By Jeff Petersen
Sharks Historian
Cronulla has a impressive 63.6% total win record against the Cowboys and an even more imposing home victory record of 71.4%, winning 10 from 14 matches played, with these percentages our best win record against any NRL club.
Despite this standout home record, the Sharks file shows our boys have been on the receiving end in the last three outings when the Cowboys have come to Remondis.
The Cowboys visit begins with a statistician’s anomaly, in which our previous result against the Knights coincides with the same result against the Cowboys here last year – 18 to 31. Another stat that shows what goes around comes around is North Queensland’s current coach, Paul Green, as halfback for the Sharks, scored twice in our inaugural meeting and added another try the following home fixture against the Cowboys.
The Sharks history file vs North Queensland began with a 34-10 win at Caltex in Round 12 1995, beginning a run of 7 home games undefeated between 1995 and 2002.
Scoring in these fixtures have been attacking displays more than stout defence with the Sharks averaging 27 points a game. The total Sharks/Cowboys aggregate points-per-game is a whopping 45.3 points per match at Remondis. If the trend remains the same the stage could be set for some real entertaining football on Friday night.
Also not to be overlooked is the Qualifying Final at Allianz last year, in which Beau Ryan and Sosaia Feki shone in a dramatic 20-18 last-gasp victory. That contest is regarded by many as the most memorable game in years.
The Sharks line-up in our last home game against North Queensland in Round 25 last year was: 1.Fullback: Michael Gordon; 2.Wing: Sosaia Feki, 3.Centre: Ben Pomeroy, 4.Centre: Jonathan Wright, 5.Wing: Beau Ryan; 12.Five-Eighth: Graham, 7.Halfback: Jeff Robson; 13.Lock: Paul Gallen (Captain), 16.Second Row: Jayson Bukuya, 11.Second Row: Luke Lewis, 10.Front Row: Sam Tagataese, 9.Hooker: John Morris, 8.Front Row: Andrew Fifita. Interchange: 14.Isaac De Gois, 15.Chris Heighington, 17.Anthony Tupou, 20.Ben Ross. Referees: Shayne Hayne & Luke Phillips.
This Friday night is crunch time if we are to get back in the winner’c circle and begin a climb up the NRL ladder.
Go Sharks!
SHARKS / Cowboys – BY THE NUMBERS
SHARKS RECORD @ HOME (1995-2014)
All-Time Record: Played 33 Won 21 Drawn 0 Lost 12 Points For 782 Points Against 654
Total Record at Remondis: Played 14 Won 10 Drawn 0 Lost 04 Points For 378 Points Against 257
Sharks Form in Last 5 Home Games vs Cowboys: Loss 18-31 (Rd 25 2013) Loss 22-36 (Rd 26 2012) Loss 12-30 (Rd 07 2011) Won 28-22 (Rd 26 2008) Loss 24-22 (Rd 07 2006)
Sharks Form in Last 5 Games vs Cowboys: Won 20-18 (Elimination Final 2014 at Allianz Stadium) Loss 18-31 (Rd 25 2013 at Remondis Stadium) Loss 4-24 (Rd 16 2013 at 1300 SMILES Stadium) Loss 22-36 (Rd 26 2012 at Sharks Stadium) Won 20-14 (Rd 04 2012 at Dairy Farmers Stadium)
Sharks First-Ever Game & Home Game vs Cowboys: Rd 12 June 10, 1995 at Caltex Field (Won 34-10) Sharks Scorers: Paul Green 2, Geoff Bell, Andrew Ettingshausen, Andrew Neave, Tawera Nikau tries; Mat Rogers 5 goals Att: 5,128
Sharks Last Win vs Cowboys at Remondis: Rd 26 September 6, 2008 (Won 28-22) Sharks Scorers: Brett Kearney, Ben Ross, Terence Seu Seu, Brett Seymour, Kade Snowden tries; Luke Covell 4 goals Att: 7,057
Sharks Last Game vs Cowboys at Remondis: Rd 25 September 1, 2013 (Loss 18-31) Sharks Scorers: Jayson Bukuya 2, Jeff Robson tries; Michael Gordon 3 goals Att: 7,615
Sharks Last Meeting vs Cowboys: Qualifying Final, September 14, 2013 (Won 20-18) Sharks Scorers: Beau Ryan, Ben Pomeroy, Sam Tagataese, Sosaia Feki tries; Michael Gordon 2 goals Att: 32,747
Sharks Biggest Win vs Cowboys at Remondis: 42-6 Rd 18 June 3, 2000 (50pts margin) Sharks Scorers: Blaine Stanley 2, Colin Best, Preston Campbell, Andrew Ettingshausen, Nick Graham, Paul Mellor tries; Blaine Stanley 7 goals Att: 11,101
Sharks Heaviest Defeat vs Cowboys at Remondis: 10-36 Rd 05 April 10, 2004 (26pts margin)
Sharks Best Home Attendance vs Cowboys: 17,323 Rd 05 April 9, 2005
Sharks Home Attendance Average vs Cowboys: 10,007
Sharks Home Points Average Per Game vs Cowboys: 27pts
Most Points Scored by the Sharks vs Cowboys at Remondis: (42pts) 42-6 Rd 18 June 3, 2000
Most Aggregate Points Scored in a Game vs Cowboys at Remondis: (58pts) 22-36 Rd 26 September 2, 2012
Most Sharks Points Conceded vs Cowboys at Remondis: (36pts) 10-36 Rd 05 April 9, 2005; and 22-36 Rd 26 September 2, 2012
