In their two meetings last season Cronulla thrashed Newcastle by an aggregate score of 98-4.
But Sharks back-rower Wade Graham knows that will count for little when the sides meet at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Saturday.
The reigning premiers will look to kick start their spluttering season against the Knights after an indifferent opening four rounds that has seen them lose tight home games to Brisbane and St George Illawarra while picking up impressive wins over Canberra and Parramatta.
Newcastle looked to have turned the corner with solid performances in their opening three games after a disastrous 2016 where they finished last. But a disappointing effort that saw them thrashed 40-0 by Penrith last weekend brought back memories of the heavy losses they suffered last season.
NSW representative Graham is adamant Cronulla won’t be taking the Knights lightly despite winning 36-4 at home last season after inflicting a 62-0 drubbing in Newcastle, the second biggest loss in the Knights’ history.
“I don’t think they’ll be looking at last year too much,” he said.
“I think in the pre-season they would have been all about creating something new up there, obviously trying to set themselves up this year for next year and the years after. They needed to start somewhere and I think you could tell by the way they’ve come out at the start of this season there’s been some adjustments in the way they’ve taken their footy club.
“You can see it in their attitude and their energy the way they’re playing for each other. And of course with the young squad they have there’s going to be games like against Penrith where things just don’t go right and the other team capitalise on it.
“But all in all I think it’s been a positive start for Newcastle. The way they’re playing simple footy with heaps of energy, playing for each other it’s a great start. And they’ve been able to put together some decent performances.
“They’re really working hard for each other. They’re playing with a lot of energy. They’re certainly not going to beat themselves. It’s up to us to put together a really good performance and we’ve got to match their enthusiasm and energy.”
The match is also Sharks forward Chris Heighington’s 300th NRL appearance, making him just the 26th player in the game’s history to reach the milestone.
Graham said it was a testament to Heighington’s longevity and durability.
“It’s a massive week for Heighno and us as his teammates and the club,” he said.
“To reach 300 games is an enormous effort. He’s certainly been an integral member of our squad for the last three or four years.
“Obviously he was at the Tigers and won a grand final, he won a grand final here. To have that next to your name, a two-time premiership winner and 300 gamer, I don’t know if you can squeeze much out of a career than that.
“I don’t think you can play 300 NRL games without being tough. That achievement, to be able to do that, it can’t be understated how big that is. 26 players in the history of the game since it started to reach that milestone. You’ve got to have a lot of attributes to do that and Heighno has got them all.”
