By Jeff Petersen
Sunday afternoon’s battle at Remondis Stadium against rivals Manly will prove significant for the Sharks as they vie to secure the fourth spot and a double shot in the finals.
With Cronulla’s form peaking at the right time, this clash with the Sea Eagles will be a true test of the Sharks strength of character.
Previous encounters show that these matches are often tight in score line, with 43 of the 85 meetings won by a margin of 10 points or less. The Sharks/Sea Eagles file has a home record slightly in favour of the Maroons by 3 games, but we nudge ahead of them in points scored.
This will be our 35th meeting with both teams averaging 19 points for this Sharks home fixture. Between 1987 and 2006 the Sharks had notched up an impressive run of 10 home games against Manly without defeat. Since then recent results have been plundered with Manlys four wins out of the last five.
Some significant Club Records have also come out of these titanic tussles. Obviously the two Grand Finals appearances in ’73 and ’78 stand out, however another records is the Club’s Biggest Ever Win; 68-6 in Round 24, August 21st, 2005. This match also delivered the Biggest Winning Margin in a Game (62pts); the Most Total Team Tries in a Game for the Sharks (12 tries) and equalling the Most Goals in a Game (10 goals), scored by Luke Covell, one of our most prolific points scorers of the time.
Our last home win against Sea Eagles in Round 3, 2012, gave Cronulla a hard-fought 17-14 win. That Monday night match played on March 19 was a game that saw a lightning start for the Sharks, leading 17-0 at halftime, only for Manly to rally in the second half only to be stymied at the final whistle.
Last time the two sides met at Remondis was a Saturday 7:30pm kick-off, back in Round 15, June 21, 2014. The Sharks were left at the starting gate by a determined Sea Eagles side.
Cronulla-Sutherland 0 lost to Manly-Warringah 26 (Tom Symonds 2, Justin Horo, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai tries; Jamie Lyon 3 goals from 5 attempts)
The Sharks and Sea Eagles line-ups then in front of a crowd of 13,383 were:
Sharks: 1.Fullback Nathan Gardner; 2.Wing Sosaia Feki, 3.Centre Blake Ayshford, 19.Centre Ricky Leutele, 5.Wing Michael Gordon; 6.Five-Eighth Todd Carney, 14.Halfback Fa’amanu Brown; 13.Lock Paul Gallen (Captain), 12.Second Row Wade Graham, 16.Second Row Anthony Tupou, 10.Front Row Bryce Gibbs, 9.Hooker Michael Lichaa, 17.Front Row Sam Tagataese. Interchange: 8.Siosaia Vave, 11.Luke Lewis, 18.Tinirau Arona, 21.Tupou Sopoaga.
Sea Eagles: 1.Fullback Brett Stewart; 2.Wing Jorge Taufua, 3.Centre Jamie Lyon (Captain), 4.Centre Steve Matai, 5.Wing Peter Hiku; 6.Five-Eighth Kieran Foran, 7.Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans; 13.Lock Jamie Buhrer; 12.Second Row Justin Horo, 15.Second Row Dunamis Lui, 10.Front Row Brenton Lawrence, 9.Hooker Matt Ballin, 8.Front Row Josh Starling. Interchange: 14.Jesse Sene-Lefao, 16.Tom Symonds, 17.Jason King, 18.James Hasson.
Halftime: Sea Eagles 16-0. Scrums: Sea Eagles 11-6. Penalties: 6 all.
Referees: Gavin Morris & Gavin Reynolds.
Sharks Coach: Peter Sharp. Sea Eagles Coach: Geoff Toovey.
Our previous meeting with the Sea Eagles was in Round 17 at Brookvale Oval earlier in the 2015 season, with the Sharks leaving their scoring run too late in the 16-28 loss.
Manly-Warringah 28 (Jorge Taufua 3, Daly Cherry-Evans, Steve Matai tries; Jamie Lyon 4 goals from 5 attempts) beat Cronulla-Sutherland 16 (Andrew Fifita 2, Sosaia Feki tries; Michael Gordon 2 goals from 3 attempts)
Sea Eagles: 1.Fullback Brett Stewart; 2.Wing Jorge Taufua, 3.Centre Jamie Lyon (Captain), 4.Centre Steve Matai, 5.Wing Tom Trbojevic; 6.Five-Eighth Kieran Foran, 7.Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans; 13.Lock Dunamis Lui, 12.Second Row Tom Symonds, 11.Second Row Feleti Mateo, 17. Front Row Willie Mason, 9.Hooker Matt Ballin, 8.Front Row Jake Trbojevic. Interchange: 10.Luke Burgess, 15.Ligi Sao, 20.Jayden Hodges, 22.Josh Starling.
Sharks: 1.Fullback Michael Gordon; 2.Wing Sosaia Feki, 3.Centre Gerard Beale, 4.Centre Ricky Leutele, 5.Wing Valentine Holmes; 6.Five-Eighth Jack Bird, 7.Halfback Jeff Robson; 13.Lock Chris Heighington, 12.Second Row Wade Graham (Captain), 11.Second Row Luke Lewis, 10.Front Row Matt Prior, 18.Hooker Pat Politoni, 8.Front Row Andrew Fifita. Interchange: 14.Jayson Bukuya, 15.Ben Barba, 16.David Fifita, 17.Sam Tagataese.
Halftime: Sea Eagles 10-4. Scrums: Sea Eagles 10-2. Penalties: Sea Eagles 11-5.
Referees: Ashley Klein & Chris James. Crowd: 14,881.
Sea Eagles Coach: Geoff Toovey. Sharks Coach: Shane Flanagan.
Go Sharks!
SHARKS / Sea Eagles
OUR RECORD @ HOME (1967-2015)
All-Time Record v Sea Eagles: Played 85 Won 23 Drawn 2 Lost 60 Points For 1,279 Points Against 1,810.
Total Record v Sea Eagles at Remondis: Played 34 Won 15 Drawn 0 Lost 19 Points For 637 Points Against 656.
Our Home Record v Sea Eagles at Sutherland Oval: (Rd 19 July 30, 1967): Played 1 Won 0 Drawn 0 Lost 1 Points For 7 Points Against 27.
Sharks Form in Last 5 Home Games v Sea Eagles: Lost 0-26 (Rd 15 2014); Won 17-14 (Rd 03 2012); Lost 13-19 (Rd 05 2011); Lost 18-48 (Rd 19 2010); Lost 26-32 (Rd 19 2009).
Sharks Form in Last 5 Games v Sea Eagles: Lost 16-28 (Rd 15 2015 at Brookvale Oval); Lost 0-26 (Rd 15 2014 at Remondis Stadium); Lost 4-24 (Rd 06 2014 at Brookvale Oval); Lost 18-24 (Semi Final 2013 at Allianz Stadium); Lost 18-25 (Rd 06 2013 at Brookvale Oval).
Sharks First Game v Sea Eagles at Remondis: Rd 21 August 18, 1968 (Lost 5-32) Sharks Scorers: Terry Hughes try and one goals Att: 7,790.
Sharks First Win vs Sea Eagles at Remondis: Rd 07 May 01, 1977 (Won 11-5) Sharks Scorers: Rick Bourke try; Steve Rogers 4 goals Att: 10,555.
Sharks Last Win v Sea Eagles at Remondis: Rd 03 March 19, 2012 (Won 17-14) Sharks Scorers: Jayson Bukuya, Nathan Gardner, Ben Pomeroy tries; Todd 2 goals from 3 attempts; Todd Carney field goal Att: 8,652.
Sharks Biggest Win v Sea Eagles at Remondis: 68-6 Rd 24 August 21, 2005 (62pts margin) Sharks Scorers: Brett Kimmorley 3, Nigel Vagana 3, Beau Scott 2, Paul Gallen, Matt Hilder, Paul Mellor, Jason Stevens tries; Luke Covell 10 goals Att: 13,325.
Sharks Heaviest Defeat v Sea Eagles at Remondis: 18-48 Rd 19 July 17, 2010 (30pts margin).
Sharks Best Home Attendance v Sea Eagles: 20,168 Rd 05 April 09, 1994.
Sharks Home Attendance Average v Sea Eagles: 10,481.
Sharks Home Points Per Game Average v Sea Eagles: 18.7pts.
Most Points Scored by the Sharks v Sea Eagles at Remondis: (68pts) 68-6 Rd 24 August 21, 2005.
Most Aggregate Points Scored in a Game v Sea Eagles at Remondis: (74pts) 68-6 Rd 24 August 21, 2005.
Most Sharks Points Conceded v Sea Eagles at Remondis: (48pts) 18-48 Rd 19 July 17, 2010.
Most Total Points Scored by a Sharks Player v Sea Eagles at Remondis: (52pts) by Steve Rogers, (2 tries 23 goals).
Most Points Scored by a Sharks Player in a Game v Sea Eagles at Remondis: (20pts) by Luke Covell, (10 goals), Rd 24 August 21, 2005.
Most Tries Scored in a Game v Sea Eagles at Remondis: (3 tries) by Andrew Ettingshausen, Rd 05 April 09, 1994; (3 tries) by Brett Kimmorley & (3 tries) by Nigel Vagana, Rd 24, August 21, 2005.
Most Goals Scored in a Game v Sea Eagles at Remondis: (10 goals) by Luke Covell, Rd 24 August 21, 2005.
Most Sharks Team Tries Scored in a Game v Sea Eagles at Remondis: (12 tries) Rd 24 August 21, 2005 (Won 68-6) Sharks Scorers: Brett Kimmorley 3, Nigel Vagana 3, Beau Scott 2, Paul Gallen, Matt Hilder, Paul Mellor, Jason Stevens tries; Luke Covell 10 goals Att: 13,325.
Total Try Scorers for the Sharks v Sea Eagles at Remondis: (104 Tries, 67 Try Scorers) Brett Kimmorley 6; Andrew Ettingshausen 4; David Peachey 4; Paul Gallen 4; Mick Mullane 3; David Hatch 3; Matt Hilder 3; Nigel Vagana 3; Ben Pomeroy 3; Steve Rogers 2; Dave Chamberlin 2; Greg Mullane 2; Rick Bourke 2; Kurt Sorensen 2; Jonathan Docking 2; Michael Speechley 2; Lindsay Bowne 2; Glenn Coleman 2; Beau Scott 2; Greg Bird 2; Matthew Wright 2; Nathan Gardner 2; Terry Hughes 1; Tommy Bishop 1; Ray Corcoran 1; Greg Allen 1; Ken Maddison 1; Fred Dennehy 1; Chris Wellman 1; Eric Archer 1; Glen Stolzenheim 1; Gary Stares 1; Gary Cameron 1; Steve Hansard 1; Dane Sorensen 1; Rowland Beckett 1; George Moroko 1; John O’Connor 1; Dean Carney 1; Mark McGaw 1; Greg Nixon 1; Ron Quinn 1; Sean Watson 1; Barry Russell 1; Robbie Kearns 1; Richie Barnett 1; Andrew Pierce 1; Adam Dykes 1; Colin Best 1; Shannon Donato 1; Nick Graham 1; Brett Howland 1; Sean Ryan 1; Phil Bailey 1; Jye Mullane 1; Matthew Rieck 1; Ryan McGoldrick 1; Paul Mellor 1; Jason Stevens 1; Fraser Anderson 1; Henry Perenara 1; Reece Williams 1; Luke Covell 1; Blake Ferguson 1; Josh Cordoba 1; Stuart Flanagan 1; Jayson Bukuya 1.
Total Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Sea Eagles at Remondis: (107 Goals, 19 Goal Scorers) Steve Rogers 23; Luke Covell 17; Barry Andrews 13; Brett Kimmorley 8; Dean Carney 5; Brett Seymour 5; Gordon Abercrombie 4; Dane Sorensen 4; Tony Armstrong 4; Blaine Stanley 4; Sean Watson 3; Arthur Pappas 3; Eion Crossan 3; George Taylforth 2; Lindsay Bowne 2; Mat Rogers 2; John Williams 2; Todd Carney 2; Terry Hughes 1.
Total Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Sea Eagles at Remondis: (4 Field Goals, 4 Field Goal Scorers) Alan Wilson (1 in 1989); Brett Kimmorley (1 in 2006); Wade Graham (1 in 2011); Todd Carney (1 in 2012).
All-Time Total Try Scorers for the Sharks v Sea Eagles: (218 Tries, 109 Try Scorers) Andrew Ettingshausen 9; Greg Mullane 7; Rick Bourke 6; Mick Mullane 6; Paul Gallen 6; Brett Kimmorley 6; Steve Rogers 5; Kurt Sorensen 5; Jonathan Docking 5; Richie Barnett 5; David Peachey 5; Nigel Vagana 5; Ray Corcoran 4; Fred Dennehy 4; Dave Chamberlin 3; Steve Edmonds 3; Gary Cameron 3; David Hatch 3; Dean Carney 3; Glenn Coleman 3; Robbie Kearns 3; Matt Hilder 3; Phil Bailey 3; Greg Bird 3; Luke Covell 3; Ben Pomeroy 3; Andrew Fifita 3; Peter O’Brien 2; John Maguire 2; Bob Wear 2; Eric Archer 2; Rowland Beckett 2; Dane Sorensen 2; Mark McGaw 2; Alan Wilson 2; Michael Speechley 2; Les Davidson 2; Lindsay Bowne 2; Mitch Healey 2; Adam Dykes 2; David Simmons 2; Beau Scott 2; Matthew Wright 2; Grant Millington 2; Nathan Gardner 2; Nathan Stapleton 2; Dennis Hewett 1; Warren Ryan 1; Ray Westwood 1; Terry Hughes 1; Tommy Bishop 1; John Taper 1; Greg Allen 1; Ken Maddison 1; Chris Wellman 1; Barry Andrews 1; Eric Archer 1; Glen Stolzenhein 1; Martin Raftery 1; Gary Stares 1; Chris Gardner 1; Steve Hansard 1; John Berne 1; Ian Forrest 1; Jim See 1; George Moroko 1; John O’Connor 1; Craig Dimond 1; Phil Dotti 1; Michael Porter 1; Greg Nixon 1; Ron Quinn 1; Sean Watson 1; Barry Russell 1; Darren Higgins 1; Gary Lester 1; Andrew Pierce 1; Mat Rogers 1; Paul Green 1; Tim Maddison 1; Colin Best 1; Shannon Donato 1; Nick Graham 1; Brett Howland 1; Sean Ryan 1; Jye Mullane 1; Matthew Rieck 1; Andrew Emelio 1; Michael Sullivan 1; Ryan McGoldrick 1; Russell Aitken 1; Paul Mellor 1; Jason Stevens 1; Darren Albert 1; Fraser Anderson 1; Henry Perenara 1; Reece Williams 1; Bryson Goodwin 1; Brett Kearney 1; Blake Ferguson 1; Tim Smith 1; Josh Cordoba 1; Stuart Flanagan 1; Jayson Bukuya 1; Stewart Mills 1; Michael Gordon 1; Jonathan Wright 1; Wade Graham 1; Sosaia Feki 1.
All-Time Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Sea Eagles: (236 Goals, 30 Goal Scorers) Steve Rogers 53; Luke Covell 33; Barry Andrews 20; Brett Kimmorley 11; Dane Sorensen 10; Dean Carney 10; Terry Hughes 9; Mitch Healey 8; Tony Armstrong 7; Sean Watson 7; Michael Gordon 7; George Taylforth 6; Dave Cotter 5; Greg Carberry 5; Brett Seymour 5; Gordon Abercrombie 4; Eion Crossan 4; Mat Rogers 4; Blaine Stanley 4; Eric Archer 3; Alan Wilson 3; Arthur Pappas 3; Jarrad Anderson 3; Matthew Corkery 2; Lindsay Bowne 2; Nathan Stapleton 2; John Williams 2; Todd Carney 2; Kurt Wrigley 1; Chad Townsend 1.
All-Time Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Sea Eagles: (6 Field Goals, 6 Field Goal Scorers) Terry Hughes (1 in 1969); Alan Wilson (1 in 1989); Mitch Healey (1 in 1995); Brett Kimmorley (1 in 2006); Wade Graham (1 in 2011); Todd Carney (1 in 2012).
