SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 14: Sea Eagles fans support during the NRL Elimination Final match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Cronulla Sharks at Lottoland on September 14, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

The Cronulla Sharks have one of Australia's worst sporting records when it comes to playing at Brookvale Oval.

The two clubs - the Sharks and Manly Sea Eagles - might be known for their rivalry dubbed the 'Battle of the Beaches' but when it comes to playing on the North side of Sydney, the Sharks have about as much success as Trent Barrett did during his two stints as a head coach in the NRL.

Dating right back to 1967, the Sharks have won six games at Brookvale, holding on for a single draw in that time. Given one of their victories was against the ill-fated Northern Eagles joint venture, it means they have just won five games against the Sea Eagles.

Five wins and a draw. Out of a staggering 40 games. That tallies up to 34 losses against Manly at Brookvale.

The Sharks have also now lost the last seven on the bounce against the Sea Eagles at the Northern Beaches venue, with their last win coming during the opening round of the 2008 season.

Since then, they have lost the following games against the Sea Eagles:

Round 25, 2009: 18-16
Round 5, 2010: 40-12
Round 6, 2013: 25-18
Round 6, 2014: 24-4
Round 17, 2015: 28-16
Round 3, 2016: 22-12
Finals, 2019: 28-16

The seven-match losing streak at the venue has seemingly continued with no obvious finish point, but the Sharks have a chance to put all that behind them in Round 23 of the 2022 season as they run onto Brookvale against an out of form, and injury-ravaged Manly.

No Jake Trbojevic, Tom Trbojevic or Reuben Garrick, just to name a few, have presented a red-hot Sharks - who are pushing for the chance to finish in the top two at the end of the season - with their best chance to topple Manly on the road since that opening round win in 2008.

But what did the world look like back then?

For starters, here is the team who played that evening:

1. Brett Kearney
2. Bryson Goodwin
3. David Simmons
4. Ben Pomeroy
5. Luke Covell
6. Bretty Seymour
7. Brett Kimmorley
8. Ben Ross
9. Isaac De Gois
10. Luke Douglas
11. Reece Williams
12. Adam Peek
13. Paul Gallen
14. Greg Bird
15. Bryan Norrie
16. Fraser Anderson
17. Kevin Kingston

Every single player from that night's team in a 16 points to 10 win is now retired, while the entire Manly team is also retired - a team that featured names like Brett Stewart, Jamie Lyon, Matt Orford, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart and Steve Menzies.

In the rest of the NRL, unbeknownst to the general public or anyone at the time, the Melbourne Storm were playing over the salary cap and would ultimately go on to be stripped of that year's minor premiership.

The premiership would be Manly's to win, despite their shock opening-round loss to the Sharks, ultimately beating the Dragons, Warriors and then Storm on their way through the finals series, winning 40 points to nil.

The Storm had won the premiership the year prior over the Sea Eagles in the grand final, although that too was stripped with the club over the salary cap.

Cronulla's Luke Covell would go on score more points than any other player in 2008 with Cronulla finishing third on the table before being belted 28-0 by the Storm in Week 3 of the finals, while Matt Orford took out the Dally M Medal.

Elsewhere during that 2008 season, the Canterbury Bulldogs claimed the wooden spoon, while the Warriors, Dragons and Raiders all made the finals on 13 victories, resigning the Knights with a usual safe 12 wins to 9th spot.

The Warriors would ultimately run from eighth spot until the preliminary finals where they fell to the Sea Eagles, but wins over the Storm in Week 1 of the finals and the Roosters in Week 2 both came as big surprises.

It was also the centenary of rugby league during 2008, with celebrations to mark the occasion running throughout the season, while the team of the century was also named.

Australia would cap the year off by winning the Rugby League World Cup.

Here are some of the other fast facts from 2008:

  • George W Bush is the US president in his final full year in office.
  • Kevin Rudd is the Australian Prime Minister.
  • On July 11, Apple launches the iPhone in Australia.
  • No Country for Old Men wins best picture at the Academy Awards. Daniel Day-Lewis wins best actor and Marion Cotillard wins best actress.
  • At the Grammy Awards, Amy Winehouse breaks through with Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist.
  • A little closer to home, Kate Ritchie wins the Gold Logie for her role in Home And Away.
  • Meanwhile, at the 2008 Aria Awards, The Presets win Album of the year for Apocalypso, and Gabriella Cilmi wins Single of the Year for Sweet About Me. Nick Cave and Cilmi win male and female artist of the year, while The Presets win Group of the year.
  • The ABC news and current affairs program Q&A broadcasts its first ever episode on May 22.
  • The Olympic Games take place in Beijing, China. Australia wins 14 gold medals, 15 silver medals and 17 bronze medals.
  • Hawthorn take out the 2008 AFL premiership, while Australia's cricket team are embroiled in the 'monkeygate' scandal during India's tour.
  • The Melbourne Tigers win the NBL, the Newcastle Jets are crowned winners of the A-League and the third season of Australia's T20 competition - still contested by state teams at that stage - is won by the Victorian Bushrangers.
  • Internationally, Manchester United win the English Premier League title, the Boston Celtics take out the NBA championship, the Philadelphia Phillies take out the MLB championship, the Detroit Red Wings are crowned champions of the NHL and the New York Giants take out Super Bowl XLII. Lewis Hamilton becomes the second youngest driver to win a Formula 1 title.
  • A global recession continues on the world's financial markets, having kicked off in 2007. A litre of fuel costs just $1.27 on average.
  • Quentin Bryce becomes the first female Govenor-General of Australia.
  • On June 1, Australia withdraws all troops from Iran.
  • Australian airline flies an Airbus A380 for the first time.
  • The film Australia is released on November 26.