Not that it needs an excuse to hype it up, but in adding some extra spice to Saturday afternoon’s local derby clash between the Sharks and Dragons, the teams will play for a special piece of silverware in recognition of a player and administrator who served both clubs with distinction.
A member of multiple Grand Final teams with St George and the foundation Cronulla Captain more than 50 years ago back when it all began for the Sharks, Monty Porter is a name synonymous with the two southern Sydney clubs.
And this weekend the tradition of the Monty Porter Memorial Cup continues when the valuable two competition points, bragging rights and also the honour of claiming the prestigious trophy adds a little extra significance to the pivotal round 11 clash.
After winning both encounters in 2019 the Sharks are the current holders of the Monty Porter Cup, which has been played for since 2012, with the trophy not presented back in round five this year due to the complications around the COVID restrictions.
Porter, who passed away in 2011, aged 76, came to Sydney from northern NSW, first playing with Wests in 1955 before finding a home at St George in 1957 and cementing a spot in first grade a year later.
A prop and second row forward, Porter would go on to play a part in six grand final wins with St George, before shifting to the Sharks in 1967 where he was installed as Cronulla's first ever club captain in their inaugural year in the top-flight NSWRL competition.
In retiring from playing in 1968 Porter became the Cronulla Club Secretary, also remaining actively involved as chairman of selectors and under-23s coach until 1973.
In 1983 Porter was one of the original members of the nine-man NSWRL board of Directors, returning to the Sharks in 1984 after a successful career as a sporting administrator, taking over as President of the Cronulla club through until 1988.
Since 2008 the Sharks have awarded the Monty Porter Medal to its first grade Player of the Year, with the southern grandstand at PointsBet Stadium also named in his honour.
Adding to the family legacy at the Sharks, Monty’s son Michael made 154 first-grade appearances from 1984 and 1994, while more recently grandson Monty Raper played a leading role in the 2018 Sharks Jersey Flegg Premiership and only for the complications of the current COVID shutdown might be still training on with Cronulla’s NRL squad.
Monty Porter had been battling Parkinson's disease for some years before his passing.
The specially struck trophy was donated by the Monty Porter Foundation, an organisation bearing his name which aims to promote sport within the Sutherland Shire and assist sportsmen and women, 19 years and younger, who may be disadvantaged.
Ahead of this the 18th staging of the Monty Porter Cup the ledger currently stands at 10 wins for the Dragons and seven for the Sharks.
MONTY PORTER FIRST GRADE FACT FILE
1955 Western Suburbs Magpies: 4 games
1958-65 St George Dragons: 119 games (13 tries)
1967 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks: 22 games (3 tries)
Representative:
1960 New South Wales: 1 game
MONTY PORTER CUP RESULTS
2012 – Round 6 – Sharks 12 – Dragons 0
2012 – Round 19 – Dragons 18 – Sharks 10
2013 – Round 4 – Dragons 25 – Sharks 12
2013 – Round 23 – Sharks 22 – Dragons 18
2014 – Round 3 – Dragons 14 – Sharks 12
2014 – Round 13 – Dragons 30 – Sharks 0
2015 – Round 12 – Dragons 42 – Sharks 6
2015 – Round 18 – Sharks 28 – Dragons 8
2016 – Round 2 – Sharks 30 – Dragons 2
2016 – Round 23 - Dragons 32 – Sharks 18
2017 – Round 3 – Dragons 16 – Sharks 10
2017 – Round 10 – Sharks 18 – Dragons 14
2018 – Round 2 – Dragons 20 – Sharks 16
2018 – Round 6 – Dragons 40 – Sharks 20
2019 – Round 11 – Sharks 22 – Dragons 9
2019 – Round 22 – Sharks 18 – Dragons 12
2020 – Round 5 – Dragons 30 – Sharks 16
