Lured to the club by then-Australian coach Chris Anderson, Brett Kimmorley arrived at the Sharks in 2002 amidst a sea of controversy.
The previous season Preston Campbell had been awarded the Dally M Medal playing in the number seven jersey and understandably Sharks fans had an affinity with the exciting utility.
Unfortunately Anderson had other ideas and Campbell was shuffled around from his preferred position to accommodate his new recruit, with Kimmorley caught in the cross-fire.
Sharks fans would however warm to his abilities go on to respect Kimmorley for his on-field deeds, tenacity and will-to-win.
A premiership winner with the Storm, 10 times a NSW representative, 22 games for Australia and a half-back good enough to shift rugby league immortal Andrew Johns from the scrum-base to hooker in both the Origin and International arena, Kimmorley was a player of high quality.
In seven seasons and 140 games at the Sharks Kimmorley gave great service to the Cronulla club, before moving on to finish his career at the Bulldogs and while he never managed to guide Cronulla to that elusive title, it certainly wasn’t through a lack of trying.
Kimmorley’s form in his first season at the club in 2002 almost delivered the desired result, the Sharks coming up one game short of qualifying for the Grand Final when bundled out one game short by the New Zealand Warriors. .
To coincide with the Men of League’s naming of the ‘magnificent 7’, the best half-backs to have played the game, we shine the light on one of our best in Brett Kimmorley.
In the weeks ahead we identify other half-backs and playmakers to have done the Sharks proud since the acceptance of the Cronulla club into the elite NSWRL competition back in 1967.
Kimmorley was a champion of his time, a standout for state and country and more than worthy to be included as one of the Sharks ‘magnificent 7s.’
BRETT KIMMORLEY
Date of Birth: 15, September, 1976
Belmont, NSW
Junior Club: Lakes United
NRL Career: 307 NRL Games
Newcastle Knights – 1995-96 – 6 games
Hunter Mariners – 1997 – 10 games
Melbourne Storm – 1998-00 – 76 games
Northern Eagles – 2001 – 26
Cronulla Sharks – 2002-08 – 140 games
Canterbury Bulldogs – 2009-10 – 46
10 Origin games for NSW
22 Tests for Australia
NOTE: The Men of League will unveil their ‘magnificent 7’ at a Gala Black Tie dinner to be held at Le Montage in Lillyfield in Sydney on July 16.
In all 14 former players have been nominated, Brett Kimmorley amongst them, with the Men of League to narrow that group down and announce the seven half-backs who they believe to be the best of all time.
