By Jeff Petersen
The Cowboys have stood firm against all comers in Townsville in 2014 but this doesn’t alter the fact that the Sharks win/loss record in North Queensland still stands amongst the best in the NRL.
The Sharks travel to 1300SMILES Stadium to take on a white-hot North Queensland in what will be a last-ditch effort on Monday night to restore some long-lost pride.
Cronulla’s 10 wins from 17 outings at 1300SMILES began with a closely fought 6-point loss in 1996. The next six visits to Townsville gave the Sharks a string of consecutive victories. Current meetings against the Cowboys have been retaliatory affairs, with most games delivering the best attacking football seen in recent times.
Sharks legend Andrew Ettingshausen stamps his name on the try-scoring honours once more with 5 in Townsville and 8 in total against the Cowboys in all matches. ET shares these scoring records with Paul Mellor (5) and David Peachey (8), respectively. Incidentally, Andrew’s five tries against the Cowboys came in the first 4 Cronulla visits to Townsville.
Our previous encounter at Townsville was a 20 point loss in Round 16 last year in front of a Sunday evening crowd of 14,434. Luke Lewis our sole scorer in the match.
The Sharks line-up in our last meeting in Townsville was: 21.Fullback: Matthew Wright; 2.Wing: Sosaia Feki, 3.Centre: Ben Pomeroy, 4.Centre: Jonathan Wright, 20.Wing: Nathan Stapleton; 6.Five-Eighth: Todd Carney, 7.Halfback: Jeff Robson; 14.Lock: Chris Heighington, 12.Second Row: Wade Graham (Captain), 11.Second Row: Luke Lewis, 10.Front Row: Sam Tagataese, 9.Hooker: John Morris, 18.Front Row: Ben Ross. Interchange: 8.Andrew Fifita, 15.Jayson Bukuya, 16.Isaac De Gois, 17.Anthony Tupou. Referees: Adam Devcich & Alan Shortall
With Matthew Wright’s departure this year providing us with another link to the Cowboys, certainly one interesting fact features former Shark Laurie Spina. Laurie skippered North Queensland in their inaugural game in the NRL back in 1995. He debuted for Cronulla in 1990, playing 22 games and scoring five tries.
Go Sharks!
SHARKS / Cowboys – BY THE NUMBERS
SHARKS AWAY RECORD (1995-2014)
All-Time Record: Played 34 Won 21 Drawn 0 Lost 13 Points For - 800 Points Against - 690
Total Away Record vs Cowboys: Played 19 Won 11 Drawn 0 Lost 8 Points For - 404 Points Against - 397
Record vs Cowboys at 1300SMILES Stadium: Played 17 Won 10 Drawn 0 Lost 7 Points For - 374 Points Against - 345
Record vs Cowboys at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide: Played 1 Won 0 Drawn 0 Lost 1 Points For 10 Points Against 34 Rd 09 April 19, 2009
Record vs Cowboys at Allianz Stadium: Played 1 Won 1 Drawn 0 Lost 0 Points For 20 Points Against 18 Elimination Final, September 14, 2013
Sharks Form in Last 5 Away Games vs Cowboys: Won 20-18 (Elimination Final at Allianz Stadium, 2013) Loss 4-24 (Rd 16 2013) Won 20-14 (Rd 04 2012) Loss 20-28 (Rd 25 2011) Won 20-19 (Rd 16 2010 Golden Pt)
Sharks Form in Last 5 Games vs Cowboys: Loss 18-36 (Rd 19 2014 at Remondis Stadium) Won 20-18 (Elimination Final 2013 at Allianz Stadium) Loss 18-31 (Rd 25 2013 at Remondis Stadium) Loss 4-24 (Rd 16 2013 at 1300SMILES Stadium) Loss 22-36 (Rd 26 2012 at Sharks Stadium)
Sharks First Away Game vs Cowboys: Rd 12 at Stockland Stadium, June 22, 1996 (Loss 10-16) Sharks Scorers: Paul Donaghy, Andrew Ettingshausen tries; Mat Rogers goal Att: 22,014
Sharks First Away Win vs Cowboys: Rd 12 at Stockland Stadium, May 31, 1997 (Won 24-10) Sharks Scorers: Andrew Ettingshausen 2, Geoff Bell, David Peachey tries; Mat Rogers 4 goals Att: 16,095
Sharks Biggest Away Win vs Cowboys: 46-16 Rd 15, June 22, 2002 (30pts margin) Sharks Scorers: Paul Mellor 2, Phil Bailey, Paul Franze, Patrick Gibson, Matthew Johns, Ryan McGoldrick, Danny Nutley tries; Brett Kimmorley 7 goals Att: 13,568; and 36-6 Rd 18, July 07, 2001 (30pts margin) Sharks Scorers: Preston Campbell 3, Paul Mellor 2, Jason Ferris, Sean Ryan tries; Jason Ferris 3 goals, Preston Campbell goal Att: 13,494
Sharks Last Away Game and Away Win vs Cowboys: 20-18 Elimination Final, September 14, 2013 Sharks Scorers: Beau Ryan, Ben Pomeroy, Sam Tagataese, Sosaia Feki tries; Michael Gordon 2 goals Att: 32,747
Sharks Heaviest Away Defeat vs Cowboys: 14-56 Rd 13, June 4, 2005 (32pts margin)
Sharks Best Away Attendance vs Cowboys: 32,747 at Allianz Stadium, Elimination Final, September 14, 2013; Regular H & A Season: 22,014 Rd 12 at Stockland Stadium, June 22, 1996
Sharks Away Attendance Average vs Cowboys: 16,714
Sharks Points Average Per Away Game vs Cowboys: 21.2pts
Most Away Points Scored by the Sharks vs Cowboys: (46pts) Won 46-16 Rd 15, June 22, 2002
Most Aggregate Points Scored in an Away Game vs Cowboys: (70pts) Loss 14-56 Rd 13, June 04, 2005
Most Sharks Points Conceded Away vs Cowboys: (56pts) Loss 14-56 Rd 13, June 04, 2005
Most Total Away Points Scored by a Sharks Player vs Cowboys: (30pts) by Luke Covell, (15 goals)
Most Sharks Points Scored in an Away Game vs Cowboys: (14pts) by Mat Rogers, (1 try 5 goals), Rd 05 March 04, 2000; (14pts) by Preston Campbell, (3 tries, 1 goal), Rd 18 July 07, 2001 and (14pts) by Brett Kimmorley, (7 goals), Rd 15 June 22, 2002
Most Tries Scored in an Away Game vs Cowboys: (3 tries) by Preston Campbell, Rd 18 at Dairy Farmers Stadium, July 07, 2001
Most Goals Scored in an Away Game vs Cowboys: (7 goals) by Brett Kimmorley, Rd 15 at Dairy Farmers Stadium, June 22, 2002
Most Sharks Team Tries Scored in an Away Game vs Cowboys: (8 tries) Rd 15 at Dairy Farmers Stadium, June 22, 2002 (Won 46-16) Sharks Scorers: Paul Mellor 2, Phil Bailey, Paul Franze, Patrick Gibson, Matthew Johns, Ryan McGoldrick, Danny Nutley tries; Brett Kimmorley 7 goals Att: 13,568
Total Try Scorers for the Sharks vs Cowboys at All Away Venues: (72 Tries, 42 Try Scorers) Andrew Ettingshausen 5; Paul Mellor 5; Ben Pomeroy 4; Preston Campbell 3; Phil Bailey 3; Greg Bird 3; Matthew Rieck 3; Paul Gallen 3; David Peachey 2; Russell Richardson 2; Sean Ryan 2; Danny Nutley 2; Matt Hilder 2; Nigel Vagana 2; Matthew Wright 2; Paul Aiton 2; Isaac Gordon 2; Paul Donaghy 1; Geoff Bell 1; Mat Rogers 1; Jason Ferris 1; Paul Franze 1; Patrick Gibson 1; Matthew Johns 1; Ryan McGoldrick 1; David Simmons 1; Michael Sullivan 1; Darren Albert 1; Brett Kimmorley 1; Hutch Maiava 1; Isaac De Gois 1; Fraser Anderson 1; Luke Douglas 1; Brett Kearney 1; Anthony Tupou 1; Nathan Gardner 1; Wade Graham 1; Andrew Fifita 1; Luke Lewis 1; Beau Ryan 1; Sam Tagataese 1; Sosaia Feki 1.
Total Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Cowboys at All Away Venues: (57 Goals, 14 Goal Scorers) Luke Covell 15; Mat Rogers 10; Brett Kimmorley 7; Jarrad Anderson 5; John Williams 4; Todd Carney 4; Jason Ferris 3; Blaine Stanley 2; Michael Gordon 2; Mitch Healey 1; Preston Campbell 1; Greg Bird 1; Matt Hilder 1; Nathan Gardner 1.
Total Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Cowboys at All Away Venues: (2 Field Goals, 2 Field Goal Scorers) Trent Barrett 1 (in 2010); John Morris 1 (in 2010).
All-Time Total Try Scorers for the Sharks vs Cowboys: (143 Tries, 65 Try Scorers) Andrew Ettingshausen 8; David Peachey 8; Paul Mellor 7; Adam Dykes 6; Paul Gallen 6; Colin Best 5; Phil Bailey 5; Russell Richardson 4; Preston Campbell 4; David Simmons 4; Ben Pomeroy 4; Paul Green 3; Sean Ryan 3; Greg Bird 3; Matt Hilder 3; Matthew Rieck 3; Nigel Vagana 3; Geoff Bell 2; Mat Rogers 2; Brett Howland 2; Blaine Stanley 2; Dean Treister 2; Danny Nutley 2; Jye Mullane 2; Luke Douglas 2; Isaac De Gois 2; Brett Kearney 2; Matthew Wright 2; Paul Aiton 2; Isaac Gordon 2; Andrew Fifita 2; Jayson Bukuya 2; Jeff Robson 2; Andrew Neave 1; Tawera Nikau 1; Paul Donaghy 1; Wade Forrester 1; Nick Graham 1; Ronald Prince 1; Jason Stevens 1; Jason Ferris 1; Paul Franze 1; Patrick Gibson 1; Matthew Johns 1; Ryan McGoldrick 1; Luke Covell 1; Michael Sullivan 1; Lance Thompson 1; Darren Albert 1; Brett Kimmorley 1; Hutch Maiava 1; Fraser Anderson 1; Ben Ross 1; Terence Seu Seu 1; Brett Seymour 1; Kade Snowden 1; Anthony Tupou 1; Nathan Gardner 1; Wade Graham 1; Luke Lewis 1; Beau Ryan 1; Sam Tagataese 1; Sosaia Feki 1; Jonathan Wright 1; Michael Gordon 1.
All-Time Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Cowboys: (113 Goals, 16 Goal Scorers) Luke Covell 28; Mat Rogers 20; Blaine Stanley 12; Brett Kimmorley 12; Michael Gordon 8; Jason Ferris 7; Todd Carney 7; Jarrad Anderson 5; John Williams 4; Mitch Healey 3; Matthew Wright 2; Andrew Ettingshausen 1; Preston Campbell 1; Greg Bird 1; Matt Hilder 1; Nathan Gardner 1.
All-Time Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Cowboys: (2 Field Goals, 2 Field Goal Scorers) Trent Barrett (1 in 2010); John Morris (1 in 2010).
