The Sharks return to Belmore for the first time since 1997 for what will be a test of strength against the Canterbury Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon.
Last week’s one-point win over the Raiders in Canberra has the boys aiming for a third win on the trot as they look to remain in the finals race with only six rounds left in the regular season.
This will be the 87th meeting between the two teams since they first met in Round 06, 1967. On that day the Sharks lost a tough one at Sutherland Oval, by 15-29 as speedster Dennis Hewitt scored our only try while Sharks champion Terry Hughes landed five goals and Jack Danzey a field goal.
Cronulla lost the return game that year by 19 points in our first game at Belmore, but the following season the Sharks secured their first-ever victory at Canterbury’s home ground, winning by 16-12 in front of healthy crowd of 10,463. Again Sharks halfback Hughes was on song with the boot, landing three goals and two field goals.
Sunday’s clash will be our 29th visit to Belmore and despite the eight win, one draw, 19 loss record, the Sharks have won the last two clashes at the ground, albeit by one-point margins.
The previous Belmore meeting was a tough-gruelling affair highlighted by a man-of-the-match display by Sharks forward Chris McKenna, who scored in the first half to set the tone for a thrilling finish. With both teams locked and time running out Mitch Healey coolly slotted a field goal, giving the Sharks a 13-12 victory.
Last time they met at Belmore: Monday, March 10, 1997 in Round 02.
Canterbury Bulldogs 12 (Solomon Haumono try; Daryl Halligan 4 goals from 5 attempts)
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 13 (Les Davidson, Chris McKenna tries; Mat Rogers 2 goals from 2 attempts; Mitch Healey field goal)
Bulldogs: 7.Fullback Rod Silva; 20.Wing Hazem El Masri, 22.Centre John Timu, 33.Centre Matthew Ryan, 11.Wing Daryl Halligan; 42.Five-Eighth Travis Norton, 1.Halfback Craig Polla-Mounter; 10.Lock Steve Reardon, 25.Second Row Simon Gillies, 50.Second Row Solomon Haumono, 3.Front Row Darren Britt, 19.Hooker Jason Hetherington, 5.Front Row Mitch Newton. Interchange: 18.Michael Smith, 23.Robert Relf, 35.Shane Marteene, 4.Barry Berrigan.
Sharks: 21.Fullback David Peachey; 23.Wing Richie Barnett, 3.Centre Andrew Ettingshausen, 17.Centre Geoff Bell, 45.Wing Mat Rogers; 6.Five-Eighth Mitch Healey, 7.Halfback Paul Green; 13.Lock Tawera Nikau, 12.Second Row Nathan Long, 24.Second Row Sean Ryan, 26.Front Row Tiaan Strauss, 9.Hooker Dean Treister, 38.Front Row Les Davidson. Interchange: 33.Russell Richardson, 31.Chris McKenna, 32.Stuart Pierce, 18.Adam Dykes.
Crowd: 14,490.
Referee: Bill Harrigan.
Bulldogs Coach: Chris Anderson. Sharks Coach: John Lang.
The last meeting between the two clubs was at ANZ Stadium on Monday, March 17, 2014 in the Second Round of matches.
Canterbury-Bankstown 42 (Chase Stanley 2, Michael Ennis, Trent Hodkinson, Josh Morris, Frank Pritchard, Corey Thompson tries; Trent Hodkinson 7 goals from 7 attempts)
Cronulla-Sutherland 4 (Jonathan Wright try; Michael Gordon no goal from one attempt)
Bulldogs: 1.Fullback Sam Perrett; 2.Wing Mitch Brown, 3.Centre Josh Morris, 4.Centre Chase Stanley, 5.Wing Corey Thompson; 6.Five-Eighth Josh Reynolds, 7.Halfback Trent Hodkinson; 13.Lock Dale Finucane, 12.Second Row Tony Williams, 11.Second Row Frank Pritchard, 10.Front Row James Graham, 9.Hooker Michael Ennis (Captain), 8.Front Row Aiden Tolman. Interchange: 14.Josh Jackson, 15.Pat O’Hanlon, 16.Tim Browne, 17.David Klemmer.
Sharks: 1.Fullback Michael Gordon; 2.Wing Sosaia Feki, 3.Centre Blake Ayshford, 4.Centre Ricky Leutele, 5.Centre Jonathan Wright; 24.Five-Eighth Penani Manumalealii, 7.Halfback Daniel Holdsworth; 13.Lock Tinirau Arona, 16.Second Row Tupou Sopoaga, 12.Second Row Wade Graham (Captain), 15.Front Row Sam Tagataese, 9.Hooker John Morris, 10.Front Row Bryce Gibbs. Interchange: 11.Matt Prior, 20.Michael Lichaa, 22.Chris Heighington, 25.David Fifita.
Crowd: 12,057.
Referees: Matt Cecchin & Alan Shortall.
Bulldogs Coach: Des Hasler. Sharks Coach: Peter Sharp.
SHARKS FACT: Sharks Father and Son duo, Steve and Mat Rogers, have piled on the points against the Bulldogs, with Steve scoring 9 tries and 34 goals and Mat scoring 6 tries and 35 goals.
Go Sharks!
SHARKS / Bulldogs – BY THE NUMBERS
OUR AWAY RECORD (1967-2015)
Sharks All-Time Record v Bulldogs: Played 86 Won 30 Drawn 2 Lost 54 Points For 1,204 Points Against 1,635
Sharks Away Record v Bulldogs at Belmore: Played 28 Won 8 Drawn 1 Lost 19 Points For 324 Points Against 523
Sharks Away Record v Bulldogs at Sydney Cricket Ground: Played 3 Won 2 Drawn 0 Lost 1 Points For 58 Points Against 52
Sharks Away Record v Bulldogs at Sydney Football Stadium: Played 2 Won 1 Drawn 0 Lost 1 Points For 60 Points Against 36
Sharks Away Record v Bulldogs at Parramatta Stadium: Played 1 Won 0 Drawn 0 Lost 1 Points For 12 Points Against 26
Sharks Away Record v Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium: Played 9 Won 3 Drawn 0 Lost 6 Points For 156 Points Against 212
Sharks Away Record v Bulldogs at Sydney Showground, Homebush: Played 3 Won 0 Drawn 0 Lost 3 Points For 56 Points Against 88
Sharks Away Record v Bulldogs at Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford: Played 2 Won 0 Drawn 0 Lost 2 Points For 20 Points Against 48
Sharks Form in Last 5 Away Games v Bulldogs: Loss 4-42 (Rd 02 2014) Loss 6-26 (Rd 11 2012) Won 26-10 (Rd 15 2011) Loss 12-24 (Rd 04 2009) Loss 22-30 (Rd 11 2008)
Sharks Form in Last 5 Games v Bulldogs: Loss 4-42 (Rd 02 2014 at ANZ Stadium) Loss 8-24 (Rd 07 2013 at Bluetongue Stadium) Loss 6-26 (Rd 11 2012 at ANZ Stadium) Loss 12-19 (Rd 23 2011 at Toyota Stadium) Won 26-10 (Rd 25 2011 at ANZ Stadium)
Sharks First-Ever Game at Belmore v Bulldogs: Rd 17, July 15, 1967 (Loss 6-25) Sharks Scorers: Terry Hughes 3 goals Att: 7,309.
Sharks First Away Win v Bulldogs: Rd 01, March 31, 1968 (Won 16-12) Sharks Scorers: Gordon Abercrombie, Ray Westwood tries; Terry Hughes 3 goals; Terry Hughes 2 field goals Att: 10,463.
Sharks Biggest Away Victory v Bulldogs: Semi Final at SFS, September 16, 2001 (Won 52-10) Sharks Scorers: Preston Campbell 2, Jason Ferris 2, Colin Best, Nick Graham, Martin Lang, Mat Rogers, Luke Stuart tries; Mat Rogers 7 goals, Adam Dykes goal Att: 21,507. At Belmore: Rd 22, July 28, 1984 (Won 24-6) Sharks Scorers: Tony Armstrong 2, Jonathan Docking 2, Dean Carney tries; Tony Armstrong 2 goals Att: 6,192.
Sharks Heaviest Away Defeat v Bulldogs: Loss 4-42, Rd 02 March 17, 2014 (38pts margin); At Belmore: Loss 2-38, Rd 02 March 15, 1986 (36pts margin).
Sharks Best Away Attendance v Bulldogs: 31,684 Major Semi Final at SFS, August 28, 1988; At Belmore: 17,165 Rd 08 May 14, 1978.
Sharks Away Attendance Average v Bulldogs: 10,981. (At Belmore: 10,193).
Sharks Away Points Average Per Game v Bulldogs: 14.0pts. (At Belmore: 11.6pts).
Most Away Points Scored by the Sharks v Bulldogs: (52pts) Won 52-10, Semi Final, September 16, 2001; At Belmore: (26pts) Won 26-15, Rd 02 March 30, 1975.
Most Away Aggregate Points Scored v Bulldogs: (70pts) Loss 22-48 at Sydney Showground, Rd 10 May 19, 2002; At Belmore: (45pts) Loss 17-28, Rd 18 July 27, 1969.
Most Points Conceded Away v Bulldogs: (48pts) Loss 22-48, Rd 10 May 19, 2002; At Belmore: (38pts) Loss 2-38, Rd 02 March 15, 1986.
Most Away Total Points Scored by a Sharks Player v Bulldogs: (62 pts) by Steve Rogers, (8 tries, 19 goals)
Most Away Points Scored by a Sharks Player in a Game v Bulldogs: (18pts) by Mat Rogers, (1 try, 7 goals) Semi Final, September 16, 2001; At Belmore: (16pts) by Steve Rogers, (2 tries, 5 goals) Rd 10, May 31, 1981.
Most Away Tries Scored in a Game v Bulldogs: (3 tries) by David Peachey, Rd 19, June 12, 2000 (Won 26-14); At Belmore: (2 tries) by Steve Rogers, Rd 10, May 31, 1981 (Won 19-12); (2 tries) by Tony Armstrong & (2 tries) by Jonathan Docking, Rd 22, July 28, 1984 (Won 24-6); (2 tries) by Tony Paton, Rd 02, March 12, 1988 (Loss 18-22).
Most Away Goals Scored in a Game v Bulldogs: (7 goals) by Mat Rogers, Semi Final, September 16, 2001 (Won 52-10); At Belmore: (5 goals) twice by Steve Rogers, Rd 02, March 30, 1975 (Won 26-15) & Rd 10, May 31, 1981 (Won 19-12).
Most Sharks Team Tries Scored Away v Bulldogs: (9 tries) Semi Final at SFS, September 16, 2001 (Won 52-10) Sharks Scorers: Preston Campbell 2, Jason Ferris 2, Colin Best, Nick Graham, Martin Lang, Mat Rogers, Luke Stuart tries; Mat Rogers 7 goals, Adam Dykes goal Att: 21,507 & At Belmore: (5 tries) Rd 22, July 28, 1984 (Won 24-6) Sharks Scorers: Tony Armstrong 2, Jonathan Docking 2, Dean Carney tries; Tony Armstrong 2 goals Att: 6,192.
Total Try Scorers for the Sharks Away v Bulldogs at All Venues: (113 Tries, 75 Try Scorers) Steve Rogers 8; Andrew Ettingshausen 4; Jonathan Docking 4; Mat Rogers 4; David Peachey 4; Brett Kimmorley 3; Paul Gallen 3; Ben Pomeroy 3; Gordon Abercrombie 2; Paul Taylor 2; Ray Corcoran 2; Dave Chamberlin 2; Fred Dennehy 2; Rick Bourke 2; Gary Cameron 2; Tony Armstrong 2; Tony Paton 2; Mitch Healey 2; Preston Campbell 2; Jason Ferris 2; Greg Bird 2; Ray Westwood 1; Noel Gallagher 1; Brian Cox 1; Graeme Sams 1; George Taylforth 1; John Maguire 1; Greg Pierce 1; Cliff Watson 1; Chris Wellman 1; Warren Fisher 1; Ken Maddison 1; Martin Raftery 1; Steve Edmonds 1; Chris Gardner 1; Steve Kneen 1; Greg Cox 1; Mick Mullane 1; Rowland Beckett 1; Paul Khan 1; Greg Mullane 1; Dean Carney 1; Mark McGaw 1; Alan Wilson 1; Danny Lee 1; Barry Russell 1; Darren Higgins 1; Les Davidson 1; Chris McKenna 1; Tim Maddison 1; Colin Best 1; Nick Graham 1; Martin Lang 1; Luke Stuart 1; Matthew Johns 1; Luke MacDougall 1; Nathan Merritt 1; Matthew Rieck 1; Phil Bailey 1; Luke Covell 1; Matt Hilder 1; David Simmons 1; Isaac De Gois 1; Phillip Leuluai 1; Reece Williams 1; Fraser Anderson 1; Danny Nutley 1; Anthony Tupou 1; Dean Collis 1; Blake Ferguson 1; Nathan Gardner 1; Wade Graham 1; Jeremy Smith 1; Luke Lewis 1; Jonathan Wright 1.
Total Goal Scorers for the Sharks Away v Bulldogs at All Venues: (132 Goals, 24 Goal Scorers) Barry Andrews 23; Steve Rogers 19; Mat Rogers 17; Alan Wilson 9; Luke Covell 9; Brett Kimmorley 7; Terry Hughes 6; George Taylforth 5; Chad Townsend 5; Gordon Abercrombie 4; Greg Cox 3; Dean Carney 3; Eion Crossan 3; Brett Seymour 3; Dave Cotter 2; Tony Armstrong 2; Sean Watson 2; Mitch Healey 2; Scott Porter 2; Michael Gordon 2; Howard Jansen 1; John Kambas 1; Adam Dykes 1; John Williams 1.
Total Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks Away v Bulldogs at All Venues: (4 Field Goals, 2 Field Goal Scorers) Terry Hughes 2 (1968); Mitch Healey 2 (1994, 1997).
All-Time Total Try Scorers for the Sharks v Bulldogs: (191 Tries, 95 Try Scorers) Steve Rogers 9; David Peachey 9; Jonathan Docking 6; Mat Rogers 6; John Maguire 4; Ray Corcoran 4; Greg Mullane 4; Rick Bourke 4; Chris Gardner 4; Andrew Ettingshausen 4; Alan Wilson 4; Greg Pierce 3; Fred Dennehy 3; Martin Raftery 3; Gary Cameron 3; Barry Russell 3; Mitch Healey 3; Adam Dykes 3; Chris McKenna 3; Brett Kimmorley 3; Matt Hilder 3; Luke Covell 3; Paul Gallen 3; Ben Pomeroy 3; Gordon Abercrombie 2; Graeme Sams 2; Paul Taylor 2; Bob Wear 2; Dave Chamberlin 2; Mick Mullane 2; Steve Kneen 2; Rowland Beckett 2; Tony Armstrong 2; Mark McGaw 2; Tony Paton 2; Glenn Coleman 2; Jason Stevens 2; Colin Best 2; Luke Stuart 2; Preston Campbell 2; Jason Ferris 2; Matthew Johns 2; Luke MacDougall 2; Phil Bailey 2; Greg Bird 2; Nigel Vagana 2; Nathan Gardner 2; Dennis Hewitt 1; Ray Westwood 1; Noel Gallagher 1; Brian Cox 1; George Taylforth 1; Barry Andrews 1; Cliff Watson 1; Chris Wellman 1; Warren Fisher 1; Ken Maddison 1; John Glossop 1; Tony Graham 1; Steve Edmonds 1; Greg Cox 1; Paul Khan 1; Dean Carney 1; David Hatch 1; Scott Gustard 1; Phil Hurst 1; Michael Porter 1; Craig Dimond 1; Danny Lee 1; Darren Higgins 1; David Boughton 1; Andrew Hick 1; Andrew Pierce 1; Les Davidson 1; Tim Maddison 1; Nick Graham 1; Martin Lang 1; Roy Friend 1; Nathan Merritt 1; Matthew Rieck 1; Michael Sullivan 1; David Simmons 1; Isaac De Gois 1; Phillip Leuluai 1; Reece Williams 1; Fraser Anderson 1; Danny Nutley 1; Anthony Tupou 1; Dean Collis 1; Blake Ferguson 1; Wade Graham 1; Sam Tagataese 1; Jeremy Smith 1; Luke Lewis 1; Jonathan Wright 1.
All-Time Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Bulldogs: (243 Goals, 32 Goal Scorers) Mat Rogers 35; Steve Rogers 34; Barry Andrews 29; Luke Covell 18; Alan Wilson 17; Terry Hughes 16; Greg Cox 10; George Taylforth 9; Brett Kimmorley 8; Dean Carney 7; Roger Millward 6; Tony Armstrong 5; Eion Crossan 5; Chad Townsend 5; Gordon Abercrombie 4; Dave Cotter 4; Arthur Pappas 4; Sean Watson 3; Mitch Healey 3; Matt Hilder 3; Brett Seymour 3; John Kambas 2; Scott Porter 2; Nathan Stapleton 2; Michael Gordon 2; Dane Sorensen 1; Howard Jansen 1; Greg Carberry 1; Jason Ferris 1; Adam Dykes 1; Jarrad Anderson 1; John Williams 1.
All-Time Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Bulldogs: (8 Field Goals, 5 Field Goal Scorers) Terry Hughes 2 (2 in 1968); Michael Speechley 2 (1 in 1988 & 1989); Mitch Healey 2 (1 in 1994 & 1997); Alan Wilson 1 (in 1988); Jack Danzey 1 (in 1967).
