1997 Illawarra Steelers season
| 1997 season | |||
| CEO |
 Bob Millward |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Head Coach |
Andrew Farrar
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| Captain |
Paul McGregor
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| 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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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.
The Steelers lost many players before the start of this season, including veterans Neil Piccinelli, David Riolo, Brendan O'Meara and Darren Fritz, leaving a massive hole to fill by many inexperienced juniors. They gained only halfback/hooker Will Robinson from Souths. The beginning of the season looked promising for the Steelers with 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss from the first six games, sitting third on the ladder. They failed to win any of their next seven games, which included 2 draws. The middle of season didn't suggest a good outcome for the end of the season. To their credit however, they won the next four out of five games and the final two games of the season when they knew a finals berth was on the line. A 25-14 loss at Parramatta Stadium to the hands of the Gold Coast Chargers in the first week of the finals spelt disaster on a season which could have produced so much more during this year without some formidable sides who were competing in the rival Telstra Super League tournament.
Gains
Losses
Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Wishart, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Callaway, Smith, Bristow, Mackay, Rodwell. Interchange: Cram, Tunbridge, David, Hart.
Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Wishart, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Callaway, Smith, Bristow, Mackay, Rodwell. Interchange: Tunbridge, Cram, David, J.Cross.
Steelers Lineup: Reeves; Wishart, Timmins, McGregor (c), Clifford; Barrett, Air; Bradstreet, Callaway, Smith, Bristow, Mackay, Rodwell. Interchange: Tunbridge, Cram, David, J.Cross.
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Wikipedia