By Ryan Selvage
April 5, 2008: The Sharks and Dragons renewed their hostilities at the unfamiliar location of the Sydney Olympic Stadium.
In the NRL’s centenary season, the round four derby lived up to its hype as the match went beyond the 80 minutes and into extra time.
With the Dragons looking destined to run out victors, a late try to the Sharks’ Bryson Goodwin levelled the scores at 16, before winger Luke Covell would later slot a clutch penalty goal to steal the win.
Covell’s extra golden point strike came only minutes after he had missed a chance to convert Goodwin’s try to earn his side the two points in regular time.
“You’re thankful for the second chance. I wasn’t in real good kicking form; I was having an off year. The confidence was pretty low,” Covell said.
“I’m glad I got the opportunity to redeem myself, because the one I had to win it from the sideline never looked like going over.
“It’s always good to get a second chance because quite often you don’t get one in a game.”
This Sunday’s derby at Jubilee Oval promises to be a tight, hard fought affair and Covell said he would not be surprised if the match went beyond the eighty minutes again.
Regardless of form lines, the ex-Shark said that each team lifts for the clash in a bid to win bragging rights.
“We were always the cliché, the ‘little brother’. It was a game that definitely wasn’t hard to get up for,” he said.
“We always wanted to make sure that we cemented that the Shire was our town, and we always did out best to make sure we came out on top.”
Confident that the Sharks can again display the grit and resilience that was on show in the sides’ round 10 victory on the Gold Coast, Covell said that the Cronulla young-guns – not least Jack Bird – stand to have a massive influence on the final outcome.
“Playing against his old club for the first time, he’s probably got a point to prove because he’s a very confident young fellah,” said Covell.
“Hopefully he can again stand up and do his job, he’s played some good footy for the Sharks this year since coming into grade and hopefully he can continue that.”
See all the highlights from that memorable Sharks win, with the video highlights, courtesy of NRL Films, now playing on Sharks TV.
