Sharks fans thought they had seen it all when the boys came from 22 points down to beat the Broncos in Brisbane, a victory which eclipsed the previous record for the best come-from-behind win in club history.
Previously, in 2002 and again in 2010, the Sharks scored memorable wins when 18 points in arrears at some point in the contest but the Broncos ‘miracle’ surpassed all that had gone before in the Sharks 47-year history.
But just eight days later came another remarkable performance, this time against the Sydney Roosters last Saturday night, as the Sharks broke the record in amazing circumstances as they came back from 24-0 down to win 30-28.
It was a win those who witnessed it will never forget.
Old time Sharks couldn’t remember a better victory, when considering the week that was, which included a star player being sacked for an off-field indiscretion, the coach standing down from his post, not to mention Paul Gallen and Luke Lewis being away on Origin duty. Throw into the mix another four NRL regulars missing from the line up due to injury, up against the defending NRL premiers and it’s not hard to see why the win created a media frenzy the following day.
Commentators rightly commended the efforts of the team and their never-say-die attitude, with one of those suitably impressed by the performance Rugby League Immortal and Manly legend Bob Fulton. In his regular appearance in the 2GB Continuous Call Team show on Saturday called it the greatest win in Sharks history.
“If last week’s game against the Broncos, when they were behind 22-0 two minutes into the second half was a miracle, how do you describe last night’s win,” Fulton began.
“Put it all in perspective with Gallen, Lewis, Fifita, Morris, Heighington all out, a coach who is a replacement for a replacement, being behind 24-0 after 30 minutes, ASADA hanging around and add to that the appalling act by Todd Carney.”
“I’ll tell you how I describe it. I’ve been around for 50 years at this level and I’d say this is the best win in the club’s history. But outside of the win by Balmain over Souths in the ’69 Grand Final I think it’s maybe the best win under the circumstances for the last 50 years.
“It was a titanic performance by a bunch of blokes who never gave up – they had a real crack,” Fulton added.
Huge words of praise for a man who has been in and around the game for five decades.
Was it in fact the greatest win in the history of the club? That will obviously be a matter for debate, but whichever way it is looked at the victory showed that despite the adversity, despite the less-than-stellar season to date both on and off the field, there is still plenty of fighting spirit left in the Sharks.
