrett
Shaun Timmins
Goals: Brad Mackay 2
Craig Fitzgibbon 2
|points2 = Tries: Josh Hannay 2
B Tabui
Noa Nadruku
Goals: Josh Hannay 1
|stadium = WIN Stadium
|location = Wollongong, New South Wales
|attendance = 6,558
|referee = Sean Hampstead
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=BBF3BB
|date = 4 July 1998
|time =
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Auckland}} Auckland Warriors
|score = 14–17
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|points1 = Tries: Stephen Kearney
Joe Vagana
Syd Eru
Goals: Stacey Jones 1
|points2 = Tries: Wayne Clifford 2
Shaun Timmins
Goals: Rod Wishart 1
Craig Fitzgibbon 1
Field Goals: Craig Wilson 1
|stadium = Ericsson Stadium
|location = Auckland, New Zealand
|attendance = 8,000
|referee = Tim Mander
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=FFBBBB
|date = 12 July 1998
|time =
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|score = 12–18
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Brisbane}} Brisbane Broncos
|points1 = Tries: Dean Callaway
Paul McGregor
Goals: Rod Wishart 2/2
|points2 = Tries: Andrew Gee
Wendell Sailor
Darren Smith
Gorden Tallis
Goals: Michael De Vere 1/2
Darren Lockyer 0/2
|stadium = WIN Stadium
|location = Wollongong, New South Wales
|attendance = 12,018
|referee =
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=FFBBBB
|date = 18 July 1998
|time =
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Manly}} Manly
|score = 22-12
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|points1 = Tries: Duncan 2
John Hopoate
Steve Menzies
Craig Hancock
Goals: Duncan 1
|points2 = Tries: Craig Simon
Luke Patten
Goals: Rod Wishart 1
Craig Fitzgibbon 1
|stadium = Brookvale Oval
|location = Manly, New South Wales
|attendance = 5,631
|referee =
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=FFBBBB
|date = 25 July 1998
|time =
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|score = 6–32
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|North Sydney}} North Sydney Bears
|points1 = Tries: Craig Simon
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 1
|points2 = Tries: Michael Buettner 3
Adam Muir
Gary Larson
Goals: Jason Taylor 6
|stadium = WIN Stadium
|location = Wollongong, New South Wales
|attendance = 6,847
|referee =
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=BBF3BB
|date = 1 August 1998
|time =
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Newcastle}} Newcastle Knights
|score = 26–28
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|points1 = Tries: Jason Moodie
Owen Craigie
Andrew Johns
Danny Buderus
Peter Shiels
Goals: Owen Craigie 2
Andrew Johns 1
|points2 = Tries: Trent Barrett 3
Luke Patten
Will Robinson
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 3
Rod Wishart 1
|stadium = Marathon Stadium
|location = Newcastle, New South Wales
|attendance = 20,026
|referee = Steve Clark
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=FFBBBB
|date = 9 August 1998
|time =
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|score = 10–48
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Easts}} Sydney City Roosters
|points1 = Tries: Shaun Timmins
Andrew Purcell
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 1
|points2 = Tries: Brad Fittler 2
B Miles 2
Matt Sing
Ivan Cleary
Adrian Lam
Nat Wood
Goals: Ivan Cleary 8
|stadium = WIN Stadium
|location = Wollongong, New South Wales
|attendance = 8,178
|referee = Sean Hampstead
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=BBF3BB
|date = 15 August 1998
|time =
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Cronulla Sharks}} Cronulla
|score = 22–30
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|points1 = Tries: Russell Richardson 2
Mat Rogers
Dean Treister
Goals: Mat Rogers 3
|points2 = Tries: Jonathon Britten 2
Shaun Timmins
Trent Barrett
Craig Simon
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 4
Rod Wishart 1
|stadium = Shark Park
|location = Cronulla, New South Wales
|attendance = 6,487
|referee = Brian Grant
|manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox_collapsible
|bg=FFBBBB
|date = 23 August 1998
|time = 14:30
|team1 = {{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Illawarra Steelers
|score = 24–25
|report =
|team2 = {{leagueicon|Canterbury}} Canterbury
|points1 = Tries: Luke Patten 2
Trent Barrett
Adam Bristow
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon 4
|points2 = Tries: Rod Silva
Gavin Lester
Jason Hetherington
Glen Hughes
Goals: Daryl Halligan 4
Field-Goals: Craig Polla-Mounter 1
|stadium = WIN Stadium
|location = Wollongong, New South Wales
|attendance = 13,016
|referee = Steve Clark
|manofmatch =
}}
Home Crowd Averages
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Melbourne Storm | WIN Stadium | 10,695 |
| Round 3 | Newcastle Knights | WIN Stadium | 9,141 |
| Round 5 | St. George Dragons | WIN Stadium | 9,427 |
| Round 7 | Parramatta Eels | WIN Stadium | 9,119 |
| Round 9 | Western Suburbs Magpies | WIN Stadium | 7,636 |
| Round 12 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | WIN Stadium | 8,174 |
| Round 14 | Balmain Tigers | WIN Stadium | 10,076 |
| Round 16 | North Queensland Cowboys | WIN Stadium | 6,558 |
| Round 18 | Brisbane Broncos | WIN Stadium | 12,018 |
| Round 20 | North Sydney Bears | WIN Stadium | 6,847 |
| Round 22 | Sydney City Roosters | WIN Stadium | 8,178 |
| Round 24 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | WIN Stadium | 13,106 |
| colspan=3| Season Total | 110,975 | ||
| colspan=3| Season Average | 9,248 |
References
{{Reflist}}