In the modern era, a team's success is often gauged by the proficiency of its 'core', namely those who don the numbers 1, 6, 7, and 9.
However, in the rugged landscape of the '70s and '80s, success was frequently attributed to the hard men, those gritty individuals who relished the physical battles and weren't afraid to push boundaries in an era where technology limitations often kept much of the dark arts hidden.
During this period, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks boasted one of the toughest, a player who relished the physical contest more than most: Shark number 107, Steve 'Hayseed' Kneen.
During this week in 1976, on March 21, Kneen made his first-grade debut when he took the field in the Sharks' Round 1 clash with the Manly Warringah Sea-Eagles.
The match played at Endeavour Oval before 7,269 fans featured a host of national representatives, including Steve Rogers, Greg Pierce, Graham Eadie, Bob Fulton and Max Krilich. Manly were too good for the home team that day, running out winners 27-15.
Kneen, a Sharks junior from Sutherland Loftus United, originally came through the Sharks pathway system, playing Presidents Cup before being lost to the club for a few seasons, juggling fulltime employment while playing with Helensburgh in the Illawarra District competition.
His then-coach, former Shark Maurie Raper, identified Kneen's talents and recommended him to his brother and Sharks first-grade coach John Raper, who was quick to act on his sibling's advice and signed Kneen for the '76 season.
A knee injury restricted Kneen's first season to only 10 first-grade appearances, but he did feature for the reserve-grade side in their run through to the grand final, which they unfortunately lost 17-12 to the Billy Smith-led St George Dragons.
Kneen was a mainstay of a formidable Sharks pack through the back end of the '70s, playing in the 1978 grand final against Manly.
In the first of two grand finals needed to determine the premiers that season, Kneen copped a stray elbow to the face.
Kneen has since been quoted as saying: "They were two hard games. I got a stray elbow to the face in the first game and in the shower afterwards I tried to blow my nose. There was a loud pop and I knew my cheekbone was broken.
"That would have put me out of the replay and also I was in line for the Kangaroo tour. I spoke to the doctor and he said, 'It will be our secret'. So I played in the replay but we were all walking wounded. Manly were too good for us, although the man in the middle (Greg Hartley) definitely didn't help!"
Despite the pain and discomfort, Kneen's decision to play through injury paid off when he was selected for the 1978 Kangaroo tour. However, his tour was troubled by a negative reaction to vaccinations, causing significant weight loss that affected his performance. Despite being on the bench for the first test without getting to play, Kneen's tour was further marred by a groin injury in the subsequent game. As a result, he only managed to make six appearances for the second-string side and was unlucky not to earn a test cap.
In 1979, Kneen was pivotal in Cronulla claiming the Amco Cup and his form was rewarded when selected in the NSW side that played the touring Great Britain Lions. The NSW side that game was led by Sharks Immortal Greg Pierce.
Through the back end of Kneen's career he fell victim to the NSWRL's campaign to clean up the game, and was dealt a number of lengthy suspensions for foul play.
In 1981 Kneen received a 15-week ban and then in 1982 he received a 12-month suspension which virtually ended his career as he was deemed too big a risk with his propensity for send offs.
As the Sharks went into financial difficulty in 1983, Kneen wasn't offered a contract and he took up a captain-coach role in Bowral.
In 1984, Kneen was lured to the Illawarra Steelers by former Sharks teammate Rex Williams, who was coaching reserve grade at the time under Brian Smith. However after 10 games in reserve grade, and a troublesome hamstring, Kneen chose to retire.
In 1986, a second comeback was attempted by Kneen at the Steelers but it was short lived, ending after just one match.
Post career, Kneen has remained living in the Shire. The walls of his bar show memories of an illustrious career, the 1978 Kangaroo tour photo taking pride of place.
In 2017, Kneen was honoured by being named as a reserve in the Sharks Team of the Half Century.
Steve Kneen fact file
Position: Second row
Playing height and weight: 6 ft 0in, 14st 6lb
Years at club: 1976-82
Player no: 107
Games for club: 111 (85 in first grade, 20 in reserve grade and 6 in under 23s)
Debut: Round 1, Sunday March 21, 1976, against Manly at Endeavour Field
Last game: Round 8, Sunday April 18, 1982, against St George at Kogarah Oval
Statistics for Cronulla: 15 points in first grade, nine points in reserve grade and three points in under 23s for a total of 27 points
Representative football: A Kangaroo tourist in 1978 without playing a test match; one appearance for NSW in 1979 against the touring Great Britain side scoring no points
Lead image: 1978 Sharks first-grade team
