In the third instalment of the Great Whites, we sit down with Shark No.345 and Origin and Test representative Phil Bailey.
Bailey provides a first-hand account of life at the Sharks during one of the club's most divisive periods in the early 2000s. He reflects on the tumultuous Chris Anderson era, his formidable halves-edge partnership with Sharks Hall of Famer Brett Kimmorley, and offers an eyewitness account of the famous send-off in the 2004 Ashes series.
Watch the full interview with SharkCast's Sam Shinazzi in the player below. The audio version can be heard on Apple, Spotify and all podcast apps.
The Great Whites: Phil Bailey
Hailing from Inverell, a small town in the north of NSW, Bailey was identified by the Manly Sea Eagles while playing for Northern Division as a teenager. On the advice of junior rep coach and talent scout John Reid, Bailey was signed by Manly in 1997.
After a number of seasons in the lower grades, Bailey made his NRL debut in 1999 at the age of 19 in the Sea Eagles' Round 5 match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the match won by the Bunnies 28-24.
A number of injuries to his feet restricted Bailey to limited matches throughout the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
In 2001, Bailey turned out for the short-lived Northern Eagles during a turbulent era for the club. Midway through the season, Melbourne Storm coach Chris Anderson – supported by recruitment chief Theo Burgess – made a determined play to lure Bailey south. However, the Northern Eagles refused to grant a release, ensuring he would remain contracted to the joint venture.
The following year, Anderson finally got his man. Now coaching the Cronulla Sharks and seeking mobile forwards to bolster his pack, he signed the still-underrated Bailey to play in the back row. He arrived at the Sharks largely under the radar, overshadowed by marquee recruits Brett Kimmorley, Matthew Johns, Danny Nutley and Karl Lovell.
"We were sort of lucky to get Noddy (Brett Kimmorley)," Bailey says.
"He definitely signed with St George, then a few of their players made the Aussie side on that weekend and had their contracts bumped up so they couldn't fit Noddy under the cap. He became a free agent. They got him at a good price that first year."
Bailey's arrival in 2002 coincided with a significant transition period for the Sharks. Long-serving coach John Lang departed, as did local juniors Adam Dykes, Nathan Long and Sean Ryan. The exits of Martin Lang and Luke Stuart further opened the door for Bailey to secure a position in the forward pack from the outset.
On March 23, 2002, Bailey made his debut for the Cronulla Sharks in their Round 2 clash against the Melbourne Storm at Toyota Park, in front of 11,151 fans. Called in to replace Andrew Pierce, Bailey made an immediate impact off the bench, playing 48 minutes and scoring a try in the Sharks' 26–14 victory.
"That was a big one for Opes (Chris Anderson), how he left Melbourne, everyone was keen to win that one," Bailey recalls.
The 2002 season proved to be a breakout year for Bailey. Settling into the back row, he featured in 19 matches and played a key role in Cronulla's charge to the preliminary final, forming a formidable combination with Sharks five-eighth Matthew Johns.
Despite a strong finish to the season, the Sharks fell just short of a Grand Final berth, suffering a heartbreaking loss to the Warriors in the preliminary final.
"We had the wood on the Warriors that year, we had the wood on them but that's history. They had Stacey Jones and a great team," Bailey says.
During the 2003 pre-season, Bailey suffered a broken foot while completing a gruelling conditioning run through the Royal National Park. Despite the setback and limited preparation, he was cleared to play in Round 1 against the Melbourne Storm – a match that also marked the NRL debut of future Origin great Billy Slater.
The Sharks exploded out of the blocks, racing to a 22–0 lead inside 25 minutes, but a spirited Storm comeback saw Cronulla fall short in a 36–32 thriller.
Despite the early-season setback and the inconsistent form of the Sharks, 2003 emerged as one of Bailey's most successful campaigns. His standout performances in the centre position earned him selection for New South Wales in all three games of the State of Origin series.
Coming off the bench in each match, Bailey contributed to the Blues' triumphant series win. Game one of the series signalled the first match played at the newly built Suncorp Stadium. Speaking of his fight with Maroons enforcer Shane Webcke, Bailey recalls: "Gus (Blues coach Phil Gould) just whips you into a frenzy. I do remember getting punched in the side of the head; most rugby league fights don't last too long luckily."
On October 18, 2003, Bailey made his international debut for the Kangaroos in a one-off Test against New Zealand at North Harbour Stadium. The Kangaroos were defeated 30–16, however Bailey retained his spot in the squad for the UK tour that followed.
During the tour, Bailey featured in the third match – a dominant 76-4 victory over Wales. He was then selected at centre for the opening game of the Ashes series against Great Britain, where he scored a try in Australia's 22–18 win. The match was notable for an early incident in which British forward Adrian Morley was sent off just 12 seconds in for a high tackle on Robbie Kearns.
Bailey's tour was unfortunately cut short when he sustained a serious injury in the last tackle of the match, fracturing both eye sockets in a collision with teammate Michael Crocker.
"I was that hybrid player that they needed. It was a great tour; I got to meet a lot of people and make some great mates," Bailey says.
"With a few injuries, I snuck in (to the starting side for the first Test against Great Britain)."
At the conclusion of the UK tour, Cronulla made the decision to part ways with coach Chris Anderson ahead of the 2004 season. Following the announcement, Bailey considered leaving the club, as his contract included a clause allowing him to depart if Anderson was no longer in charge.
"I would have stayed at Manly if Chris Anderson didn't come to Cronulla – I make no secret of that. He's the whole reason I came to the Sharks, and I became a better player and a better bloke because of him," Bailey said at the time.
Ultimately, Bailey chose not to exercise the clause and instead committed to Cronulla, signing an extension to remain with the club until the end of the 2007 season.
Under new coach Stuart Raper, Cronulla again failed to make the playoffs, finishing in 11th position.
The 2005 season proved to be another rollercoaster ride for the Sharks and their supporters. After starting the year brightly and sitting inside the top four midway through the campaign, Cronulla's form fell away sharply. Consistency – or a lack of it – again became the story, with the side managing just three wins from their final ten regular-season matches.
Despite the late stumble, the Sharks clung to a finals berth, setting up a sudden-death showdown with fierce local rivals St George Illawarra. In a spirited performance, Cronulla matched the premiership favourites for large stretches before eventually being overrun in the closing stages, bowing out in Week 1.
Off the field, the season carried significant emotional weight. Two of the club's most revered figures – electrifying fullback David Peachey and powerhouse prop Jason Stevens – both played their final games for Cronulla, bringing down the curtain on more than a decade of service each.
Their departures signalled the end of a cherished era, leaving the club at a crossroads as pressure began to build on coach Stuart Raper to deliver results.
Midway through the 2006 season, Bailey accepted a lucrative contract to join Wigan in the English Super League for 2007 and beyond, thus ending his time with the Sharks.
Bailey said of the move at the time: "I've really enjoyed my five years here at the Sharks and I'm grateful for all the support I've received, but Wigan's offer was too good to pass up and gives me a chance to extend my career in the UK."
Sharks CEO Greg Pierce acknowledged the loss but understood the decision.
"Bails has been a great servant of the club. The offer was substantial and, given our salary cap, we couldn't match it. We wish him all the best and can now focus on retaining and upgrading our young talent," Pierce said.
Coach Stuart Raper, a former Wigan mentor himself, added: "I fully understand his desire to test himself overseas. It's disappointing to lose him, but Wigan is a fantastic club and it's a great opportunity for his career."
Bailey's final game for the Sharks was their Round 26 match against the Canberra Raiders. The Sharks were down 26-0 at halftime before a home crowd of nearly 10,000. Cronulla stormed back in the second half, but the comeback fell just short, losing the match 26-24.
After finishing his professional playing days in both the NRL and Super League, Bailey transitioned into coaching and high-performance roles.
His first major appointment came with the USA Eagles, where he served as defence coach and was involved on the international stage, including Rugby World Cup preparation.
Bailey later continued his coaching journey in Asia, taking on the role of Director of Rugby at the Hong Kong Football Club, further broadening his experience in rugby union systems abroad.
In 2020, he returned to Australia to join the NSW Waratahs, adding another elite program to his résumé as the Super Rugby side's defence coach.
Bailey's post-league path has highlighted his adaptability – shifting codes, continents and roles – while maintaining a strong strategic focus on defensive systems and high-performance rugby environments.
Phil Bailey
Born: 25 May 1980, Inverell, NSW
Positions: Second row, centre
Playing height and weight: 189cm (6ft 2in), 100kg (15st 2lb)
Years at club: 2002-06
Games for club: 103 in first grade
Player number: 345
Debut (for Manly): Round 5, Saturday 3 April 1999 against Souths at Brookvale Oval
Debut (for Cronulla): Round 2, Saturday 23 March 2002 against Melbourne at Shark Park
Last game: Round 26, Saturday 2 September 2006 against Canberra at Toyota Park
Statistics for Cronulla: 128 points in first grade
Representative Career: Two Tests for Australia (2003), three NSW State of Origin game (2003)
Other clubs: Manly – 1999 – player No.430 – Nine games, no points
Northern Eagles – 2001 player No.43 – 15 games, one try, four points
Wigan – 2007-2010 – 101 games – 16 tries, 64 points
