Former Cronulla and Australian captain Greg Pierce has died aged 66 after a long illness.
Pierce was the first Cronulla player to play for Australia, and went on to captain the side in the 1978 match against New Zealand.
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg described Pierce as one of the finest players in Cronulla history.
"Greg was and always will be one of the greatest players to pull on a Cronulla jumper," he said. "As an Australian captain, he will forever be a part of a very special club.
"He will be sorely missed by everyone at Cronulla, but also the game which he was such a special part of."
Pierce made 210 appearances for Cronulla between 1969 and 1980, including the brutal 1973 grand final against Manly. Cronulla would go on to lose that final 10-7.
Following the final, he became the first Cronulla player to represent his country. Pierce would play 24 times for Australia, including his one match as captain. He represented NSW eight times.
He played fullback, centre, lock and second row for the Sharks, and appeared at lock in the 1973 grand final against Manly. He missed the 1978 decider and replay through suspension.
Following retirement, he coached Cronulla between 1981-82, and in 2005 was named as a Sharks Immortal.
