By Jeff Petersen
Cronulla’s superb two-point victory over the Knights last Sunday proved to be a great tonic for the fans but our boys face a much more resilient side in North Queensland this Saturday.
The Cowboys are running hot but can be stopped if the Sharks can show their mettle in what’s sure to be a splendid match-up.
We have a great record against the Cowboys, winning 21 of the 35 games. The Sharks 60% win percentage bodes well for another success, with our away record impressive with 10 wins from 18 outings against the North Queenslanders in matches played in Townsville.
The Sharks first sortie to 1300SMILES ended in a closely fought 6-point loss back in 1996.
The next six visits to Townsville gave the Sharks a string of consecutive victories. Current meetings against the Cowboys have favoured the Northerners, with most games delivering the best attacking football seen for decades.
Sharks legend Andrew Ettingshausen carved his name on the try-scoring honours list once more with 5 in Townsville and 8 in total against the Cowboys in all matches. ET shares these scoring records with Paul Mellor (5) and David Peachey (8), respectively. Incidentally, Andrew’s five tries against the Cowboys came in the first four Cronulla visits to Townsville.
The 1300SMILES Stadium was previously known as Stockland Stadium (1995-1997); Malanda Stadium (1998) and then Dairy Farmers Stadium from 1999 to 2012.
Our last game and last meeting in Townsville resulted in Sharks five-eighth Daniel Holdsworth dropping a field goal from 45 metres to take the game to golden point.
Monday, September 01, 2014. Round 25. 7:00pm.
North Queensland 20 (Jason Taumalolo 2, Johnathan Thurston tries; Johnathan Thurston 3 goals from 3 attempts; Johnathan Thurston 2 field goals) Cronulla-Sutherland 19 (Sosaia Feki 2, Pat Politoni tries; Michael Gordon 3 goals from 3 attempts; Daniel Holdsworth field goal)
Cowboys: 1.Fullback Michael Morgan; 2.Wing Kyle Feldt, 3.Centre Tautau Moga, 4.Centre Kane Linnett, 5.Wing Antonio Winterstein; 6.Five-Eighth Robert Lui, 7.Halfback Johnathan Thurston (Captain); 13.Lock Jason Taumalolo, 12.Second Row Tariq Sims, 11.Second Row Gavin Cooper, 10.Front Row Ashton Sims, 9.Hooker Rory Kostjasyn, 8.Front Row Matthew Scott (Captain). Interchange: 14.Ray Thompson, 15.Scott Bolton, 16.Glenn Hall, 17.James Tamou.
Sharks: 1.Fullback Michael Gordon; 2.Wing Sosaia Feki, 3.Centre Blake Ayshford, 4.Centre Ricky Leutele, 5.Wing Valentine Holmes; 6.Five-Eighth Daniel Holdsworth, 7.Halfback Jeff Robson (Captain); 13.Lock Chris Heighington, 12.Second Row Tupou Sopoaga, 15.Second Row Vitale Junior Roqica, 10.Front Row Matt Prior, 14.Hooker Pat Politoni, 8.Front Row Tim Robinson. Interchange: 16.Sione Masima, 17.Scott Sorensen, 18.Patrice Siolo, 21.Penani Manumalealii.
Half-time: 12 all. Scrums: 5 all. Penalties: Sharks 8-7. Crowd: 11,712. Cowboys Coach: Paul Green. Sharks Coach: James Shepherd. Referees: Ashley Klein & Chris Sutton.
SHARKS FACT: Former Sharks speedster Preston Campbell scored three superb tries in a 36-6 thumping over the Cowboys in Round 18, 2001, to record the Most Tries Scored in a Match for the Sharks in Townsville.
Go Sharks!
SHARKS / Cowboys – BY THE NUMBERS
OUR AWAY RECORD (1995-2015)
Sharks All-Time Record v Cowboys: Played 35 Won 21 Drawn 0 Lost 14 Points For 819 Points Against 710
Sharks Away Record v Cowboys in Townsville: Played 18 Won 10 Drawn 0 Lost 8 Points For 393 Points Against 365
Sharks Record v Cowboys at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide: Played 1 Won 0 Drawn 0 Lost 1 Points For 10 Points Against 34 Rd 09 April 19, 2009
Sharks Record v Cowboys at Allianz Stadium: Played 1 Won 1 Drawn 0 Lost 0 Points For 20 Points Against 18 Elimination Final, September 14, 2013
Sharks Form in Last 5 Away Games v Cowboys: Loss 19-20 (Rd 25 at 1300SMILES Stadium, 2014; Golden Pt) Won 20-18 (Elimination Final at Allianz Stadium, 2013) Loss 4-24 (Rd 16 2013) Won 20-14 (Rd 04 2012) Loss 20-28 (Rd 25 2011)
Sharks Form in Last 5 Games v Cowboys: Loss 19-20 (Rd 25 at 1300SMILES Stadium, 2014 Golden Pt) Loss 18-36 (Rd 19 2014 at Remondis Stadium) Won 20-18 (Elimination Final 2013 at Allianz Stadium) Loss 18-31 (Rd 25 2013 at Remondis Stadium) Loss 4-24 (Rd 16 2013 at 1300SMILES Stadium)
Sharks First-Ever Game v Cowboys: Rd 12 at Caltex Field, June 10, 1995 (Won 34-10) Sharks Scorers: Paul Green 2, Geoff Bell, Andrew Ettingshausen, Andrew Neave, Tawera Nikau tries; Mat Rogers 5 goals Att: 5,128
Sharks First Away Game vs Cowboys: Rd 12 at Stockland Stadium, June 22, 1996 (Loss 10-16) Sharks Scorers: Paul Donaghy, Andrew Ettingshausen tries; Mat Rogers goal Att: 22,014
Sharks First Away Win v Cowboys: Rd 12 at Stockland Stadium, May 31, 1997 (Won 24-10) Sharks Scorers: Andrew Ettingshausen 2, Geoff Bell, David Peachey tries; Mat Rogers 4 goals Att: 16,095
Sharks Biggest Away Win v Cowboys: 46-16 Rd 15, June 22, 2002 (30pts margin) Sharks Scorers: Paul Mellor 2, Phil Bailey, Paul Franze, Patrick Gibson, Matthew Johns, Ryan McGoldrick, Danny Nutley tries; Brett Kimmorley 7 goals Att: 13,568; and 36-6 Rd 18, July 07, 2001 (30pts margin) Sharks Scorers: Preston Campbell 3, Paul Mellor 2, Jason Ferris, Sean Ryan tries; Jason Ferris 3 goals, Preston Campbell goal Att: 13,494
Sharks Heaviest Away Defeat v Cowboys: 14-56 Rd 13, June 4, 2005 (32pts margin)
Sharks Best Away Attendance v Cowboys: 32,747 at SFS, Qualifying Final, September 14, 2013; at Townsville – 22,014, Rd 12 June 22, 1996
Sharks Away Attendance Average v Cowboys: 15,999 at Townsville; 16,463 at All Away Venues
Sharks Points Average Per Away Game v Cowboys: 21.8pts in Townsville
Most Away Points Scored by the Sharks v Cowboys: (46pts) Won 46-16 Rd 15, June 22, 2002
Most Aggregate Points Scored in an Away Game v Cowboys: (70pts) Loss 14-56 Rd 13, June 04, 2005
Most Points Conceded Away v Cowboys: (56pts) Loss 14-56 Rd 13, June 04, 2005
Most Total Away Points Scored by a Sharks Player v Cowboys: (30pts) by Luke Covell, (15 goals)
Most Points Scored by a Sharks Player in an Away Game v Cowboys: (14pts) by Mat Rogers, (1 try 5 goals), Rd 05 March 04, 2000; (14pts) by Preston Campbell, (3 tries, 1 goal), Rd 18 July 07, 2001 and (14pts) by Brett Kimmorley, (7 goals), Rd 15 June 22, 2002
Most Tries Scored in an Away Game v Cowboys: (3 tries) by Preston Campbell, Rd 18 at Dairy Farmers Stadium, July 07, 2001
Most Goals Scored in an Away Game v Cowboys: (7 goals) by Brett Kimmorley, Rd 15 at Dairy Farmers Stadium, June 22, 2002
Most Sharks Team Tries Scored in an Away Game v Cowboys: (8 tries) Rd 15 at Dairy Farmers Stadium, June 22, 2002 (Won 46-16) Sharks Scorers: Paul Mellor 2, Phil Bailey, Paul Franze, Patrick Gibson, Matthew Johns, Ryan McGoldrick, Danny Nutley tries; Brett Kimmorley 7 goals Att: 13,568
Total Try Scorers for the Sharks at 1300 SMILES: (69 Tries, 40 Try Scorers) Andrew Ettingshausen 5; Paul Mellor 5; Preston Campbell 3; Phil Bailey 3; Greg Bird 3; Matthew Rieck 3; Paul Gallen 3; Ben Pomeroy 3; David Peachey 2; Russell Richardson 2; Sean Ryan 2; Danny Nutley 2; Matt Hilder 2; Nigel Vagana 2; Paul Aiton 2; Isaac Gordon 2; Sosaia Feki 2; Paul Donaghy 1; Geoff Bell 1; Mat Rogers 1; Jason Ferris 1; Paul Franze 1; Patrick Gibson 1; Matthew Johns 1; Ryan McGoldrick 1; David Simmons 1; Michael Sullivan 1; Darren Albert 1; Brett Kimmorley 1; Hutch Maiava 1; Isaac De Gois 1; Fraser Anderson 1; Luke Douglas 1; Brett Kearney 1; Matthew Wright 1; Nathan Gardner 1; Wade Graham 1; Andrew Fifita 1; Luke Lewis 1; Pat Politoni 1.
Total Goal Scorers for the Sharks at 1300 SMILES: (57 Goals, 14 Goal Scorers) Luke Covell 14; Mat Rogers 10; Brett Kimmorley 7; Jarrad Anderson 5; John Williams 4; Todd Carney 4; Jason Ferris 3; Michael Gordon 3; Blaine Stanley 2; Mitch Healey 1; Preston Campbell 1; Greg Bird 1; Matt Hilder 1; Nathan Gardner 1.
Total Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks at 1300 SMILES: (3 Field Goals, 3 Field Goal Scorers) Trent Barrett (1 in 2010); John Morris (1 in 2010); Daniel Holdsworth (1 in 2014).
Total Scorers for the Sharks v Cowboys at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide (2009): Anthony Tupou, Matthew Wright tries; Luke Covell goal
Total Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Cowboys at SFS (2013): Beau Ryan, Ben Pomeroy, Sam Tagataese, Sosaia Feki tries; Michael Gordon 2 goals
All-Time Total Try Scorers for the Sharks v Cowboys: (146 Tries, 66 Try Scorers) Andrew Ettingshausen 8; David Peachey 8; Paul Mellor 7; Adam Dykes 6; Paul Gallen 6; Colin Best 5; Phil Bailey 5; Russell Richardson 4; Preston Campbell 4; David Simmons 4; Ben Pomeroy 4; Paul Green 3; Sean Ryan 3; Greg Bird 3; Matt Hilder 3; Matthew Rieck 3; Nigel Vagana 3; Sosaia Feki 3; Geoff Bell 2; Mat Rogers 2; Brett Howland 2; Blaine Stanley 2; Dean Treister 2; Danny Nutley 2; Jye Mullane 2; Luke Douglas 2; Isaac De Gois 2; Brett Kearney 2; Matthew Wright 2; Paul Aiton 2; Isaac Gordon 2; Andrew Fifita 2; Jayson Bukuya 2; Andrew Neave 1; Tawera Nikau 1; Paul Donaghy 1; Wade Forrester 1; Nick Graham 1; Ronald Prince 1; Jason Stevens 1; Jason Ferris 1; Paul Franze 1; Patrick Gibson 1; Matthew Johns 1; Ryan McGoldrick 1; Luke Covell 1; Michael Sullivan 1; Lance Thompson 1; Darren Albert 1; Brett Kimmorley 1; Hutch Maiava 1; Fraser Anderson 1; Ben Ross 1; Terence Seu Seu 1; Brett Seymour 1; Kade Snowden 1; Anthony Tupou 1; Nathan Gardner 1; Wade Graham 1; Luke Lewis 1; Jeff Robson 1; Beau Ryan 1; Sam Tagataese 1; Jonathan Wright 1; Michael Gordon 1; Pat Politoni 1.
All-Time Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Cowboys: (116 Goals, 16 Goal Scorers) Luke Covell 28; Mat Rogers 20; Blaine Stanley 12; Brett Kimmorley 12; Michael Gordon 11; Jason Ferris 7; Todd Carney 7; Jarrad Anderson 5; John Williams 4; Mitch Healey 3; Matthew Wright 2; Andrew Ettingshausen 1; Preston Campbell 1; Greg Bird 1; Matt Hilder 1; Nathan Gardner 1.
All-Time Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Cowboys: (3 Field Goals, 3 Field Goal Scorers) Trent Barrett (1 in 2010); John Morris (1 in 2010); Daniel Holdsworth (1 in 2014).
