By Jeff Petersen
Cronulla’s season can be resurrected somewhat by the road trip to Auckland this weekend on the back of winning their last five games against the Warriors and their last two at Mount Smart Stadium.
With their home 37-6 victory and a 4-try haul by Nathan Stapleton in Round 5 fresh in our minds, this clash against a tough Kiwi outfit will test the mettle of our boys come Sunday.
Mount Smart Stadium – formerly known as Ericsson Stadium from 1995 to 2006 – has been a happy hunting ground for the Sharks and a record of many impressive displays in the 7 wins from 17 starts there proves a win is most definitely achievable.
The return of skipper Paul Gallen will bolster an eager Sharks pack, leading us in his 19th appearance against the Warriors. Also significant will be a personal record Gal has been hunting for a while – in his 53 career tries for Cronulla, Paul has yet to score against the Warriors, his one remaining scalp.
Our previous encounter in New Zealand was a nail-biting 18-14 win in Round 21, 2013 in front of 15,209 excited fans. The line-up that day : 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, 11.Second Row: Jayson Bukuya, 10.Front Row: Bryce Gibbs, 9.Hooker: John Morris, 8.Front Row: Andrew Fifita. Interchange: 14.Isaac de Gois, 15.Chris Heighington, 16.Sam Tagataese, 17.Ben Ross. Sharks Scorers: Ben Pomeroy, Nathan Stapleton, Jonathan Wright tries; Todd Carney 3 goals from 4 attempts.
Let’s get behind our boys, Sharkies fans. There’s all to play for.
Go Sharks!
SHARKS / Warriors – BY THE NUMBERS
OUR AWAY RECORD (1995-2014)
All-Time Record: Played 32 Won 18 Drawn 0 Lost 14 Points For 650 Points Against 590
Total Away Record vs Warriors: Played 17 Won 7 Drawn 0 Lost 10 Points For - 295 Points Against - 346
Record vs Warriors at Telstra Stadium, Sydney: Played 1 Won 0 Drawn 0 Lost 1 Points For 10 Points Against 16 Preliminary Final, September 29, 2002
Record vs Warriors at Members Equity Stadium, Perth: Played 1 Won 1 Drawn 0 Lost 0 Points For 28 Points Against 24 Rd 09 May 7, 2005
Record vs Warriors at Owen Delany Park, Taupo NZ: Played 1 Won 0 Drawn 0 Lost 1 Points For 18 Points Against 26 Rd 04 April 3, 2011
Sharks Form in Last 5 Away Games vs Warriors: Won 18-14 (Rd 05 2014) Won 45-4 (Rd 22 2012) Loss 18-26 (Rd 21 2011) Loss 16-30 (Rd 02 2010) Loss 4-18 (Rd 23 2008)
Sharks Form in Last 5 Games vs Warriors: Won 37-6 (Rd 05 2014 at Remondis Stadium) Won 18-14 (Rd 21 2013 at Mt Smart Stadium) Loss 28-4 (Rd 03 2013 at Sharks Stadium) Won 45-4 (Rd 22 2012 at Mt Smart Stadium) Won 20-19 (Rd 15 2012 at Sharks Stadium)
Sharks First Away Game & Win vs Warriors: Rd 10 at Ericsson Stadium, June 8, 1996 (Won 28-24) Sharks Scorers: Andrew Ettingshausen 2, Geoff Bell, Paul Green, David Peachey tries; Mat Rogers 4 goals Att: 22,810
Sharks Biggest Away Win vs Warriors: 45-4 Rd 22, August 5, 2012 (41pts margin) Sharks Scorers: Todd Carney 2, Andrew Fifita 2, John Williams 2, Jeff Robson tries; Todd Carney 8 goals; Todd Carney field goal Att: 13,812
Sharks Last Away Win & Last Away Game vs Warriors: 18-14 Rd 21, August 3, 2013 Sharks Scorers: Ben Pomeroy, Nathan Stapleton, Jonathan Wright tries; Todd Carney 3 goals Att: 15,209
Sharks Heaviest Away Defeat vs Warriors: 0-30 Rd 23, August 11, 2001 (30pts margin) Att: 10,131
Sharks Best Attendance vs Warriors: 45,702 at Telstra Stadium, Sydney, Preliminary Final, September 29, 2002; Regular H & A Season: 22,810 Rd 10 at Ericsson Stadium, June 8, 1996
Sharks Away Attendance Average vs Warriors: 14,903
Sharks Points Average Per Away Game vs Warriors: 17.3pts
Most Away Points Scored by the Sharks vs Warriors: (45pts) Won 45-4 Rd 22, August 5, 2012
Most Aggregate Points Scored in an Away Game vs Warriors: (62pts) Loss 20-42 Rd 12 at Ericsson Stadium, June 2, 2002
Most Sharks Points Conceded vs Warriors: (42pts) Loss 20-42 Rd 12 at Ericsson Stadium, June 2, 2002
Most Total Points Scored by a Sharks Player vs Warriors: (56pts) by Luke Covell, (3 tries 22 goals)
Most Sharks Points Scored in a Game vs Warriors: (25pts) by Todd Carney, (2 tries 8 goals 1 field goal), Rd 18 August 5, 2012 at Mt Smart Stadium (Won 45-4)
Most Tries Scored in a Game vs Warriors: (2 tries) by Andrew Ettingshausen, Rd 10 at Ericsson Stadium, June 8, 1996 (Won 28-24); (2 tries) by David Peachey, Rd 12 at Ericsson Stadium, April 24, 2000 (Loss 20-24); (2 tries) by Greg Bird, Rd 08 at Mt Smart Stadium, May 5, 2007 (Won 22-20); 2 (tries by Todd Carney, Andrew Fifita, John Williams, Rd 22 at Mt Smart Stadium, August 5, 2012 (Won 45-4) Most in Both H & A: (4 tries) by Nathan Stapleton, Rd 05 at Remondis Stadium, April 5, 2014 (Won 37-6)
Most Goals Scored in an Away Game vs Warriors: (8 goals) by Todd Carney, Rd 22 at Mt Smart Stadium, August 5, 2012
Most Sharks Team Tries Scored in a Game vs Warriors: (7 tries) Rd 22 at Mt Smart Stadium, August 5, 2012 (Won 45-4) Sharks Scorers: Todd Carney 2, Andrew Fifita 2, John Williams 2, Jeff Robson tries; Todd Carney 8 goals; Todd Carney field goal Att: 13,812
Total Try Scorers for the Sharks vs Warriors at All Away Venues: (51 Tries, 29 Try Scorers) David Peachey 6; Andrew Ettingshausen 3; Adam Dykes 3; Greg Bird 3; Brett Kimmorley 3; Luke Covell 3; John Williams 3; Brett Howland 2; Colin Best 2; Ben Pomeroy 2; Todd Carney 2; Andrew Fifita 2; Geoff Bell 1; Paul Green 1; Russell Richardson 1; Mat Rogers 1; Paul Franze 1; Ryan McGoldrick 1; Matthew Rieck 1; Jarrad Anderson 1; David Simmons 1; Nigel Vagana 1; Misi Taulapapa 1; Blake Ferguson 1; Wade Graham 1; Jeremy Smith 1; Jeff Robson 1; Nathan Stapleton 1; Jonathan Wright 1.
Total Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Warriors at All Away Venues: (45 Goals, 8 Goal Scorers) Todd Carney 11; Mat Rogers 8; Luke Covell 8; Mitch Healey 6; Brett Kimmorley 4; Scott Porter 4; John Williams 3; Ben Sammut 1.
Total Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Warriors at All Away Venues: (1 Field Goal, 1 Field Goal Scorer) Todd Carney 1 (in 2012)
All-Time Total Try Scorers for the Sharks vs Warriors: (113 Tries, 54 Try Scorers) David Peachey 10; Nathan Stapleton 6; Colin Best 5; Andrew Ettingshausen 4; Adam Dykes 4; Greg Bird 4; Brett Kimmorley 4; David Simmons 4; Luke Covell 4; Ben Pomeroy 4; Jeff Robson 4; Geoff Bell 3; Nigel Vagana 3; John Williams 3; Brett Howland 2; Russell Richardson 2; Mat Rogers 2; Paul Franze 2; Matthew Rieck 2; Jarrad Anderson 2; Phil Bailey 2; Darren Albert 2; Todd Carney 2; Andrew Fifita 2; Sam Tagataese 2; Mitch Healey 1; Ben Sammut 1; Paul Green 1; Danny Lee 1; Dean Treister 1; Paul Mellor 1; Preston Campbell 1; Ronald Prince 1; Ryan McGoldrick 1; Dean Bosnich 1; Patrick Gibson 1; Nick Graham 1; Sam Isemonger 1; Matt Bickerstaff 1; Nathan Merritt 1; Misi Taulapapa 1; Anthony Tupou 1; Matthew Wright 1; Blake Ferguson 1; Paul Aiton 1; Trent Barrett 1; Wade Graham 1; Jeremy Smith 1; Michael Gordon 1; John Morris 1; Beau Ryan 1; Jonathan Wright 1; Tinirau Arona 1; Blake Ayshford 1.
All-Time Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Warriors: (98 Goals, 12 Goal Scorers) Luke Covell 22; Mat Rogers 21; Todd Carney 15; Brett Kimmorley 8; Michael Gordon 8; Mitch Healey 6; Jarrad Anderson 4; Scott Porter 4; Jason Ferris 3; Matt Hilder 3; John Williams 3; Ben Sammut 1.
All-Time Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Warriors: (2 Field Goals, 1 Field Goal Scorer) Todd Carney 2 (in 2012 & 2014)
