This week in history: Docking notches up 100

Author: Ashley Taylor Sharks Historian
Timestamp: Wed 1 May 2024, 11:56 AM

In an arena dominated by gladiators known by monikers like "The Brick with Eyes", "Cement", "The Axe" and "The Raging Bull", the emergence of a contender dubbed "Pixie" seemed incongruous at best.

Yet Shark number 187 Jonathan 'Pixie' Docking played 161 games in arguably the toughest period of rugby league. While his adversaries relied on sheer muscle, Docking relied on finesse, darting and weaving with a grace that belied his stature.

A local junior from the De La Salle Caringbah Club, Docking arrived at a time when the Sharks were bursting with local talent, his 1982 Jersey Flegg team including future first graders Andrew Ettingshausen, Michael Porter, David Burnes, Barry Russell and John O'Connor.

After a number of impressive displays in the lower grades during the early stages of the 1984 season, Docking was used off the bench by coach Terry Fearnley in the round nine clash against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Despite a heavy loss, Docking more than held his own against opponents revered for their tough initiation of opposing rookies.

Docking continued to bag man-of-the-match performances in the lower grades before his form was rewarded when named in the unfamiliar position of fullback for the round 12 match against the North Sydney Bears. Interestingly, it was good mate Ettingshausen who he replaced in the fullback role.

In the week leading up to the match, Fearnley said: "Young Docko's playing with a lot of confidence and will handle the job pretty well. Andrew's not playing with confidence but I'm certain he will regain it in the lower grade."

Having started the season playing in third grade, Docking finished 1984 with 14 first-grade matches under his belt and well and truly cemented his place as the side's custodian for many seasons to come.

Docking's debut saw him pocket $500 as a result of a junior bonus scheme that was introduced by the Sharks board in 1980. The scheme saw $500 paid to any Cronulla Sharks junior that was elevated to first grade, with an additional $500 paid to the player's junior club.

With the arrival of Jack Gibson at the start of the '85 season, Docking was quick to point out to the Super Coach his preferred position was halfback. "I always state that I was a halfback playing fullback. Played all junior footy at half, but then we had Mark Wakefield, Bazza (Barry Russell) and John O'Connor playing there so I ended up on the wing in the lower grades and then fullback.

"Heaps of guys played out of position, you just played anywhere to get a game. When Jack was coaching I asked to play at half in the trials. Come first game of the season he said to me - 'first-grade fullback or second-grade halfback - your choice'."

Docking took the coach's advice and made the fullback spot his own. At the end of the '85 season, Docking was selected to tour Papua New Guinea with the President's 13 team along with Sharks teammates David Hatch, Ettingshausen and Dean Carney. Docking recalls: "They nicknamed me 'Spear' after that tour because the Kumuls kept picking me up and throwing me into the ground."

In 1986 Docking was a key figure in the Sharks' run to the final of the National Panasonic Cup. Unfortunately, Cronulla lost the match but such was Docking's form in '86 that at the club presentation night, he was awarded the Jeldi First Grade Player of the Year award.

In 1987, under the guidance of Super Coach Gibson, Docking had arguably his best year. Docking tasted representative football for the first time when selected in the City side for the annual City vs Country fixture, a match the City slickers won 30-22.

Despite the Sharks' late-season dip in form which saw them miss the finals, Docking was rewarded with selection for the unofficial fourth State of Origin match played at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach California, replacing the injured Garry Jack. Docking was at his blistering best in the showcase event and found his way over the try-line along with fellow Sharks Ettingshausen and Mark McGaw in a heavily one-sided contest.

Docking was instrumental in the club claiming their first minor premiership in 1988. In a period long before fullback statistics were captured, it would not have been uncommon for Docking to run over 150m in a single game. Docking became renowned for putting paid to a team that failed to chase a kick with a straight defensive line, his bright headgear often seen flashing into the backfield to give the Sharks the best possible start to a set of six.

1988 also saw Docking selected as the Blues fullback for the opening Origin match played at the newly built Sydney Football Stadium. Unfortunately a heavy defeat saw a number of NSW players dropped for the rest of the series, including Docking who lost his spot to Garry Jack.

Such was his brilliance through the late '80s, in 1988 Docking was named the fourth-best fullback in the world by Open Rugby League Magazine when they named their Annual Adidas World XIII.

It was during this week, on the 30th of April 1989, that Docking played his 100th first-grade game for the Sharks.

The round seven fixture, played against the Illawarra Steelers on a rain-sodden Wollongong Showground, saw skipper Gavin Miller put on an absolute masterclass. Alan Wilson also played well, scoring two tries in the first half. Cronulla beat the Steelers 26-6, continuing their impressive start to the season.

In the days after his 100th match, Docking was named the City fullback for the third year in a row. Docking remained undefeated in this fixture, the City side scraping home against a Gavin Miller-led Country team 16-8.

Docking's Sharks career was brought to an abrupt end at the conclusion of the 1991 season when the club chose to take a new direction. Along with Barry Russell and Alan Wilson, Docking was not offered a contract for the 1992 season, a sad end for a player that had shown such loyalty, turning down a number of offers from rival clubs.

In a remarkable twist of fate, Docking concluded his tenure with Cronulla by facing off against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on the 25th of August 1991, the same team he made his debut against. And just like in his debut match, Docking crossed for a try.

Following his retirement, Docking served as a member of the Sharks board for three years and still remains an ardent supporter of the club, closely monitoring the side's on-field performance from the stand at every home game.