By Jeff Petersen
Cronulla’s first win of the season over the Roosters last Sunday broke the drought as our young guns sparked into action. This Friday at home to the Newcastle Knights we will no doubt see the experienced players binding well with them as they look to steer us to a first home win since Round 08 last year.
With our home honours even at eleven games each, the two clubs will be playing their 45th match in total and the 23rd game here at Remondis.
Sharks v Knights games have given both sets of fans many heroic and entertaining efforts over the years.
From the first game in 1988, Cronulla were locked 10-all at Newcastle and then followed up with a 26-0 Sharks victory at Caltex Field a year later.
Since then other clashes have been as tough and as closely fought as you can make them, with a third of 22 matches ending in a four points or less margin.
In 2002 however, Sharks ran rampant at Toyota Park in an 11-try, 64-14 romp. This was our record victory at the time and has now since been surpassed by a 68-6 v Manly triumph.
Player records in these meetings have been both time-honoured and extraordinary. Brett Kimmorley’s 10 goals from 12 attempts in 2002 equalled the Club Record. He stands along with Immortal Steve Rogers and prolific point scorer Luke Covell for Most Goals in a Game. Brett’s 28-point haul in that 64-14 victory also gave him the Most Points in a Game Record, scoring 2 tries and 10 goals.
Sharks Legend Mat Rogers also was one to show us his magic touch in 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 and 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 18, 2014, was our highest home attendance of the season. A crowd of 17,242 was however soured with the Sharks were on the receiving end of a disappointing 18-31 loss. That Sunday afternoon had the Sharks leading 18-6 at halftime, only to be overrun in the final 40 by a Knights attack hungrier than ours.
The Sharks line-up in that last home game against the Knights: Sharks: 1.Fullback Michael Gordon; 2.Wing Sosaia Feki, 3.Centre Jonathan Wright, 4.Centre Ricky Leutele, 5.Wing Jacob Gagan; 6.Five-Eighth Fa’amanu Brown, 7.Halfback Jeff Robson; 13.Lock Paul Gallen (Captain); 12.Second Row Wade Graham, 11.Second Row Luke Lewis, 10.Front Row Bryce Gibbs, 9.Hooker Michael Lichaa, 17.Front Row Anthony Tupou. Interchange: 8.Sam Tagataese, 14.Pat Politoni, 16.Tinirau Arona, 20.Andrew Fifita.
Knights: 1.Fullback Darius Boyd; 2.Wing James McManus, 3.Centre Dane Gagai, 4.Centre Joseph Leilua, 5.Wing Akuila Uate; 6.Five-Eighth Jarrod Mullen, 7.Halfback Kurt Gidley (Captain); 13.Lock Jeremy Smith, 12.Second Row Robbie Rochow, 11.Second Row Beau Scott, 10.Front Row Willie Mason, 9.Hooker Adam Clydesdale, 8.Front Row Kade Snowden. Interchange: 14.Tyrone Roberts, 15.Chris Houston, 18.Korbin Sims, 19.David Fa’alogo.
Date: Sunday, 13th July, 2014. Referees: Ashley Klein & Adam Gee. Attendance: 17,242.
Sharks Coach: James Shepherd. Knights Coach: Wayne Bennett.
SHARKS FACT: Twice before have Newcastle games at Remondis been the Biggest Home Attendances of the Season. First in 2001, a crowd of 19,137 in Round 22 and again last year when 17,242 attended in Round 18.
Go Sharks!
SHARKS / Knights – BY THE NUMBERS
OUR RECORD @ HOME (1988-2015)
All-Time Record: Played 44 Won 16 Drawn 1 Lost 27 Points For 778 Points Against 861
Total Record at Remondis: Played 22 Won 11 Drawn 0 Lost 11 Points For 463 Points Against 336
Sharks Form in Last 5 Home Games v Knights: Loss 18-31 (Rd 18 2014) Loss 14-18 (Rd 22 2013) Loss 6-18 (Rd 02 2012) Loss 0-18 (Rd 20 2011) Won 26-6 (Rd 07 2010)
Sharks Form in Last 5 Games v Knights: Loss 18-31 (Rd 18 2014 at Remondis Stadium) 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)
Sharks First-Ever Game v Knights: Rd 12 June 05, 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 v 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 v 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 v Knights at Remondis: Rd 18 July 13, 2014 (Loss 18-31) Sharks Scorers: Jeff Robson, Michael Gordon, Sosaia Feki tries; Michael Gordon 3 goals Att: 17,242
Sharks Biggest Win v 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 v 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 v Knights: 19,137 Rd 22 August 5, 2001
Sharks Home Attendance Average v Knights: 11,619
Sharks Home Points Average Per Game v Knights: 21.0pts
Most Points Scored by the Sharks v Knights at Remondis: (64pts) 64-14 Rd 22 August 11, 2002
Most Aggregate Points Scored in a Game v Knights at Remondis: (79pts) 49-30 Rd 22 August 5, 2001
Most Sharks Points Conceded v Knights at Remondis: (32pts) 24-32 Rd 06 April 20, 2003
Most Total Points Scored by a Sharks Player v Knights at Remondis: (54pts) by Mat Rogers, (3 tries 21 goals)
Most Sharks Points Scored in a Game v Knights at Remondis: (28pts) by Brett Kimmorley, (2 tries 10 goals), Rd 22 August 11, 2002
Most Tries Scored in a Game v 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 v Knights at Remondis: (10 goals) by Brett Kimmorley, Rd 22 August 11, 2002
Most Sharks Team Tries Scored in a Game v Knights at Remondis: (11 tries) Rd 22 August 11, 2002 (Won 64-14)
Total Try Scorers for the Sharks v Knights at Remondis: (78 Tries, 50 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; Sosaia Feki 1; Michael Gordon 1; Jeff Robson 1.
Total Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Knights at Remondis: (75 Goals, 12 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; Michael Gordon 3; Alan Wilson 2.
Total Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Knights at Remondis: (1 Field Goal, 1 Field Goal Scorer) Adam Dykes (1 in 2001).
All-Time Total Try Scorers for the Sharks v Knights: (134 Tries, 70 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; Sosaia Feki 1; Michael Gordon 1; Jeff Robson 1.
All-Time Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Knights: (120 Goals, 16 Goal Scorers) Mat Rogers 31; Brett Kimmorley 19; Luke Covell 18; Mitch Healey 10; Greg Carberry 5; Matt Hilder 5; Michael Gordon 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.
All-Time Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Knights: (2 Field Goals, 2 Field Goal Scorers) Adam Dykes (1 in 2001); Jeff Robson (1 in 2013).
