By Jeff Petersen
After a run of three straight wins the Sharks face the Panthers at the newly named Pepper Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Penrith have been decimated by injuries in recent weeks but will no doubt be difficult to overcome as they search hard for two points after successive losses.
Luke Lewis, Michael Gordon and Wade Graham make their returns to Penrith; the club where they started their NRL careers. It will be Luke’s first game back to Penrith Park, having played the previous game against them at Bathurst last season.
Cronulla won both home and away fixtures in 2014 in two closely fought contests. Sunday’s game leads us into an unbeaten run at Penrith stretching back to 2011.
This will be our 85th meeting between the two clubs and our 39th visit to Penrith Park, the Sharks coming away with 16 wins overall. Our last visit at this ground was in 2012 in Round 05, in which Wade Graham scored a try in the tight 15-14 Sharks victory.
Past clashes between the two 1967 formed clubs have been nail biters at times, with 31 of the 84 games played decided by four points or less, plus three drawn games in 1979, 1984 and the last in 1998.
Our last meeting with the Panthers was a notable Round 20 victory at Carrington Oval, Bathurst on July 26th, 2014. The Sharks and Panthers scores and line-ups that Saturday in front of an impressive crowd of 8,824 were:
Cronulla-Sutherland 18 (Jacob Gagan 2, Michael Gordon, Sam Tagataese tries; Michael Gordon 1 goal from 4 attempts)
Penrith 16 (Kevin Naiqama, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Whare tries; Jamie Soward 2 goals from 3 attempts)
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; 15.Lock Chris Heighington, 12.Second Row Wade Graham (Captain), 11.Second Row Luke Lewis, 10.Front Row Sam Tagataese, 9.Hooker Michael Lichaa, 8.Front Row Andrew Fifita. Interchange: 14.Pat Politoni, 16.Tinirau Arona, 17.Tim Robinson, 19.Matt Prior. Coach. James Shepherd
Panthers: 1.Fullback Matt Moylan; 2.Wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3.Centre Dean Whare, 4.Centre Jamal Idris, 5.Wing Kevin Naiqama; 6.Five-Eighth Jamie Soward (Captain), 7.Halfback Peter Wallace; 13.Lock Elijah Taylor, 12.Second Row Isaah Yeo, 11.Second Row Bryce Cartwright, 10.Front Row Brent Kite (Captain), 9.Hooker James Segeyaro, 8.Front Row Nigel Plum. Interchange: 14.Lewis Brown, 15.Jeremy Latimore, 17.Sam McKendry, 23.Sika Manu.
Halftime Score: Sharks 14-10. Scrums: Sharks 5-4. Penalties: 5 all. Referees: Adam Devcich & Henry Perenara.
SHARKS FACT: Michael Gordon has scored 26 points (4 tries and 5 goals) in his last three games against his former club.
Go Sharks!
SHARKS / Panthers – BY THE NUMBERS
OUR AWAY RECORD (1967-2015)
All-Time Record: Played 84 Won 44 Drawn 3 Lost 37 Points For 1,631 Points Against 1,419
Total Away Record v Panthers at All Venues: Played 40 Won18 Drawn 0 Lost 22 Points For 754 Points Against 811
Record v Panthers at Penrith Park: Played 38 Won 16 Drawn 0 Lost 22 Points For 701 Points Against 786
Record v Panthers at Sydney Cricket Ground: Played 1 Won 1 Drawn 0 Lost 0 Points For 35 Points Against 9 Rd 05 April 25, 1978
Record v Panthers at Carrington Oval, Bathurst: Played 1 Won 1 Drawn 0 Lost 0 Points For 18 Points Against 16 Rd 20 July 26, 2014
Sharks Form in Last 5 Away Games v Panthers: Won 18-16 (Rd 20 2014) Won 15-14 (Rd 05 2012) Won 44-12 (Rd 03 2011) Loss 12-50 (Rd 26 2010) Loss 22-26 (Rd 10 2009)
Sharks Form in Last 5 Games v Panthers: Won 18-16 (Rd 20 2014 at Carrington Oval, Bathurst) Won 24-20 (Rd 08 2014 at Remondis Stadium) Won 38-10 (Rd 20 2013 at Remondis Stadium) Loss 20-21 (Rd 21 2012 at Sharks Stadium – golden point) Won 15-14 (Rd 05 2012 at Centrebet Stadium)
Sharks First-Ever Game v Panthers: Rd 11 at Sutherland Oval, June 04, 1967 (Loss 10-13) Sharks Scorers: Terry Hughes 5 goals Att: 5,602
Sharks First Away Game v Panthers: Rd 22 at Penrith Park, August 19, 1967 (Loss 5-22) Sharks Scorers: Brian Cox try; Terry Hughes goal Att: 2,793
Sharks First Away Win v Panthers: Rd 13 at Penrith Park, June 11, 1972 (Won 12-10) Sharks Scorers: Ray Corcoran, Fred Dennehy tries; Barry Andrews 3 goals Att: 2,500
Sharks Biggest Away Win v Panthers: 43-4 Rd 16, July 9, 1978 (39pts margin) Sharks Scorers: Dave Chamberlin 2, Steve Edmonds, Steve Hansard, John McMartin, Mick Mullane, Greg Pierce, Martin Raftery, Steve Rogers tries; Steve Rogers 8 goals Att: 5,139
Sharks Last Away Win & Last Game v Panthers: 18-16 Rd 20, July 26, 2014 Sharks Scorers: Jacob Gagan 2, Michael Gordon, Sam Tagataese tries; Michael Gordon goal Att: 8,824
Sharks Heaviest Away Defeat v Panthers: 12-50 Rd 26, September 4, 2010 (38pts margin) Att: 10,997 & 6-44 Rd 26, July 30, 2000 (38pts margin) Att: 20,510
Sharks Best Attendance v Panthers: 25,004 at Sydney Cricket Ground, Rd 05 April 25, 1978; 20,510 Rd 26 at Penrith Football Stadium, July 30, 2000
Sharks Away Attendance Average v Panthers: 8,334
Sharks Points Average Per Away Game v Panthers: 18.9pts
Most Away Points Scored by the Sharks v Panthers: (44pts) Won 44-12 Rd 03, March 26, 2011
Most Aggregate Points Scored in an Away Game v Panthers: (64pts) Loss 14-50 Rd 25 at Penrith Park, August 24, 1986
Most Sharks Points Conceded v Panthers: (50pts) Loss 12-50 Rd 26 September 4, 2010 & (50pts) Loss 14-50 Rd 25, August 24, 1986
Most Total Points Scored by a Sharks Player v Panthers: (65pts) by Steve Rogers, (1 try 31 goals)
Most Points Scored by a Sharks Player in a Game v Panthers: (20pts) by Luke Covell, (2 tries 6 goals), Rd 18 (Won 40-12) at CUA Stadium, April 28, 2006
Most Tries Scored in a Game v Panthers: (3 tries) by Luke Covell, Rd 13l at CUA Stadium, June 8, 2008 (Won 24-22)
Most Goals Scored in a Game v Panthers: (8 goals) by Steve Rogers, Rd 16 at Penrith Park, July 9, 1978 & (8 goals) by John Williams, Rd 03 at Centrebet Stadium, March 26, 2011
Most Sharks Team Tries Scored in a Game v Panthers: (9 tries) Rd 05 at Penrith Park, July 9, 1978 (Won 43-4) Sharks Scorers: Dave Chamberlin 2, Steve Edmonds, Steve Hansard, John McMartin, Mick Mullane, Greg Pierce, Martin Raftery, Steve Rogers tries; Steve Rogers 8 goals Att: 5,139
Total Try Scorers for the Sharks v Panthers at All Away Venues: (133 Tries, 80 Try Scorers) Luke Covell 7; Ray Corcoran 5; Warren Fisher 5; Greg Pierce 4; Steve Edmonds 4; Mick Mullane 4; Dave Chamberlin 4; Andrew Ettingshausen 4; Russell Richardson 3; Adam Dykes 3; Paul Gallen 3; Bob Wear 2; Steve Hansard 2; Dane Sorensen 2; Chris Gardner 2; Dean Carney 2; Glenn Coleman 2; Michael Speechley 2; Lindsay Bowne 2; Brett Howland 2; David Peachey 2; Colin Best 2; Paul Mellor 2; Darren Albert 2; Anthony Tupou 2; Blake Ferguson 2; Nathan Gardner 2; Albert Kelly 2; Jacob Gagan 2; Brian Cox 1; Len Gaffey 1; Ron Turner 1; Rod Urquhart 1; Fred Dennehy 1; Ken Maddison 1; Vince Farrar 1; John Purcell 1; Roger Millward 1; Peter Ryan 1; Glen Stolzenhein 1; Rick Bourke 1; John Glossop 1; John McMartin 1; Martin Raftery 1; Steve Rogers 1; Gavin Miller 1; Ian Forrest 1; Perry Haddock 1; Kurt Sorensen 1; Gary Wright 1; David Laming 1; Jim Palmer 1; Phil Hurst 1; Michael Porter 1; Greg Davies 1; Mark McGaw 1; Barry Russell 1; Leo Tanoi 1; Mitch Healey 1; David Boughton 1; Les Davidson 1; Danny Lee 1; Kurt Wrigley 1; Paul Donaghy 1; Mat Rogers 1; Jason Stevens 1; Preston Campbell 1; Patrick Gibson 1; Nick Graham 1; David Simmons 1; Luke Douglas 1; Ben Pomeroy 1; Brett Seymour 1; Trent Barrett 1; Jon Mannah 1; Jeremy Smith 1; Jayson Bukuya 1; Wade Graham 1; Michael Gordon 1; Sam Tagataese 1.
Total Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Panthers at All Away Venues: (134 Goals, 24 Goal Scorers) Steve Rogers 31; Barry Andrews 20; Luke Covell 15; Terry Hughes 9; John Williams 8; George Taylforth 6; Alan Wilson 5; Jason Ferris 5; Greg Purcell 4; Steve Hardy 4; Mitch Healey 4; Eion Crossan 3; Mat Rogers 3; Brett Kimmorley 3; Todd Carney 3; Tony Armstrong 2; Dean Carney 2; Greg Cox 1; Robert Jackson 1; Dan Stains 1; Greg Carberry 1; Lindsay Bowne 1; Brett Seymour 1; Michael Gordon 1.
Total Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Panthers at All Away Venues: (5 Field Goals, 5 Field Goal Scorers) Gordon Abercrombie 1 (in 1968); Terry Hughes 1 (in 1969); Mitch Healey 1 (in 1995); Jason Ferris 1 (in 2001); Todd Carney 1 (in 2012).
All-Time Total Try Scorers for the Sharks v Panthers: (279 Tries, 136 Try Scorers) Andrew Ettingshausen 10; Luke Covell 8; Steve Rogers 7; Mick Mullane 7; Ray Corcoran 6; Dave Chamberlin 6; Mark McGaw 6; Greg Pierce 5; Warren Fisher 5; Steve Edmonds 5; Russell Richardson 5; David Peachey 5; Paul Mellor 5; Paul Gallen 5; Rick Bourke 4; Chris Gardner 4; Mat Rogers 4; Colin Best 4; Adam Dykes 4; Darren Albert 4; Michael Gordon 4; Ron Turner 3; Steve Hansard 3; Glenn Coleman 3; Brett Howland 3; Nick Graham 3; Preston Campbell 3; Greg Bird 3; Anthony Tupou 3; Nathan Gardner 3; Ricky Leutele 3; Tommy Bishop 2; Rod Urquhart 2; Bob Wear 2; John McMartin 2; Dane Sorensen 2; Martin Raftery 2; Kurt Sorensen 2; Greg Mullane 2; Steve Hardy 2; Dean Carney 2; Greg Nixon 2; John O’Connor 2; Michael Speechley 2; Alan Wilson 2; Barry Russell 2; Stuart Topper 2; Lindsay Bowne 2; Danny Lee 2; Richie Barnett 2; Paul Green 2; Paul Donaghy 2; Jason Stevens 2; Brett Kearney 2; Ben Pomeroy 2; Trent Barrett 2; Blake Ferguson 2; Albert Kelly 2; Jeff Robson 2; Sosaia Feki 2; Todd Carney 2; Jacob Gagan 2; Brian Cox 1; Len Gaffey 1; George Taylforth 1; Dave Cooper 1; Bob Wear 1; Fred Dennehy 1; Grahame Bowen 1; Chris Wellman 1; Ken Maddison 1; Vince Farrar 1; David Waite 1; Paul Taylor 1; John Purcell 1; Roger Millward 1; Peter Ryan 1; Glen Stolzenhein 1; Barry Andrews 1; Steve Kneen 1; John Glossop 1; Gavin Miller 1; Ossie Welsh 1; Ian Forrest 1; Perry Haddock 1; Gary Wright 1; John Jarvie 1; Steve Anderson 1; Rowland Beckett 1; David Laming 1; Jim Palmer 1; Glen Steele 1; Phil Hurst 1; Michael Porter 1; Greg Davies 1; Sean Watson 1; John Davidson 1; Dan Stains 1; Matthew Corkery 1; Chris Quinn 1; Laurie Spina 1; Leo Tanoi 1; Aaron Raper 1; Mitch Healey 1; David Boughton 1; Les Davidson 1; Kurt Wrigley 1; Darren Higgins 1; Andrew Neave 1; Craig Greenhill 1; Geoff Bell 1; Chris McKenna 1; Paul McNicholas 1; Nathan Long 1; Damien Mostyn 1; Matthew Johns 1; Karl Lovell 1; Danny Nutley 1; Patrick Gibson 1; Michael Sullivan 1; Sam Isemonger 1; Hutch Maiava 1; Nigel Vagana 1; David Simmons 1; Luke Douglas 1; Reece Williams 1; Fraser Anderson 1; Lance Thompson 1; Brett Seymour 1; Dean Collis 1; Jon Mannah 1; Jeremy Smith 1; Jayson Bukuya 1; Wade Graham 1; Tyson Frizell 1; Sam Tagataese 1.
All-Time Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Panthers: (299 Goals, 35 Goal Scorers) Steve Rogers 64; Luke Covell 33; George Taylforth 21; Barry Andrews 21; Mat Rogers 21; Terry Hughes 17; Mitch Healey 10; Todd Carney 10; Alan Wilson 9; Jason Ferris 8; John Williams 8; Dane Sorensen 6; Eion Crossan 6; Brett Kimmorley 6; Eric Archer 5; Tony Armstrong 5; Sean Watson 5; Matthew Corkery 5; Michael Gordon 5; Gordon Abercrombie 4; Greg Purcell 4; Steve Hardy 4; Dean Carney 3; Tim Smith 3; Mark Ellison 2; Lindsay Bowne 2; Preston Campbell 2; Matt Hilder 2; Chad Townsend 2; Greg Cox 1; Robert Jackson 1; Dan Stains 1; Greg Carberry 1; Paul Green 1; Brett Seymour 1.
All-Time Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Panthers: (5 Field Goals, 5 Field Goal Scorers) Gordon Abercrombie 1 (in 1968); Terry Hughes 1 (in 1969); Mitch Healey 1 (in 1995); Jason Ferris 1 (in 2001); Todd Carney 1 (in 2012).
