The 1999 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season was the 33rd in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 1999 Telstra Premiership and despite losing in the preliminary final against St. George-Illawarra, the season was one of the most successful in the club's history after finishing with just their second minor premiership without dropping below equal first throughout the entire season. The club enjoyed record crowds as well as breaking the club record for most points and tries in a season. The club also equaled their biggest ever victory with a 46–0 thrashing of Western Suburbs as well as breaking their highest points tally in a match with the 56–18 defeat of North Sydney. David Peachey finished the season with 19 tries, which was also a record for the club. The club was coached by John Lang and captained by Andrew Ettingshausen while their major shirt sponsor was Pepsi.
Several of the club's players were also rewarded with selection in representative games. In the State of Origin series Martin Lang, Chris McKenna and Mat Rogers were all selected for Queensland while Jason Stevens was selected for New South Wales. Russell Richardson, Mat Rogers and Jason Stevens were selected for Australia for the end of season Tri-Nations. At the Dally M Awards, John Lang was named the Coach of the Year, Mat Rogers Representative Player of the Year and David Peachey Fullback of the Year.
Throughout the season, there was ongoing speculation around the club's future in the competition with some reports suggesting that a possible merger with either the embattled South Sydney club or the St. George-Illawarra club was a possible option.
Season summary Before the season Andrew Ettingshausen announced his retirement from all representative football in order to concentrate on his efforts for the club. On 31 January, former Cronulla forward Graeme Sams died of cancer at the age of 52. It was reported in February that the club was planning on building a resort, worth somewhere in the region of $50 million, near their home ground in order to secure their long term position in the competition.
March The season kicked off on 7 March with an impressive 44–0 victory over the Balmain Tigers at Shark Park with two tries from Sean Ryan as well as tries to David Peachey, Mat Rogers, Brett Howland, Chris McKenna, Andrew Ettingshausen and debutant Jason Ferris. The result equaled the second biggest win in the club's history. However, more importantly for Cronulla, the match marked the return of captain Andrew Ettingshausen from a career threatening neck injury which had seen him sidelined for approximately eight months. The victory put the club in first place after the first round, due to their superior points difference. In round 2 Cronulla won 14–6 against defending premiers, the Brisbane Broncos, at ANZ Stadium with tries to David Peachey and Paul Donaghy. It was the lowest ever score by Brisbane at ANZ Stadium since they had begun playing their home matches at the venue in 1993. The following round, Cronulla saw off South Sydney 28–12 with two tries each to Brett Howland and Mat Rogers and tries for Jason Ferris and Jason Stevens. Cronulla came up against Brisbane for the second time in a fortnight and again defeated the defending premiers with a narrow 20–18 win at Shark Park. Tries to David Peachey, Brett Howland and Nathan Long helped secure the victory for Cronulla which kept them equal first on the ladder. However, Cronulla were lucky to come away with the two points as referee Paul Simpkins denied Chris Walker a penalty try just two minutes from full-time and then fullback Darren Lockyer missed a last minute sideline conversion which would have leveled the scores.
April Round 5 saw Cronulla extend their unbeaten start to the season with a 20–16 victory over competition favourites the Melbourne Storm at Olympic Park. Tries to Russell Richardson, Andrew Ettingshausen and David Peachey ensured that the club remained at the top of the ladder and the only club to yet taste defeat. Round 6 saw Cronulla continue their impressive form with a 22–8 victory over Canterbury in front of a record crowd of 20,793 at Shark Park. Tries to David Peachey, Adam Dykes and Chris McKenna helped seal a convincing victory for Cronulla. Canterbury hooker Jason Hetherington was charged with a dangerous tackle on his opposite number Dean Treister which ruled him out of contention for the Anzac Test. Cronulla suffered their first loss of the season in round 7 at the hands of Penrith. Despite tries from Jason Stevens, Russell Richardson and Mat Rogers, Cronulla went down 18–16 at Penrith Football Stadium. Despite the club's first loss in the previous round, a record crowd of 22,279 (beating the previous record set just two rounds earlier) turned up to Shark Park to watch the local derby against St. George-Illawarra. The home side managed a narrow victory thanks to two tries from David Peachey and a try to Brett Howland. Aside from scoring two tries, Peachey also made two try-saving tackles as well as desperately chasing back to make sure Anthony Mundine did not score under the uprights. In the end that moment proved crucial as Wayne Bartrim hit the upright and therefore missed the opportunity to level the scores.
After the win over their local rivals Cronulla chairman Peter Gow was forced to resign two days after the match after he cut up a St. George-Illawarra jersey at a Cronulla Leagues Club restaurant and punched Barry Beath when confronted by the former international.
May After the bye in round 9, Cronulla defeated South Sydney 27–14 at the Sydney Football Stadium with Mat Rogers, David Peachey, Brett Howland and Mitch Healey all bagging tries in a convincing victory. Both hookers, Shannon Donato from Cronulla and Sean Garlick from South Sydney, were sent to the sin bin by referee Bill Harrigan after an altercation between the two erupted. Both players were later suspended for two matches and one match respectively after an altercation in the players tunnel. The following round saw Cronulla take on St. George-Illawarra at Kogarah Oval for the second installment of the local derby. The Sharks ran out 20–12 winners after two tries from Brett Howland and a try to Chris McKenna helped secure the victory. Three players were sent to the sin-bin; Andrew Hart and Nathan Brown from St. George-Illawarra and Dean Treister from Cronulla. Referee Stephen Clark had to be escorted from the ground by police after a heated reception from the home crowd. A dramatic last minute field goal gave Cronulla victory in the following round as they defeated North Sydney 21–20. There was controversy around the incident though as there were claims that Andrew Ettingshausen impeded Mark Soden in his attempt to charge down the field goal. However, referee Stephen Clark missed the incident and so the field goal was awarded. Earlier, tries from David Peachey, Mitch Healey, Dean Treister and Andrew Pierce helped Cronulla towards victory.
The following day Queensland defeated New South Wales 9–8 in the first State of Origin match with debutant Mat Rogers scoring all the points for Queensland. Despite suffering a knee injury and being forced from the field, Rogers returned later in the match to score all of Queensland's points including a field goal (the first of his career) six minutes from the game's end to win the encounter. Chris McKenna and Martin Lang also played a part in the match for Queensland and Jason Stevens for New South Wales but there was no spot for fullback David Peachey. Despite his impressive performances throughout the season, Peachey was left out of the New South Wales squad in favour of Robbie Ross. Cronulla coach John Lang and captain Andrew Ettingshausen were both shocked at his omission from the squad.
Round 13 saw Cronulla suffer their second loss of the season at the hands of Newcastle as they went down 26–18. Tries from Russell Richardson, Andrew Ettingshausen and Sean Ryan couldn't prevent Newcastle from sending forward Paul Harragon out on a winning note in his farewell game. However, the match was overshadowed by a horror tackle from Daniel Smailes on Cronulla's Martin Lang that left the prop unconscious. Cronulla coach John Lang later claimed that the tackle had affected the outcome of the game. Smailes was later suspended for 7 matches for the incident. Two front-rowers, Cronulla's Jason Stevens and Newcastle's Tony Butterfield, were also charged by the judiciary. Stevens was hit with an 8 match ban while Butterfield escaped suspension. Referee Tim Mander and touch judge Paul Field were later dropped from officiating at first-grade level due to their failure to take appropriate action in regards to both the Smailes and Stevens incidents. The suspension for Stevens cost him a place in the New South Wales side and he was replaced by Michael Vella for the final two matches of the State of Origin series.
June Cronulla defeated North Queensland 22–8 in the round 14 clash at Dairy Farmers Stadium thanks to two tries from Russell Richardson and tries to Andrew Ettingshausen and Sean Ryan. North Queensland centre Damien Smith became the first player since round 1 to be sent off after referee Bill Harrigan gave him his marching orders for a high tackle on Colin Best.
The second match in the State of Origin series occurred four days later at Stadium Australia with New South Wales winning the match 12–8. For the second consecutive game Mat Rogers scored all his side's points but of far more concern for Cronulla was that Rogers sustained another knee injury just as he had in the first match only this time in his other knee. Doctors later diagnosed the injury as a posterior cruciate rupture that would see Rogers ruled out for twelve weeks. The following day the club announced that they had extended coach John Lang's contract for another two seasons.
Two tries from Brett Howland as well as a try from Dean Treister wasn't enough for Cronulla in Round 15 as the club suffered their third defeat of the season after going down 32–14 against Sydney City at the Sydney Football Stadium. Cronulla trailed 18–6 at halftime and things went from bad to worse when Sean Ryan was sent off just after the interval. However, Sydney City forward David Barnhill was sent off just minutes later after a dangerous tackle on Dean Treister which would see him ruled out of contention for the State of Origin decider. Sydney City second-rower Bryan Fletcher was also sent from the field as he was sin binned. The following match saw Cronulla back to winning ways with a convincing 32–4 victory over Manly at Shark Park despite the absence of key forwards Martin Lang, Jason Stevens and Chris McKenna. Tries to Sean Ryan, Nick Graham, Brett Howland, Colin Best, Shannon Donato and Andrew Ettingshausen capped off a magnificent display. The afternoon was all about captain Ettingshausen though as he played his 300th game for the club - the first man to pass the milestone for the club. Already the all-time leading try scorer for Cronulla a try a minute from full-time brought his tally to 152 career tries which meant that he moved to equal third on the all-time competition try scorers list with Harold Horder. The club honoured his contribution to Cronulla with the unveiling of the newly named 'Andrew Ettingshausen Grandstand'.
The third and deciding State of Origin match occurred on 23 June with Queensland retaining the shield after an historic 10–10 draw. Despite not playing in the match due to a knee injury sustained in game 2, Mat Rogers finished as the series' top point scorer with 17 points.
Two days after the final Origin match, Cronulla were kept scoreless for the first time since their preliminary final loss to Manly in 1996 as they went down 22–0 to Parramatta.
July