With last week’s tense opener to 2015 we set our sights on taming the Broncos after waiting 43 home games for them to again visit the Shire.
Friday night’s meeting will be the 50th game between the two clubs since 1988 and the 21st at home. Our inaugural game with Brisbane, Round 08 1988 was a 38-8 win over the Lewis and Langer legends at the time. Good times I’m sure many diehard Sharks fans can recall.
When we think of the Broncos these days our minds immediately return to our comeback miracle up at Suncorp last year in Round 16. Down 22-0 after 43 minutes, Skipper Gallen and the boys pulled back the deficit after a Todd Carney crosskick found Jacob Gagan for our first try of the evening. Five minutes later, Gal scored to add some respectability to the score line. Carney grabbed himself a four-pointer to keep the momentum going less than 10 minutes later. Michael Gordon on fire with the boot converting all three, for the Broncos to be leading by just four points. Then16 minutes from time Sosaia Feki took advantage of a rare mistake from winger Dale Copley to score and tie the game at 22-apiece. Flash slotted the conversion as cool as you like to record a most remarkable 24-22 win. The match became the finest fight back in the Club’s history, leaving a Brisbane side completely dumbfounded. More remarkably, this Sharks record was bettered the very next game against a shell-shocked Roosters outfit. The Sharks down 0-18 after only 17 minutes and after 33 minutes 0-24, on the brink of an annihilation, came out 30-28 winners.
With a positive home record of 11 to 9 the Sharks are ready to take on a fired-up Brisbane after their first-up loss to the Bunnies.
Surviving from our last home encounter in 2011 are Gallen, Tupou, Graham and Bukuya, while new signing Gerard Beale was actually at centre for Brisbane.
Once again, Cronulla legend Andrew Ettingshausen, who dominates the scoring records in many of our encounters against visiting teams, holds the try scoring records for home and total games against Brisbane, with 5 and 10 tries, respectively. Former winger and supreme goal kicker, Mat Rogers, tops the kicking records against the Broncos with 37 career goals – 22 of those on target in home matches.
The strong player connection between the two clubs over the years has seen many crossing the border - Craig Teevan, Leon Bott, Darren Mapp, Fraser Anderson, Brett Seymour, Stewart Mills to name a few, plus current squad members Ben Barba, Michael Ennis and Gerard Beale having represented the Brisbane club.
Last time Brisbane visited they came away with the two points in a 34-16 win which incidentally, also took place on a Friday night. The Sharks and Broncos line-ups in Round 13 2011 in front of a healthy crowd of 14,436 were:
Sharks: 19. Fullback Nathan Gardner; 2.Wing Matthew Wright, 3.Centre Ben Pomeroy, 4.Centre Colin Best, 22.Wing Nathan Stapleton; 6.Five-Eighth Wade Graham, 21.Halfback Chad Townsend; 13.Lock Paul Gallen (Captain), 12.Second Row Anthony Tupou, 11.Second Row Jayson Bukuya, 20.Front Row Luke Douglas, 9.Hooker John Morris, 8.Front Row Kade Snowden. Interchange: 10.Taulima Tautai, 15.Jon Mannah, 16.Stuart Flanagan, 23.Dean Collis.
Broncos: 1.Fullback Josh Hoffman; 2.Wing Dale Copley, 3.Centre Jack Reed, 4.Centre Gerard Beale, 5.Wing Jharal Yow Yeh; 6.Five-Eighth Darren Lockyer, 7.Halfback Peter Wallace; 13.Lock Corey Parker (Captain), 12.Second Row Sam Thaiday, 11.Second Row Alex Glenn, 10.Front Row Scott Anderson, 9.Hooker Andrew McCullough, 8.Front Row Ben Hannant. Interchange: 14.Kurt Baptiste, 15.Dane Carlaw, 16.Mitchell Dodds, 17.David Hala.
Coaches: Shane Flanagan & Anthony Griffin. Referees: Matt Cecchin & Tony De Las Heras.
SHARKS FACT: Seven of the 20 Sharks previous home games vs Brisbane have been settled by 4pts or less.
Go Sharks!
SHARKS / Broncos – BY THE NUMBERS
OUR RECORD @ HOME (1988-2015)
All-Time Record: Played 49 Won 19 Drawn 0 Lost 30 Points For 842 Points Against 1,067
Total Record at Remondis: Played 20 Won 11 Drawn 0 Lost 9 Points For 401 Points Against 292
Sharks Form in Last 5 Home Games vs Broncos: Loss 16-34 (Rd 13 2011) Loss 4-20 (Rd 12 2010) Won 46-12 (Rd 15 2009) Won 13-6 (Rd 10 2008) Won 16-8 (Rd 09 2007)
Sharks Form in Last 5 Games vs Broncos: Won 24-22 (Rd 16 2014 at Suncorp Stadium) Won 19-18 (Rd 18 2013 at Suncorp Stadium) Won 26-12 (Rd 17 2012 at Suncorp Stadium) Loss 16-46 (Rd 21 2011 at Suncorp Stadium) Loss 16-34 (Rd 13 2011 at Toyota Stadium)
Sharks First-Ever Home Game vs Broncos: Rd 08 April 23, 1988 at Caltex Field (Won 38-8) Sharks Scorers: Jonathan Docking 2, Andrew Ettingshausen 2, Glenn Coleman, Greg Davies tries; Alan Wilson 4 goals, Sean Watson 3 goals Att: 10,115
Sharks Last Game vs Broncos at Remondis: Rd 13 June 03, 2011 as Toyota Stadium (Loss 16-34) Sharks Scorers: Colin Best, Jayson Bukuya, Jon Mannah tries; Chad Townsend 2 goals Att: 14,436
Sharks Last Win vs Broncos at Remondis: Rd 15 June 22, 2009 (Won 46-12) Sharks Scorers: Blake Ferguson 3, Grant Millington 2, Mitch Brown, Luke Covell, Kade Snowden tries; Luke Covell 7 goals Att: 8,117. This result is also the Biggest Win vs the Broncos at home by a 34-point margin.
Sharks Heaviest Defeat vs Broncos at Remondis: 16-34 Rd 13 June 03, 2011 as Toyota Stadium (18pts margin)
Sharks Best Home Attendance vs Broncos: 19,078 Rd 16 1996
Sharks Home Attendance Average vs Broncos: 12,985
Sharks Home Points Average Per Game vs Broncos: 20 points
Most Points Scored by the Sharks vs Broncos at Remondis: (46pts) Won 46-12 Rd 15 June 22, 2009
Most Aggregate Points Scored in a Game vs Broncos at Remondis: (62pts) Won 42-20 Qualifying Final, September 05, 1999
Most Sharks Points Conceded vs Broncos at Remondis: (34pts) 16-34 Rd 13 June 03, 2011
Most Total Points Scored by a Sharks Player vs Broncos at Remondis: (56pts) by Matt Rogers, (3 tries 22 goals)
Most Sharks Points Scored in a Game vs Broncos at Remondis: (22pts) by Mat Rogers, (2 tries 7 goals), Qualifying Final, September 05, 1999
Most Tries Scored in a Game vs Broncos at Remondis: (3 tries) by Paul Mellor Qualifying Final, September 07, 2001 and (3 tries) by Blake Ferguson, Rd 15 June 22, 2009
Most Goals Scored in a Game vs Broncos at Remondis: (7 goals) by Mat Rogers, Qualifying Final, September 05, 1999; (7 goals) by Luke Covell, Rd 15 June 22, 2009; and collectively 7 goals by Alan Wilson 4 goals & Sean Watson 3 goals in Rd 08 April 23 1988
Most Sharks Team Tries Scored in a Game vs Broncos at Remondis: (8 tries) Rd 15 June 22, 2009 (Won 46-12) Blake Ferguson 3, Grant Millington 2, Mitch Brown, Luke Covell, Kade Snowden tries; Luke Covell 7 goals
Total Try Scorers for the Sharks vs Broncos at Remondis: (67 Tries, 42 Try Scorers) Andrew Ettingshausen 5; Adam Dykes 4; Brett Howland 4; Paul Mellor 4; David Peachey 3; Mat Rogers 3; Blake Ferguson 3; Jonathan Docking 2; Lindsay Bowne 2; Geoff Bell 2; Phil Bailey 2; Jason Kent 2; Grant Millington 2; Glenn Coleman 1; Greg Davies 1; Paul Evans 1; Kurt Wrigley 1; Tawera Nikau 1; Dean Treister 1; Nick Zisti 1; Nathan Long 1; Blaine Stanley 1; Preston Campbell 1; Jason Ferris 1; Chris McKenna 1; Andrew Pierce 1; Dean Bosnich 1; Danny Nutley 1; Brett Kimmorley 1; David Simmons 1; Darren Albert 1; Fraser Anderson 1; Greg Bird 1; Brett Kearney 1; Misi Taulapapa 1; Mitch Brown 1; Luke Covell 1; Kade Snowden 1; Taulima Tautai 1; Colin Best 1; Jayson Bukuya 1; Jon Mannah 1.
Total Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Broncos at Remondis: (66 Goals, 11 Goal Scorers) Mat Rogers 22; Luke Covell 17; Mitch Healey 8; Alan Wilson 4; Preston Campbell 4; Sean Watson 3; Robbie Kearns 2; Jarrad Anderson 2; Chad Townsend 2; Greg Bird 1; Matt Hilder 1.
Total Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Broncos at Remondis: (1 Field Goal) Brett Kimmorley (1 in 2008).
All-Time Total Try Scorers for the Sharks vs Broncos: (145 Tries, 77 Try Scorers) Andrew Ettingshausen 10; David Peachey 7; Adam Dykes 6; Mat Rogers 5; Brett Howland 5; Paul Mellor 5; Colin Best 4; Grant Millington 4; Alan Wilson 3; Mitch Healey 3; Richie Barnett 3; David Simmons 3; Brett Kearney 3; Blake Ferguson 3; Jonathan Docking 2; Lindsay Bowne 2; Paul Donaghy 2; Geoff Bell 2; Russell Richardson 2; Preston Campbell 2; Jason Ferris 2; Phil Bailey 2; Jason Kent 2; Sam Isemonger 2; Greg Bird 2; Isaac De Gois 2; Luke Covell 2; Jayson Bukuya 2; Paul Gallen 2; Sosaia Feki 2; Glenn Coleman 1; Greg Davies 1; Barry Russell 1; John Davidson 1; David Hatch 1; Gavin Miller 1; Michael Speechley 1; Paul Evans 1; Kurt Wrigley 1; Les Davidson 1; Darren Higgins 1; Ben Sammut 1; Paul Green 1; Brian Laumatia 1; Tawera Nikau 1; Dean Treister 1; Nick Zisti 1; Nathan Long 1; Blaine Stanley 1; Shannon Donato 1; Matthew Daylight 1; Chris McKenna 1; Andrew Pierce 1; Matthew Johns 1; Luke MacDougall 1; Dean Bosnich 1; Ryan McGoldrick 1; Nathan Merritt 1; Danny Nutley 1; Brett Kimmorley 1; Darren Albert 1; Fraser Anderson 1; Misi Taulapapa 1; Mitch Brown 1; Kade Snowden 1; Isaac Gordon 1; Tim Smith 1; Siosaia Vave 1; Taulima Tautai 1; Jon Mannah 1; Jeremy Smith 1; Chad Townsend 1; Matthew Wright 1; Wade Graham 1; Ben Pomeroy 1; Nathan Stapleton 1; Michael Gordon 1;Jacob Gagan 1;Todd Carney 1.
All-Time Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Broncos: (130 Goals, 20 Goal Scorers) Mat Rogers 37; Luke Covell 23; Mitch Healey 17; Alan Wilson 12; Brett Kimmorley 5; Chad Townsend 5; Preston Campbell 4; Nathan Stapleton 4; Michael Gordon 4; Sean Watson 3; Todd Carney 3; Robbie Kearns 2; Jason Ferris 2; Jarrad Anderson 2; Brett Seymour 2; Craig Teevan 1; Lindsay Bowne 1; Eion Crossan 1; Greg Bird 1; Matt Hilder 1.
All-Time Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks vs Broncos: (2 Field Goals, 2 Field Goal Scorers) Brett Kimmorley (1 in 2008); Todd Carney (1 in 2013).
