By Jeff Petersen
On Monday night the Melbourne Storm visit Remondis Stadium in a rare meeting at the Sharks home with their last match played at the Shire venue back in Round 10, 2012.
This will be only the fifth Storm visit since 2005 and the 12th game overall, with the ledger slightly in favour of Melbourne, coming away with six wins from the 11 games played at home since 1998.
With the Sharks winning eight of the last nine Rounds this season, our boys are playing great attacking football worthy of Finals contention and another two competition points will certainly boost confidence to a new high.
In our last game against Melbourne played at Remondis Cronulla fought out a nail-biting 12-10 victory back in 2012, with five players who played in that 2012 fixture members of our current squad and aware of the tough task that lies ahead.
Former Cronulla forward Phil Bailey has the honour of being the Sharks highest try scorer against the Storm, with five, four of these tries coming in consecutive games. Both Colin Best and Mat Rogers lead the Try-Scoring list at home against the Storm, with four tries each.
Mat Rogers’ club record for Most Points in a Home Game v Melbourne still stands to this day. Rogers scored 18 points, from 3 tries and 3 goals, in the first ever meeting between the two teams at Shark Park in Round 03, 1998.
Last time they met at Remondis was a Sunday afternoon game on May 13, 2012, in Round 10.
Cronulla-Sutherland 12 (Isaac Gordon, Jeremy Smith tries; Todd Carney 2 goals from 2 attempts) Melbourne 10 (Matthew Duffie, Dane Neilsen tries; Cameron Smith one goal from 2 attempts)
Sharks: 1.Fullback: Matthew Wright; 20.Wing: Isaac Gordon, 3.Centre: Ben Pomeroy, 4.Centre: Colin Best, 5.Wing: John Williams; 6.Five-Eighth: Todd Carney, 7.Halfback: Jeff Robson; 15.Lock: Wade Graham, 12.Second Row: Jayson Bukuya, 11.Second Row: Jeremy Smith (Captain), 10.Front Row: Ben Ross, 9.Hooker: Isaac De Gois, 8.Front Row: Bryce Gibbs. Interchange: 14.Andrew Fifita, 18.Mark Taufua, 16.John Morris, 17.Sam Tagataese.
Storm: 1.Fullback: Billy Slater; 2.Wing: Matthew Duffie, 3.Centre: Dane Neilsen, 4.Centre: Will Chambers, 5.Wing: Justin O’Neill; 6.Five-Eighth: Gareth Widdop, 7.Halfback: Cooper Cronk; 13.Lock: Todd Lowrie, 12.Second Row: Ryan Hoffman, 14.Second Row: Ryan Hinchcliffe, 10.Front Row: Bryan Norrie, 9.Hooker: Cameron Smith (Captain), 17.Front Row: Jason Ryles. Interchange: 8.Jesse Bromwich, 15.Rory Kostjasyn, 18.Anthony Quinn, 19.Jaiman Lowe.
Halftime: Storm 10-6. Scrums: Storm 9-5. Penalties: Sharks 7-6. Crowd: 14,595.
Referees: Ben Cummins & Jason Robinson.
Sharks Coach: Shane Flanagan. Storm Coach: Craig Bellamy.
Our most recent meeting was in Round 03 this year at AAMI Park on Saturday, March 21.
Melbourne 36 (Tohu Harris (2), Will Chambers, Cooper Cronk, Marika Koroibete, Cameron Smith tries; Cameron Smith 6 goals from 6 attempts) Cronulla-Sutherland 18 (Andrew Fifita, Valentine Holmes, Jeff Robson tries; Michael Gordon 3 goals from 3 attempts)
Storm: 1.Fullback Billy Slater; 2.Wing Young Tonumaipea, 3.Centre Will Chambers, 4.Centre Kurt Mann, 5.Wing Marika Koroibete; 6.Five-Eighth Blake Green, 7.Halfback Cooper Cronk; 13.Lock Dale Finucane, 12.Second Row Tohu Harris, 11.Second Row Kevin Proctor, 10.Front Row Jordan McLean, 9.Hooker Cameron Smith (Captain), 8.Front Row Jesse Bromwich. Interchange: 14.Ryan Hinchcliffe, 15.Tim Glasby, 16.Dayne Weston, 18.Felise 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 Ben Barba, 7.Halfback Jeff Robson; 13.Lock Paul Gallen (Captain), 12.Second Row Wade Graham, 11.Second Row Jayson Bukuya, 10.Front Row Sam Tagataese, 9.Hooker Michael Ennis, 8.Front Row Andrew Fifita. Interchange: 15.Chris Heighington, 16.Anthony Tupou, 17.David Fifita, 18.Luke Lewis.
Halftime: Storm 18-6. Scrums: Storm 4-3. Penalties: Sharks 13-7. Crowd: 13,015.
Referees: Gavin Badger & Chris Sutton.
Storm Coach: Craig Bellamy. Sharks Coach: Shane Flanagan.
SHARKS FACT: Current Sharks speedster Ricky Leutele made his Club debut v Melbourne in Rd 24, 2010. Luke Lewis’s maiden game was against the Storm when playing for Penrith in Rd 24, 2001; Sharks fan favourite Sam Tagataese debuted for Melbourne against the Knights in Rd 04, 2007.
Go Sharks!
SHARKS / Storm
OUR RECORD @ HOME (1998-2015)
Sharks All-Time Record v Storm: Played 28 Won 9 Drawn 0 Lost 19 Points For 517 Points Against 665.
Sharks Total Record v Storm at Remondis: Played 11 Won 5 Drawn 0 Lost 6 Points For 270 Points Against 237.
Sharks Form in Last 5 Home Games v Storm: Won 12-10 (Rd 10 2012) Lost 10-14 (Rd 01 2010) Lost 16-17 (Rd 21 2007) Won 40-16 (Rd 22 2005) Lost 28-36 (Rd 25 2004).
Sharks Form in Last 5 Games v Storm: Lost 18-36 (Rd 03 2015 at AAMI Park) Lost 6-48 (Rd 23 2014 at AAMI Park) Lost 6-38 (Rd 13 2013 at AAMI Park) Lost 18-20 (Rd 25 2012 at AAMI Park) Won 12-10 (Rd 10 2012 at Sharks Stadium).
Sharks First Game v Storm: Rd 03, March 28, 1998 at Shark Park (Sharks Lost 18-26) Sharks Scorers: Mat Rogers 3 tries tries; Mat Rogers 3 goals Att: 11,346.
Sharks First Home Win v Storm: Rd 08, March 25, 2000 at Toyota Park (Sharks Won 26-14) Sharks Scorers: Colin Best, Paul Mellor, Mat Rogers, Dean Treister tries; Mat Rogers 5 goals Att: 15,181.
Sharks Last Win v Storm at Remondis: Rd 10, May 13, 2012 at Sharks Stadium (Sharks Won 12-10) Sharks Scorers: Isaac Gordon, Jeremy Smith tries; Todd Carney 2 goals Att: 14,595.
Sharks Biggest Win v Storm at Remondis: 40-16, Rd 22 August 06, 2005 (24pts margin) Sharks Scorers: David Simmons 2, Adam Dykes, Matt Hilder, Danny Nutley, Beau Scott, Reece Williams tries; Luke Covell 6 goals Att: 13,575.
Sharks Heaviest Defeat v Storm at Remondis: 18-26, Rd 03 March 28, 1998 (8pts margin); 18-26, Rd 21 July 25, 1999; 28-36, Rd 25 August 28, 2004.
Sharks Best Home Attendance v Storm: 15,181, Rd 08 March 25, 2000.
Sharks Home Attendance Average v Storm: 11,705.
Sharks Home Points Per Game Average v Storm: 24.5pts.
Most Points Scored by the Sharks v Storm at Remondis: (40pts) Rd 17 June 23, 2001; (40pts) Rd 22 August 06, 2005.
Most Aggregate Points Scored in a Game v Storm at Remondis: (68pts) 32-36, Rd 01 March 16, 2003.
Most Sharks Points Conceded v Storm at Remondis: (36pts) 32-36, Rd 01 March 16, 2003; (36pts) 28-36, Rd 25 August 28, 2004.
Most Total Points Scored by a Sharks Player v Storm at Remondis: (32pts) by Mat Rogers, (4 tries, 8 goals).
Most Points Scored by a Sharks Player in a Game v Storm at Remondis: (18pts) by Mat Rogers, (3 tries, 3 goals), Rd 03 March 28, 1998.
Most Tries Scored in a Game v Storm at Remondis: (3 tries) by Mat Rogers, Rd 03 March 28, 1998; (3 tries) by Damien Mostyn, Rd 17 June 23, 2001.
Most Goals Scored in a Game v Storm at Remondis: (6 goals) by Luke Covell, Rd 22 August 06, 2005.
Most Sharks Team Tries Scored in a Game v Storm at Remondis: (7 tries) Rd 17 June 23, 2001; (7 tries) Rd 22 August 06, 2005.
Total Try Scorers for the Sharks v Storm at Remondis: (46 Tries, 30 Try Scorers) Mat Rogers 4; Colin Best 4; Damien Mostyn 3; Paul Mellor 2; Dean Treister 2; Adam Dykes 2; Phil Bailey 2; Brett Kimmorley 2; Matt Hilder 2; Nigel Vagana 2; David Simmons 2; Sean Ryan 1; Brent Grose 1; Chris McKenna 1; Luke Stuart 1; Karl Lovell 1; Greg Bird 1; Jason Kent 1; David Peachey 1; Jason Stevens 1; Nathan Merritt 1; Matthew Rieck 1; Danny Nutley 1; Beau Scott 1; Reece Williams 1; Henry Perenara 1; Ben Pomeroy 1; Luke Douglas 1; Isaac Gordon 1; Jeremy Smith 1.
Total Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Storm at Remondis: (43 Goals, 9 Goal Scorers) Luke Covell 12; Mat Rogers 8; Brett Kimmorley 7; Preston Campbell 5; Matt Hilder 4; Mitch Healey 3; Todd Carney 2; Jason Ferris 1; Scott Porter 1.
Total Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Storm at Remondis: None.
All-Time Total Try Scorers for the Sharks v Storm: (90 Tries, 51 Try Scorers) Phil Bailey 5; Mat Rogers 4; David Peachey 4; Colin Best 4; Preston Campbell 4; Matt Hilder 4; David Simmons 4; Adam Dykes 3; Damien Mostyn 3; Paul Gallen 3; Nigel Vagana 3; Isaac Gordon 3; Paul Mellor 2; Dean Treister 2; Brett Kimmorley 2; Danny Nutley 2; Michael Sullivan 2; Luke Covell 2; Valentine Holmes 2; Brett Howland 1; Andrew Ettingshausen 1; Russell Richardson 1; Sean Ryan 1; Mitch Healey 1; Nathan Long 1; Jason Ferris 1; Brent Grose 1; Chris McKenna 1; Luke Stuart 1; Karl Lovell 1; Greg Bird 1; Jason Kent 1; Jason Stevens 1; Paul Franze 1; Nathan Merritt 1; Matthew Rieck 1; Beau Scott 1; Reece Williams 1; Darren Albert 1; Richard Villasanti 1; Henry Perenara 1; Ben Pomeroy 1; Brett Kearney 1; Blake Ferguson 1; Luke Douglas 1; Jeremy Smith 1; Nathan Stapleton 1; Sam Tagataese 1; Beau Ryan 1; Andrew Fifita 1; Jeff Robson 1.
All-Time Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Storm: (78 Goals, 10 Goal Scorers) Luke Covell 22; Mat Rogers 15; Brett Kimmorley 11; Todd Carney 6; Jason Ferris 5; Preston Campbell 5; Matt Hilder 4; Michael Gordon 4; Mitch Healey 3; Scott Porter 3.
All-Time Field Goal Scorers for the Sharks v Storm: (1 Field Goal Scorer) Brett Kimmorley 1 (in 2008).
