This Saturday the Sharks play host to the North Queensland Cowboys in what will be a match-up with Finals ramifications as we celebrate the Indigenous Round of matches.
Cronulla defied the odds last weekend as they enhanced their reputation as the comeback kings of the NRL with another superb effort against the Warriors in Auckland, turning a 10-point deficit at half time into a magnificent 18-14 win.
The same can be said for the Sharks last meeting in Townsville in Round 16. The Cowboys were up 18-0 at the break, only for the Sharks to gather momentum and stun the North Queenslanders, piling on 24 unanswered points to win 24-18.
Since 1995 the ledger has been in the Sharks favour, with 22 wins from 36 outings overall against the Cowboys. We also have a very impressive home record against the northerners, despite North Queensland coming away with the points the past four occasions, the Sharks have won 10 of our 15 matches at Remondis.
Former Sharks stars Adam Dykes, David Peachey and Colin Best each share the club record for Most Tries against the Cowboys at Remondis, with 5 apiece. Andrew Ettingshausen and David Peachey also sharing the spoils with 8 tries each for Most Tries Scored in Total against North Queensland.
Last time they met at Remondis was a Friday game on July 18, 2014 in Round 19.
Cronulla-Sutherland 18 (Michael Gordon, Luke Lewis, Jonathan Wright tries; Michael Gordon 3 goals from 3 attempts) North Queensland 36 (Johnathan Thurston 2, Glenn Hall, Michael Morgan, Tariq Sims, Antonio Winterstein tries; Johnathan Thurston 6 goals from 7 attempts)
Sharks: 1.Fullback Michael Gordon; 2.Wing Sosaia Feki, 3.Centre Jonathan Wright, 4.Centre Ricky Leutele, 5.Wing Jacob Gagan; 6.Five-Eighth Fa’amanu Brown, 7.Halfback Jeff Robson; 13.Lock Anthony Tupou, 12.Second Row Wade Graham (Captain), 11.Second Row Luke Lewis, 10.Front Row Bryce Gibbs, 9.Hooker Michael Lichaa, 8.Front Row Andrew Fifita. Interchange: 14.Pat Politoni, 15.Siosaia Vave, 17.Tinirau Arona, 19.Tim Robinson.
Cowboys: 1.Fullback Michael Morgan; 2.Wing Matthew Wright, 3.Centre Tautau Moga, 4.Centre Kane Linnett, 5.Wing Antonio Winterstein, 6.Five-Eighth Robert Lui, 16.Halfback Johnathan Thurston (Captain), 13.Lock Glenn Hall, 12.Second Row Jason Taumalolo, 11.Second Row Tariq Sims, 10.Front Row James Tamou, 9.Hooker Rory Kostjasyn, 8.Front Row Ashton Sims. Interchange: 14.Ray Thompson, 15.Scott Bolton, 17.Samuel Hoare, 18.John Asiata.
Halftime: Cowboys 16-12. Scrums: Sharks 6-4. Penalties: Sharks 11-8. Crowd: 9,366.
Referee: Gavin Morris & Alan Shortall. Sharks Coach: James Shepherd. Cowboys Coach: Paul Green.
Our most recent meeting was in Townsville on Saturday, June 27, back in Round 16.
North Queensland 18 (Jack Granville, Justin O’Neill, Antonio Winterstein tries; Ethan Lowe 3 goals from 4 attempts) Cronulla-Sutherland 24 (Andrew Fifita, Ricky Leutele, Luke Lewis, Sam Tagataese tries; Michael Gordon 4 goals from 4 attempts)
Cowboys: 1.Fullback Lachlan Coote; 2.Wing Matthew Wright, 3.Centre Justin O’Neill, 4.Centre Kane Linnett, 5.Wing Antonio Winterstein; 6.Five-Eighth Rory Kostjasyn, 7.Halfback Michael Morgan; 13.Lock Jason Taumalolo, 12.Second Row Ethan Lowe, 11.Second Row Gavin Cooper, 10. Front Row James Tamou, 9.Hooker Jake Granville, 8.Front Row Matthew Scott (Captain). Interchange: 14.Cameron King, 15.John Asiata, 16.Ben Hannant, 17.Patrick Kaufusi.
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, 9.Hooker Michael Ennis, 8.Front Row Andrew Fifita. Interchange: 14.Jayson Bukuya, 15.Ben Barba, 16.David Fifita, 17.Sam Tagataese.
Halftime: Cowboys 18-0. Scrums: Cowboys 10-5. Penalties: Sharks 7-6. Crowd: 14,490.
Referees: Grant Atkins & Gavin Reynolds.
Cowboys Coach: Paul Green. Sharks Coach: Shane Flanagan.
SHARKS FACT: Former Cronulla halfback (now North Queensland coach) Paul Green played in the first Sharks/Cowboys clash at Caltex Field in 1995. Green scored two tries in the 34-10 Sharks win and scored another against the Cowboys at Shark Park in our 34-12 win in 1997.
Go Sharks!
SHARKS / Cowboys
OUR RECORD @ HOME (1995-2015)
Sharks All-Time Record v Cowboys: Played 36 Won 22 Drawn 0 Lost 14 Points For 843 Points Against 728.
Sharks Total Record v Cowboys at Remondis: Played 15 Won 10 Drawn 0 Lost 5 Points For 396 Points Against 293.
Sharks Form in Last 5 Home Games v Cowboys: Lost 18-36 (Rd 19 2014) Lost 18-31 (Rd 25 2013) Lost 22-36 (Rd 26 2012) Lost 12-30 (Rd 07 2011) Won 28-22 (Rd 26 2008).
Sharks Form in Last 5 Games v Cowboys: Won 24-18 (Rd 16 2015 at 1300SMILES) Lost 19-20 (Rd 25 2014 at 1300SMILES) Lost 18-36 (Rd 19 2014 at Remondis) Won 20-18 (Qualifying Final 2013 at Allianz) Lost 18-31 (Rd 25 2013 at Remondis).
Sharks First-Ever Game v Cowboys: Rd 12 (Caltex Field), June 10, 1995 (Sharks 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 Last Win v Cowboys at Remondis: Rd 26 (Toyota Park), September 06, 2008 (Won 28-22) Sharks Scorers: Brett Kearney, Ben Ross, Terence Seu Seu, Brett Seymour, Kade Snowden tries; Luke Covell 4 goals Att: 7,057.
Sharks Biggest Win v Cowboys at Remondis: 42-6 Rd 18 June 03, 2000 (36pts margin) Sharks Scorers: Blaine Stanley 2, Colin Best, Preston Campbell, Andrew Ettingshausen, Nick Graham, Paul Mellor tries; Blaine Stanley 7 goals Att: 11,101.
Sharks Heaviest Defeat v Cowboys at Remondis: 10-36 Rd 05 April 10, 2004 (26pts margin).
Sharks Best Home Attendance v Cowboys: 16,829 Rd 26 September 02, 2012.
Sharks Home Attendance Average v Cowboys: 10,478.
Sharks Home Points Per Game Average v Cowboys: 26.4pts.
Most Points Scored by the Sharks v Cowboys at Remondis: (42pts) Rd 18 June 03, 2000.
Most Aggregate Points Scored in a Game v Cowboys at Remondis: (58pts) 22-36 Rd 26 September 02, 2012.
Most Sharks Points Conceded v Cowboys at Remondis: (36pts) 10-36 Rd 05 April 10, 2004; (36pts) 22-36 Rd 26 September 02, 2012 & (36pts) Rd 19 July 18, 2014.
Most Total Points Scored by a Sharks Player v Cowboys at Remondis: (30pts) by Luke Covell, (1 try, 13 goals).
Most Points Scored by a Sharks Player in a Game v Cowboys at Remondis: (22pts) by Blaine Stanley, (2 tries, 7 goals), Rd 18 June 03, 2000.
Most Tries Scored in a Game v Dragons at Cowboys: (3 tries) by David Peachey, Rd 24 August 24, 2002.
Most Goals Scored in a Game v Dragons at Cowboys: (7 goals) by Blaine Stanley, Rd 18 June 03, 2000.
Most Sharks Team Tries Scored in a Game v Cowboys at Remondis: (8 tries) Rd 22 July 31, 1999.
Total Try Scorers for the Sharks v Cowboys at Remondis: (67 Tries, 41 Try Scorers) Adam Dykes 5; David Peachey 5; Colin Best 5; Paul Green 3; Andrew Ettingshausen 3; David Simmons 3; Russell Richardson 2; Brett Howland 2; Paul Mellor 2; Blaine Stanley 2; Dean Treister 2; Jye Mullane 2; Paul Gallen 2; Jayson Bukuya 2; Geoff Bell 1; Andrew Neave 1; Tawera Nikau 1; Wade Forrester 1; Mat Rogers 1; Sean Ryan 1; Preston Campbell 1; Nick Graham 1; Ronald Prince 1; Jason Stevens 1; Matt Hilder 1; Phil Bailey 1; Luke Covell 1; Lance Thompson 1; Nigel Vagana 1; Brett Kearney 1; Ben Ross 1; Terence Seu Seu 1; Brett Seymour 1; Kade Snowden 1; Luke Douglas 1; Isaac De Gois 1; Andrew Fifita 1; Jeff Robson 1; Michael Gordon 1; Luke Lewis 1; Jonathan Wright 1.
Total Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Cowboys at Remondis: (56 Goals, 10 Goal Scorers) Luke Covell 13; Mat Rogers 10; Blaine Stanley 10; Michael Gordon 6; Brett Kimmorley 5; Jason Ferris 4; Todd Carney 3; Mitch Healey 2; Matthew Wright 2; Andrew Ettingshausen 1.
Total Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Cowboys at Remondis: none.
All-Time Total Try Scorers for the Sharks v Cowboys: (150 Tries, 67 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; Andrew Fifita 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; Jayson Bukuya 2; Luke Lewis 2; Sam Tagataese 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; Jeff Robson 1; Beau Ryan 1; Jonathan Wright 1; Michael Gordon 1; Pat Politoni 1; Ricky Leutele 1.
All-Time Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Cowboys: (120 Goals, 16 Goal Scorers) Luke Covell 28; Mat Rogers 20; Michael Gordon 15; Blaine Stanley 12; Brett Kimmorley 12; 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).
