by Jeff Petersen
Hopes are high as Cronulla seeks a hat trick of wins when we host the Rabbitohs in Monday night’s Round 7 encounter at Remondis Stadium.
The tail of the tape shows that despite the great name of South Sydney and what triumphant accomplishments they have given to our game since 1908, our Cronulla club has never been overawed.
The Sharks record in victories typifies that strength with a positive home record against Souths with 28 wins and one draw from 41 meetings at Remondis Stadium.
Cronulla’s first home encounter with South Sydney reads as a 14-29 loss at Sutherland Oval on 25th June, 1967. Sharks scorers that day in front of an impressive crowd of 10,094 were: Ron Dutton and Monty Porter tries, with Terry Hughes kicking 3 goals and a field goal.
The high volume of Sharks tries in the history of this fixture (280) have produced club Records for Most Tries in a Game by a Sharks Player - namely ET’s 5 tries v Souths in Rd 22, 1994 and Most Aggregate Points in a Sharks Game - 88 points in Cronulla’s 54-34 barnstorming victory at Aussie Stadium, in Round 25, 2003. This game also contributed to the Sharks Record Most Aggregate Total Tries in a Game, with 16 – Sharks scoring 10 tries, 7 goals.
Our home stats show 4-try hauls for Sharks great Ray Corcoran, v Souths in Round 09, 1975 and former Cronulla playmaker Martin Raftery’s 4 tries v Souths Rd 9, 1976. Individual brilliance prevails in this contest with other notable Cronulla players, Jonathan Docking (Round 17, 1990) and Sam Isemonger (Round 25, 2003) with 3 tries in a game apiece.
Ray Corcoran had a try-scoring love affair against South Sydney bagged him a career total of 13. However, the most tries by a Sharks player against the Rabbitohs is club legend Andrew Ettingshausen, with 16.
Sharks’ defensive line has also held solid in these clashes over the years, including a successive run of three games, 1994, 1995 and 1996, where the Sharks held the Rabbitohs scoreless (W42-0; W24-0; W18-0).
Last time Souths visited was also a Monday night and they secured the two points in a rather lacklustre 0-18 win. This result ended the Sharks points-a-game run against South Sydney, having scored points in all 81 previous games against them. The contest also marked the bittersweet 300th and final NRL game for former Sharks hooker and playmaker, John Morris.
The Sharks and Rabbitohs line-ups in Round 11, May 26, 2014 in front of a crowd of 8,137 were:
Sharks: 1.Fullback: Michael Gordon; 2.Wing: Sosaia Feki, 4.Centre: Ricky Leutele, 3.Centre: Blake Ayshford, 5.Wing: Jonathan Wright; 6.Five-Eighth: Daniel Holdsworth, 7.Halfback: Jeff Robson; 13.Lock: Chris Heighington, 12.Second Row: Wade Graham (Captain), 11.Second Row: Tinirau Arona, 10.Front Row: Bryce Gibbs, 9.Hooker: John Morris, 15.Front Row: Sam Tagataese. Interchange: 8.Siosaia Vave, 14.Isaac De Gois, 16.Tupou Sopoaga, 21.Vitale Junior Roqica.
Rabbitohs: 1.Fullback: Nathan Merritt; 2.Wing: Alex Johnston, 3.Centre: Dylan Walker, 4.Centre: Kirisome Auvaa, 5.Wing: Joel Reddy; 6.Five-Eighth: John Sutton (Captain), 7.Halfback: Adam Reynolds; 13.Lock: Sam Burgess, 12.Second Row: Ben Lowe, 11.Second Row: Kyle Turner, 10.Front Row: Dave Tyrrell, 9.Hooker: Apisai Koroisau, 8.Front Row: George Burgess. Interchange: 14.Cameron McInnes, 16.Jason Clark, 18.Joe Picker, 22.Thomas Burgess.
Referees: Matt Cecchin & Gavin Atkins. Sharks Coach: Peter Sharp. Rabbitohs Coach: Michael Maguire.
Go Sharks!
SHARKS / Rabbitohs – By the Numbers
OUR RECORD @ HOME (1967-2015)
All-Time Record: Played 82 Won 42 Drawn 3 Lost 37 Points For 1,554 Points Against 1,409
Total Record at Remondis: Played 41 Won 28 Drawn 1 Lost 12 Points For 876 Points Against 562
Record at Sutherland Oval (1967): Played 1 Won 0 Drawn 0 Lost 1 Points For 14 Points Against 29
Sharks Form in Last 5 Home Games v Rabbitohs: Loss 0-18 (Rd 11 2014) Won 14-12 (Rd 11 2013) Won 20-7 (Rd 24 2012) Won 26-4 (Rd 17 2011) Loss 8-30 (Rd 03 2010)
Sharks Form in Last 5 Games v Rabbitohs: Loss 0-18 (Rd 11 2014 at Remondis Stadium) Won 14-12 (Rd 11 2013 at Sharks Stadium) Loss 12-14 (Rd 02 2013 at ANZ Stadium) Won 20-7 (Rd 24 2012 at Sharks Stadium) Loss 28-34 (Rd 09 2012 at ANZ Stadium)
Sharks First Game v Rabbitohs at Remondis: Rd 16 July 14, 1968 (Lost 9-32) Sharks Scorers: Terry Hughes try and 3 goals Att: 13,853
Sharks First Win v Rabbitohs at Remondis: Rd 09 May 23, 1970 (Won 25-6) Sharks Scorers: Tommy Bishop, Dave Cooper, John Maguire, John Taper, George Taylforth tries; George Taylforth 5 goals Att: 7,021
Sharks Last Win v Rabbitohs at Remondis: Rd 11 May 27, 2013 (Won 14-12) Sharks Scorers: Jayson Bukuya, John Morris tries; Todd Carney 3 goals Att: 12,243
Sharks Biggest Win v Rabbitohs at Remondis: 42-0 Rd 22 August 27, 1994 (42pts margin) Sharks Scorers: Andrew Ettingshausen 5, Geoff Bell, Mitch Healey, Mitch Healey, Nathan Long tries; Mitch Healey 3 goals, Eion Crossan 2 goals Att: 14,012
Sharks Heaviest Defeat v Rabbitohs at Remondis: 9-32 Rd 16 July 14, 1968 (23pts margin)
Sharks Best Home Attendance v Rabbitohs: 18,829 Rd 17 July 03, 2011
Sharks Home Attendance Average v Rabbitohs: 10,698
Sharks Home Points Average Per Game v Rabbitohs: 21.3pts
Most Points Scored by the Sharks v Rabbitohs at Remondis: (42pts) 42-0 Rd 22 August 27, 1994
Most Aggregate Points Scored in a Game v Rabbitohs at Remondis: (56pts) 38-18 Rd 12 May 29, 2004
Most Sharks Points Conceded v Rabbitohs at Remondis: (32pts) 9-32 Rd 16 July 14, 1968
Most Total Points Scored by a Sharks Player v Rabbitohs at Remondis: (77pts) by Steve Rogers, (5 tries 31 goals)
Most Sharks Points Scored in a Game v Rabbitohs at Remondis: (17pts) by Steve Rogers, (1 try 7 goals), Rd 19 July 31, 1977
Most Tries Scored in a Game v Rabbitohs at Remondis: (5 tries) by Andrew Ettingshausen, Rd 22 August 27, 1994
Most Goals Scored in a Game v Rabbitohs at Remondis: (7 goals) by Steve Rogers, Rd 19 July 31, 1977
Most Collective Number of Goals in a Game v Rabbitohs at Remondis: (7 goals); Steve Rogers (4 goals) & Barry Andrews (3 goals), Rd 09 May 18, 1975
Most Sharks Team Tries Scored in a Game v Rabbitohs at Remondis: (9 tries) Rd 09 May 18, 1975 (Won 41-11) Sharks Scorers: Ray Corcoran 4, Eric Archer, Steve Edmonds, Ken Maddison, Steve Rogers, Paul Taylor tries; Steve Rogers 4 goals, Barry Andrews 3 goals. Att: 11,251; & (9 tries) Rd 09 May 16, 1976 (Won 39-5) Sharks Scorers: Martin Raftery 4, Fred Dennehy, Warren Fisher, Tony Graham, Steve Kneen, Steve Rogers tries; Steve Rogers 6 goals. Att: 8,253
Total Try Scorers for the Sharks v Rabbitohs at Remondis: (163 Tries, 98 Try Scorers) Andrew Ettingshausen 11; Ray Corcoran 8; Steve Rogers 5; Martin Raftery 4; David Peachey 4; Paul Mellor 4; Warren Fisher 3; Kurt Sorensen 3; Greg Nixon 3; Alan Wilson 3; Jonathan Docking 3; Brett Howland 3; Luke Douglas 3; Luke Covell 3; Paul Taylor 2; Eric Archer 2; Paul Khan 2; Greg Pierce 2; Gavin Miller 2; Chris Gardner 2; Ken Ricketts 2; Dan Stains 2; Sean Watson 2; Les Davidson 2; Mitch Healey 2; Mat Rogers 2; Phil Bailey 2; Paul Gallen 2; Ryan McGoldrick 2; Michael Sullivan 2; David Simmons 2; Ben Pomeroy 2; Matthew Wright 2; Terry Hughes 1; Peter Howard 1; Tommy Bishop 1; Dave Cooper 1; John Maguire 1; John Taper 1; George Taylforth 1; Barry Andrews 1; Chris Wellman 1; Ron Turner 1; Steve Edmonds 1; Ken Maddison 1; Fred Dennehy 1; Tony Graham 1; Steve Kneen 1; Ossie Welsh 1; Rick Bourke 1; Gary Cameron 1; Greg Mullane 1; John Berne 1; Peter McNamara 1; Dane Sorensen 1; Dean Carney 1; George Moroko 1; Tony Armstrong 1; Grant Goodlet 1; John Davidson 1; David Hatch 1; Laurie Spina 1; Ken Ebb 1; Craig Dimond 1; Darren Higgins 1; Michael Porter 1; Chris Quinn 1; Geoff Bell 1; Nathan Long 1; Allan Bateman 1; Danny Lee 1; Martin Lang 1; Ben Sammut 1; Jason Ferris 1; Jason Stevens 1; Nick Graham 1; Matt Hilder 1; Brett Kimmorley 1; Matthew Rieck 1; Andrew Lomu 1; Nathan Merritt 1; Kevin Kingston 1; Tevita Latu 1; Beau Scott 1; Lance Thompson 1; Fraser Anderson 1; Isaac De Gois 1; Brett Seymour 1; Mitch Brown 1; Kade Snowden 1; Blake Ferguson 1; Colin Best 1; Chad Townsend 1; Andrew Fifita 1; Tyson Frizell 1; John Williams 1; Jayson Bukuya 1; John Morris 1.
Total Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Rabbitohs at Remondis: (140 Goals, 21 Goal Scorers) Steve Rogers 31; Barry Andrews 18; Luke Covell 15; Brett Kimmorley 13; Sean Watson 9; Alan Wilson 8; Mitch Healey 7; Mat Rogers 7; Todd Carney 7; George Taylforth 5; Terry Hughes 3; Dane Sorensen 3; Chad Townsend 3; Dave Cotter 2; Greg Cox 2; Eion Crossan 2; Tony Armstrong 1; Dean Carney 1; Denis Fricot 1; Greg Carberry 1; Paul Green 1.
Total Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Rabbitohs at Remondis: (2 Field Goals, 2 Field Goal Scorers) Fred Dennehy (1 in 1972); Gavin Miller (1 in 1983)
All-Time Total Try Scorers for the Sharks v Rabbitohs: (280 Tries, 139 Try Scorers) Andrew Ettinghausen 16; Ray Corcoran 13; Jonathan Docking 8; Steve Rogers 7; Warren Fisher 6; Paul Mellor 6; Luke Covell 6; Martin Raftery 5; Mitch Healey 5; David Peachey 5; Greg Pierce 4; Eric Archer 4; Kurt Sorensen 4; Chris Gardner 4; Gavin Miller 4; Alan Wilson 4; Mat Rogers 4; Brett Howland 4; Paul Gallen 4; David Simmons 4; Ben Pomeroy 4; Greg Nixon 3; Dan Stains 3; Les Davidson 3; Robbie Kearns 3; Phil Bailey 3; Sam Isemonger 3; Greg Bird 3; Luke Douglas 3; Dave Cooper 2; Tommy Bishop 2; Ken Maddison 2; Paul Taylor 2; Chris Wellman 2; Steve Edmonds 2; Dave Chamberlin 2; Paul Khan 2; Ossie Welsh 2; Rick Bourke 2; Ken Ricketts 2; David Hatch 2; Dean Carney 2; Mark McGaw 2; Sean Watson 2; Michael Porter 2; Craig Dimond 2; Matthew Rieck 2; Ryan McGoldrick 2; Michael Sullivan 2; Fraser Anderson 2; Isaac De Gois 2; Mitch Brown 2; Matthew Wright 2; Colin Best 2; Ron Dutton 1; Monty Porter 1; Gordon Abercrombie 1; Terry Hughes 1; Peter Howard 1; John Maguire 1; John Taper 1; George Taylforth 1; Bob Wear 1; Rod Urquhart 1; Barry Andrews 1; Ron Turner 1; Peter O’Brien 1; Cliff Watson 1; David Waite 1; John Purcell 1; Fred Dennehy 1; Tony Graham 1; Steve Kneen 1; Steve Hansard 1; Gary Cameron 1; Mick Mullane 1; Greg Mullane 1; Mick Mullane 1; John Berne 1; Gary Wright 1; Peter McNamara 1; Dane Sorensen 1; Ian Forrest 1; George Moroko 1; Robert Lane 1; Tony Armstrong 1; Scott Gustard 1; Jim See 1; Paul Bishop 1; Grant Goodlet 1; John Davidson 1; Laurie Spina 1; Glenn Coleman 1; Matthew Corkery 1; Ken Ebb 1; Michael Elliott 1; Darren Higgins 1; Chris Quinn 1; Adam Maher 1; Geoff Bell 1; Nathan Long 1; David Boughton 1; Paul Green 1; Sean Ryan 1; Allan Bateman 1; Danny Lee 1; Martin Lang 1; Ben Sammut 1; Jason Ferris 1; Jason Stevens 1; Nick Graham 1; Matt Hilder 1; Brett Kimmorley 1; Jarrad Anderson 1; Chris Beattie 1; Danny Nutley 1; Hassan Saleh 1; Andrew Lomu 1; Nathan Merritt 1; Kevin Kingston 1; Tevita Latu 1; Beau Scott 1; Lance Thompson 1; Brett Seymour 1; Kade Snowden 1; Blake Ferguson 1; Paul Aiton 1; Wade Graham 1; Chad Townsend 1; Todd Carney 1; Stewart Mills 1; Jeff Robson 1; Andrew Fifita 1; Tyson Frizell 1; John Williams 1; Michael Gordon 1; Beau Ryan 1; Jayson Bukuya 1; John Morris 1.
All-Time Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Rabbitohs: (260 Goals, 33 Goal Scorers) Steve Rogers 50; Barry Andrews 27; Luke Covell 21; Mat Rogers 17; Terry Hughes 15; Sean Watson 15; Brett Kimmorley 15; George Taylforth 12; Alan Wilson 11; Todd Carney 11; Mitch Healey 8; Dean Carney 7; Jarrad Anderson 7; Eion Crossan 5; Greg Pierce 4; Matthew Corkery 4; Eric Archer 3; Steve Hardy 3; Dane Sorensen 3; Chad Townsend 3; John Brown 2; Dave Cotter 2; Roger Millward 2; Greg Cox 2; Matthew Wright 2; Michael Gordon 2; Tony Armstrong 1; John Kambas 1; Denis Fricot 1; Arthur Pappas 1; Greg Carberry 1; Kurt Wrigley 1; Paul Green 1.
All-Time Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Rabbitohs: (5 Field Goals, 5 Field Goal Scorers) Terry Hughes (1 in 1967); Tommy Bishop (1 in 1970); Fred Dennehy (1 in 1972); Gavin Miller (1 in 1983); Mitch Healey (1 in 1999)
