The Sharks have long provided players to the Kangaroo and Kiwi squads, beginning back in 1970 and continuing to this day with club captain Paul Gallen set to to play his 16th Test match against New Zealand.
Sharks Historian Jeff Petersen details the involvement of Sharks players past and present
AUSTRALIAN Sharks and NEW ZEALAND Sharks
Australia’s scoring record in internationals against New Zealand shows an overwhelming imbalance in favour of the Aussies. However, results do not necessarily mean a game-day dominance and that’s something all Kangaroos players and fans must be wary of when they meet again on Friday night at Allianz Stadium.
The battle for “across the ditch” supremacy first came in 1908, when the Kiwis came to Sydney on May 9th of that year and beat off a mud and blood-soaked Australian side 11-10, in front of 20,000.
Since that initial bruising encounter the excitement of such clashes has never waned and now, 126 games later, the stage is set for another titanic feast of football.
Between the two nations the record stands at:
Played 126 - Australia 94 wins - New Zealand 29 wins - drawn 3
SHARKS involvement in this international fixture began in 1970 when our very own Ron Turner turned out for the Kangaroos in a World Cup fixture at Central Park in Wigan. For former hooker, Ron, it was a momentous game, coming off the bench and scoring a try in the 47-11 win. Ron has the honour of being the Sharks first-ever Australian representative player.
His debut spawned a wealth of green and gold talent from Cronulla with 20 of our greats playing against New Zealand. Our Kiwi connection is also a proud and honoured one, with six of our stalwarts giving their all for New Zealand against the Kangaroos.
Current Sharks skipper Paul Gallen will play his 16th Test in matches against New Zealand, with his win-loss record prior to Friday’s Test standing at 12 wins, 2 losses and one draw. Gallen has played in a total of 30 Tests for his country.
Below is list of players who have turned out in these matches while at Cronulla.
Our Australian SHARKS v New Zealand
(# - denotes Australian International Player Registry Number) Phil Bailey #710 (1 Test) v NZ L16-30 2003; Greg Bird #743 (2 Tests) v NZ W58-0 2007 (1 try); v NZ W28-12 2008; Andrew Ettingshausen #586 (6 Tests) v NZ W24-6 1990; v NZ L8-24 1991, v NZ W44-0 1991, v NZ W40-12 1991 (1 try); v NZ W16-8 1993, v NZ W16-4 1993; Andrew Fifita #786 (1 Test) v NZ W34-2 2013; Paul Gallen #750 (15 Tests) v NZ W28-12 2008 (1 try), v NZ W30-6 2008, v NZ L20-34 2008; v NZ W38-10 2009, v NZ D20-20 2009; v NZ W12-8 2010, v NZ W34-20 2010, v NZ L12-16 2010; v NZ W20-10 2011, v NZ W42-6 2011, v NZ W26-12 2011; v NZ W20-12 2012, v NZ W18-10 2012; v NZ W32-12 2013, v NZ W34-2 2013; Brett Kimmorley #675 (3 Tests) v NZ W32-24 2002; v NZ L16-30 2003 (1 try); v NZ W32-16 2005; Luke Lewis #715 (1 Test) v NZ W32-12 2013 (1 try); Mark McGaw #590 (2 Tests) v NZ W25-12 1988; v NZ W24-6 1990 (1 try); Chris McKenna #683 (1 Test) v NZ W52-0 2000 (1 try); Gavin Miller # 589 (1 Test) v NZ W25-12 1988 (1 try); Greg Pierce #475 (3 Tests) v NZ W27-12 1977; v NZ W24-2 1978, v NZ W33-16 1978 (1 try); Russell Richardson #676 (1 Test) v NZ L22-24 (1 try); Mat Rogers #662 (6 Tests) v NZ L16-22 1998 (2 goals); v NZ W20-14 1999 (4 goals), v NZ L22-24 1999 (1 try, 3 goals), v NZ W22-20 1999 (2 tries, 3 goals); v NZ W52-0 2000 (2 tries, 8 goals), v NZ W40-12 2000 (6 goals); Steve Rogers #476 (5 Tests) v NZ W24-2 1978 (1 try), v NZ W38-7 1978 (1 try), v NZ W33-16 1978; v NZ W11-8 1982, v NZ W20-2 1982; Dan Stains #596 – Dan went on the 1989 tour of New Zealand; Jason Stevens #678 (6 Tests) v NZ L22-24 1999, v NZ W22-20 1999; v NZ W52-0 2000, v NZ W40-12 2000; v NZ W28-10 2001; v NZ W32-24 2002; Ron Turner #447 (1 Test) v NZ W47-11 1970.
As Super League Australian internationals v New Zealand
Andrew Ettingshausen v NZ W34-22 1997; Paul Green v NZ L 12-30 1997, v NZ W34-22 1997; Craig Greenhill v NZ L12-30 1997; David Peachey v NZ W34-22 1997; Jason Stevens v NZ L12-30 1997
Our New Zealand SHARKS v Australia
Richie Barnett (1 Test) v AUS L20-30 1995 (1 try); Luke Covell (1 Test) v AUS L0-58 2007; Jeremy Smith (4 Tests) v AUS L10-20 2011, v AUS L6-42 2011, v AUS L12-26 2011; v AUS L12-20 2012; Dane Sorensen (3 Tests) v AUS L12-27 1977; v AUS L4-16 1983, v AUS W19-12 1983; Kurt Sorensen (5 Tests) v AUS L4-16 1983, v AUS W19-12 1983; v AUS L20-26 1985, v AUS L6-10 1985, v AUS W18-0 1985; Nigel Vagana (11 Tests) v AUS L10-37 2004, v AUS D16-16 2004, v AUS L12-32 2004; v AUS L16-32 2005, v AUS W38-28 2005 (1 try), v AUS L26-28 2005 (1 try), v AUS W24-0 2005; v AUS L12-50 2006, v AUS L18-30 2006 (1 try), v AUS L15-20 2006, v AUS L12-16 2006.
As Super League New Zealand internationals v Australia
Richie Barnett v AUS L 22-34 1997, v AUS W30-12 1997; Tawera Nikau v AUS L22-34 1997.
