By Jeff Petersen
With bragging rights since Round Three the Big Red V await the visit of the Sharks to Wollongong this Saturday in what will be a titanic struggle for points for both teams.
Cronulla’s last meeting at WIN Stadium, in Round 23, 2013, resulted in what was a trully inspirational game. Down 6-18 at halftime, Sharks scored an exciting come-from-behind 22-18 victory on the back of a last minute Andrew Fifita try. The win represented the Sharks first-ever win in Wollongong in five outings and they head south on Saturday hoping to repeat the dose.
Not surprising for such rivalry the crowd average is 16,484 for these clashes, so get behind our boys Sharks fans and help them bring back a win.
Our record against the Dragons is as even as it gets, 16 wins each and one draw from 33 games.
Also a talking point, 300-gamer John Morris holds the distinction of scoring the 100th Sharks try against the St George-Illawarra Dragons, that coming in the last encounter between the two teams which was at Remondis earlier this year.
With only five meetings in Wollongong between the Sharks and Dragons the “South Coast” tradition is still growing but the rivalry remains from the days playing St George and Steeler teams of the past.
Go Sharks!
SHARKS / St George-Illawarra – BY THE NUMBERS
Sharks Away Record @ WIN STADIUM (1999-2014)
All-Time Record: Played 33 Won 16 Drawn 1 Lost 16 Points For 570 Points Against 642
Total Record at WIN Stadium: Played 5 Won 1 Drawn 0 Lost 4 Points For 58 Points Against 120
Sharks Form in Last 5 Away Games vs Dragons: Won 22-18 (Rd 23 2013) Loss 10-18 (Rd 19 2012) Loss 8-38 (Rd 19 2011) Loss 0-38 (Rd 08 2010) Loss 6-10 (Rd 03 2009)
Sharks Form in Last 5 Games vs Dragons: Loss 12-14 (Rd 03 2014 at Remondis Stadium) Won 22-18 (Rd 23 2013 at WIN Stadium) Loss 12-25 (Rd 04 2013 at Sharks Stadium) Loss 10-18 (Rd 19 2012 at WIN Stadium) Won 12-0 (Rd 06 2012 at Toyota Stadium)
Sharks First Game vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: Qualifying Final, September 10, 2005 (Lost 22-28) Sharks Scorers: Paul Gallen, Beau Scott, David Simmons, Nigel Vagana tries; Luke Covell 3 goals Att: 19,608
Sharks First Win, Last Win, Biggest Win and also Last Game vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: Rd 23 August 17, 2013 (Won 22-18) Sharks Scorers: Isaac De Gois, Andrew Fifita, Ben Pomeroy, Beau Ryan tries; Todd Carney 3 goals Att: 11,853
Sharks Heaviest Defeat vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: 0-38 Rd 08 May 01, 2010 (38pts margin)
Sharks Best Attendance vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: 19,608 Qualfying Final, September 10, 2005
Sharks Attendance Average vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: 16,484
Sharks Points Average Per Game vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: 11.6pts
Most Points Scored by the Sharks vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: (22pts) 22-28 Qualifying Final, September 10, 2005 and (22pts) 22-18 Rd 23, August 17, 2013
Most Aggregate Points Scored in a Game vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: (50pts) 22-28 Qualifying Final, September 10, 2005
Most Sharks Points Conceded vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: (38pts) 0-38 Rd 08 May 01, 2010
Most Total Points Scored by a Sharks Player vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: (8pts) by Paul Gallen, (2 tries); (8pts) by Wade Graham, (2 tries) and (8pts) by Todd Carney, (4 goals)
Most Sharks Points Scored in a Game vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: (8pts) by Wade Graham, (2 tries), Rd 19 July 15, 2012
Most Tries Scored in a Game vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: (2 tries) by Wade Graham, Rd 19 July 15, 2012
Most Goals Scored in a Game vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: (3 goals) by Luke Covell, Qualifying Final, September 10, 2005 and (3 goals) by Todd Carney, Rd 23 August 17, 2013
Most Sharks Team Tries Scored in a Game vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: (4 tries) Qualfying Final, September 10, 2005 (Loss 22-28) Sharks Scorers: Paul Gallen, Beau Scott, David Simmons, Nigel Vagana tries; Luke Covell 3 goals. Att: 19,608; and (4 tries) Rd 23 August 17, 2013 (Won 22-18) Sharks Scorers: Isaac De Gois, Andrew Fifita, Ben Pomeroy, Beau Ryan tries; Todd Carney 3 goals. Att: 11,853
Total Try Scorers for the Sharks vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: (11 Tries, 9 Try Scorers) Paul Gallen 2; Wade Graham 2; Beau Scott 1; David Simmons 1; Nigel Vagana 1; Isaac De Gois 1; Andrew Fifita 1; Ben Pomeroy 1; Beau Ryan 1.
Total Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: (7 Goals, 2 Goal Scorers) Todd Carney 4; Luke Covell 3.
Total Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Dragons at WIN Stadium: None
All-Time Total Try Scorers for the Sharks vs St George-Illawarra Dragons: (100 Tries, 47 Try Scorers) David Peachey 7; Colin Best 6; David Simmons 6; Chris McKenna 5; Ben Pomeroy 5; Brett Howland 4; Paul Mellor 4; Brett Kearney 4; Andrew Ettingshausen 3; Matthew Rieck 3; Greg Bird 3; Nigel Vagana 3; Luke Covell 3; Wade Graham 3; John Morris 3; Brett Kimmorley 2; Paul Franze 2; Phil Bailey 2; Matt Bickerstaff 2; Paul Gallen 2; Andrew Fifita 2; Mat Rogers 1; Preston Campbell 1; Brent Grose 1; Damien Mostyn 1; Matthew Johns 1; Karl Lovell 1; Laloa Milford 1; Jarrad Anderson 1; Matt Hilder 1; Jason Kent 1; Michael Sullivan 1; Sam Isemonger 1; Ryan McGoldrick 1; Beau Scott 1; Darren Albert 1; Lance Thompson 1; Fraser Anderson 1; Mitch Brown 1; Bryson Goodwin 1; Blake Ferguson 1; Isaac Gordon 1; Anthony Tupou 1; Josh Cordoba 1; Jeff Robson 1; Isaac De Gois 1; Beau Ryan 1.
All-Time Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs St George-Illawarra Dragons: (83 Goals, 13 Goal Scorers) Luke Covell 23; Brett Kimmorley 19; Mat Rogers 15; Todd Carney 6; Michael Gordon 4; Blaine Stanley 3; Jason Ferris 3; Preston Campbell 3; Jarrad Anderson 2; John Williams 2; Matt Hilder 1; Nathan Merritt 1; Lance Thompson 1.
All-Time Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs St George-Illawarra Dragons: (2 Field Goals, 2 Field Goal Scorers) Michael Sullivan (1 in 2003); Brett Kimmorley (1 in 2008).