By Jeff Petersen
Riding the crest of a victory wave the Sharks will be in a hungry mood this Sunday when they host the Newcastle Knights.
With honours close to even on the win/loss record between the two clubs, Cronulla won’t want to let this game slip.
The Sharks history file against the Knights has several major factors worth noting. Right from the inception in 1988, Cronulla played out a 10-all draw at Newcastle and, one year later gave the Knights their initiation to Caltex Field with a 26 to nil thumping.
Since then our 64-14 win in 2002 was, at the time, our record victory (surpassed by a 68-6 win over Manly three years later) and a 49-30 over the Knights in 2001, claiming our sixth highest score in our history.
However, other clashes between the two have been tighter affairs, with a third of the 21 games ending a 4-point margin or less.
Player records in these meetings have been longstanding and memorable. Brett Kimmorley’s 10 goals from 12 attempts in 2002 equalled the Club Record with Steve Rogers and Luke Covell for Most Goals in a game. Kimmorley’s 28-point haul in that 64-14 victory also gave him the record for Most Points in a Game, scoring 2 tries and 10 goals.
Mat Rogers also showed his magic touch with games against the Knights, scoring 4 tries and 2 goals in a match at Newcastle back in 1995; also a 3 try, 7 goal – 26 point haul at Toyota in 2000. He followed that up with 8 goals in his next Knights home game a year later.
Our last game against the Newcastle Knights at Remondis, back in Round 22, 2013, ended with the Sharks on the receiving end of a 4-point loss (14-18). That Saturday night game, played on August 10th, was a game of many chances and only a late in-goal cross kick sealed it for the visitors.
The Sharks line-up in that last home game against the Knights: 1.Fullback: Michael Gordon: 2.Wing: Sosaia Feki, 3.Centre: Ben Pomeroy, 4.Centre: Jonathan Wright, 5.Wing: Nathan Stapleton; 6.Five-Eighth: Todd Carney, 7.Halfback: Jeff Robson; 13.Lock: Paul Gallen (Captain), 12.Second Row: Wade Graham, 19.Second Row: Luke Lewis, 10.Front Row: Bryce Gibbs, 9.Hooker: John Morris, 8.Front Row: Andrew Fifita. Interchange: 11.Jayson Bukuya, 14.Isaac De Gois, 15.Chris Heighington, 16.Sam Tagataese. Referees: Shayne Hayne & Chris James.
This Sunday we know what’s expected and what’s on the line, with the Sharks confident they can still come out on top.
Go Sharks!
SHARKS / Knights – BY THE NUMBERS
SHARKS RECORD @ HOME (1988-2014)
All-Time Record: Played 43 Won 16 Drawn 1 Lost 26 Points For 760 Points Against 830
Total Record at Remondis: Played 21 Won 11 Drawn 0 Lost 10 Points For 445 Points Against 305
Sharks Form in Last 5 Home Games vs Knights: Loss 14-18 (Rd 22 2013) Loss 6-18 (Rd 02 2012) Loss 0-18 (Rd 20 2011) Won 26-6 (Rd 07 2010) Loss 12-24 (Rd 02 2009)
Sharks Form in Last 5 Games vs Knights: Loss 0-30 (Rd 04 2014 at Hunter Stadium) Loss 14-18 (Rd 22 2013 at Remondis Stadium) Won 21-20 (Rd 08 2013 at Hunter Stadium) Loss 4-26 (Rd 23 2012 at Hunter Stadium) Loss 6-18 (Rd 02 2012 at Sharks Stadium)
Sharks First-Ever Game vs Knights: Rd 12 June 5, 1988 at the Newcastle International Sports Ground (Drawn 10 all) Sharks Scorers: Glenn Coleman, Andrew Ettingshausen tries; Alan Wilson goal Att: 12,550
Sharks First Game vs Knights at Remondis: Rd 09 May 14, 1989 (Won 26-0) Sharks Scorers: David Burnes, Jonathan Docking, Michael Porter, Barry Russell, Alan Wilson tries; Sean Watson 3 goals Att: 7,762
Sharks Last Win vs Knights at Remondis: Rd 07 April 24, 2010 (Won 26-6) Sharks Scorers: Isaac Gordon 2, Dean Collis, Tim Smith, Kade Snowden tries; Nathan Stapleton 3 goals Att: 10,662
Sharks Last Game vs Knights at Remondis: Rd 22 August 10, 2013 (Loss 14-18) Sharks Scorers: Andrew Fifita, Wade Graham tries; Todd Carney 3 goals Att: 14,120
Sharks Biggest Win vs Knights at Remondis: 64-14 Rd 22 August 11, 2002 (50pts margin) Sharks Scorers: Matthew Rieck 3, Brett Kimmorley 2, Paul Mellor 2, David Peachey 2, Chris McKenna, Dean Treister tries; Brett Kimmorley 10 goals Att: 17,289
Sharks Heaviest Defeat vs Knights at Remondis: 24-32 Rd 06 April 20, 2003 (8pts margin); (Heaviest Points Margin): 0-18 Rd 20 July 23, 2011 (18pts margin)
Sharks Best Home Attendance vs Knights: 19,137 Rd 22 August 5, 2001
Sharks Home Attendance Average vs Knights: 11,352
Sharks Home Points Average Per Game vs Knights: 21.2pts
Most Points Scored by the Sharks vs Knights at Remondis: (64pts) 64-14 Rd 22 August 11, 2002
Most Aggregate Points Scored in a Game vs Knights at Remondis: (79pts) 49-30 Rd 22 August 5, 2001
Most Sharks Points Conceded vs Knights at Remondis: (32pts) 24-32 Rd 06 April 20, 2003
Most Total Points Scored by a Sharks Player vs Knights at Remondis: (54pts) by Mat Rogers, (3 tries 21 goals)
Most Sharks Points Scored in a Game vs Knights at Remondis: (28pts) by Brett Kimmorley, (2 tries 10 goals), Rd 22 August 11, 2002
Most Tries Scored in a Game vs Knights at Remondis: (3 tries) by Mat Rogers, Rd 11 April 14, 2000; (3 tries) by David Peachey, Rd 22 August 5, 2001; (3 tries) by Matthew Rieck, Rd 22 August 11, 2002
Most Goals Scored in a Game vs Knights at Remondis: (10 goals) by Brett Kimmorley, Rd 22 August 11, 2002
Most Sharks Team Tries Scored in a Game vs Knights at Remondis: (11 tries) Rd 22 August 11, 2002 (Won 64-14)
Total Try Scorers for the Sharks vs Knights at Remondis: (75 Tries, 47 Try Scorers) David Peachey 9; Mat Rogers 3; Chris McKenna 3; Paul Mellor 3; Matthew Rieck 3; Jonathan Docking 2; Andrew Ettingshausen 2; Paul Bell 2; Mitch Healey 2; Richie Barnett 2; Brett Howland 2; Dean Treister 2; Colin Best 2; Brett Kimmorley 2; Vince Mellars 2; Nathan Merritt 2; Isaac Gordon 2; David Burnes 1; Michael Porter 1; Barry Russell 1; Alan Wilson 1; Craig Dimond 1; Chris Quinn 1; Paul Evans 1; Les Davidson 1; Paul Doolan 1; Adam Ritson 1; Paul Green 1; Preston Campbell 1; Luke Stuart 1; Phil Bailey 1; Paul Franze 1; Patrick Gibson 1; Michael Sullivan 1; Paul Gallen 1; Lance Thompson 1; Reece Williams 1; Fraser Anderson 1; David Simmons 1; Trent Barrett 1; Blake Green 1; Dean Collis 1; Tim Smith 1; Kade Snowden 1; Ben Pomeroy 1; Andrew Fifita 1; Wade Graham 1.
Total Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Knights at Remondis: (72 Goals, 11 Goal Scorers) Mat Rogers 21; Brett Kimmorley 14; Luke Covell 9; Greg Carberry 5; Mitch Healey 5; Todd Carney 4; Sean Watson 3; Eion Crossan 3; Nathan Merritt 3; Nathan Stapleton 3; Alan Wilson 2.
Total Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Knights at Remondis: (1 Field Goal, 1 Field Goal Scorer) Adam Dykes (1 in 2001).
All-Time Total Try Scorers for the Sharks vs Knights: (131 Tries, 67 Try Scorers) Mat Rogers 10; David Peachey 10; Matthew Rieck 6; David Simmons 6; Andrew Ettingshausen 5; Paul Mellor 5; Brett Kimmorley 5; Ben Pomeroy 4; Chris McKenna 3; Nigel Vagana 3; Jonathan Docking 2; Paul Bell 2; Mitch Healey 2; Geoff Bell 2; Paul Green 2; Richie Barnett 2; Adam Dykes 2; Brett Howland 2; Dean Treister 2; Colin Best 2; Vince Mellars 2; Nathan Merritt 2; Luke Covell 2; Isaac Gordon 2; Nathan Gardner 2; John Williams 2; Jonathan Wright 2; Glenn Coleman 1; David Burnes 1; Michael Porter 1; Barry Russell 1; Alan Wilson 1; Craig Dimond 1; Chris Quinn 1; Paul Evans 1; Les Davidson 1; Paul Doolan 1; Adam Ritson 1; Russell Richardson 1; Sean Ryan 1; Andrew Pierce 1; Preston Campbell 1; Luke Stuart 1; Luke MacDougall 1; Ryan McGoldrick 1; Phil Bailey 1; Paul Franze 1; Patrick Gibson 1; Matt Bickerstaff 1; Greg Bird 1; Danny Nutley 1; Michael Sullivan 1; Brett Kearney 1; Beau Scott 1; Paul Gallen 1; Lance Thompson 1; Reece Williams 1; Fraser Anderson 1; Trent Barrett 1; Blake Green 1; Dean Collis 1; Tim Smith 1; Kade Snowden 1; Todd Carney 1; Beau Ryan 1; Andrew Fifita 1; Wade Graham 1.
All-Time Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Knights: (117 Goals, 16 Goal Scorers) Mat Rogers 31; Brett Kimmorley 19; Luke Covell 18; Mitch Healey 10; Greg Carberry 5; Matt Hilder 5; Alan Wilson 4; Eion Crossan 4; Todd Carney 4; Sean Watson 3; Nathan Merritt 3; Nathan Stapleton 3; Lindsay Bowne 2; Preston Campbell 2; John Williams 2; Michael Gordon 2.
All-Time Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Knights: (2 Field Goals, 2 Field Goal Scorers) Adam Dykes (1 in 2001); Jeff Robson (1 in 2013).
