Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 21 clash between the Cowboys and Sharks.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
North Queensland Cowboys Vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Date: Saturday, 27 July, 5:30pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater, 2. Kyle Feldt, 3. Jaxon Purdue, 4. Viliami Vailea, 5. Valentine Holmes, 6. Tom Dearden, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Jordan McLean, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Jason Taumalolo, 11. Heilum Luki, 12. Jeremiah Nanai, 13. Reuben Cotter, 14. Sam McIntyre, 15. Harrison Edwards, 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 17. Griffin Neame, 18. Jake Granville, 19. Braidon Burns, 20. Thomas Mikaele, 21. Murray Taulagi, 22. Jake Clifford
Sharks: 1. Liam Ison, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. Kayal Iro, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Daniel Atkinson, 7. Braydon Trindall, 8. Royce Hunt, 9. Blayke Brailey, 10. Oregon Kaufusi, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Teig Wilton, 13. Cameron McInnes, 14. Siosifa Talakai, 15. Thomas Hazelton, 16. Toby Rudolf, 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele, 18. Billy Burns, 19. Samuel Stonestreet, 20. Niwhai Puru, 21. Jayden Berrell, 22. Jack Williams
Referee: Adam Gee
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The eighth-placed Cowboys prepare to test the waters against the third-placed Cronulla Sharks in round 21 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night, in what will be a do-or-die contest for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys have won four of their past five home games this season: including an outstanding, hard-fought victory over the sixth-place Bulldogs on Sunday in Townsville (20-18), their 10th win of the season, as they continue to march towards securing a spot in the top eight.
They have had a challenging season, but they have proven that they can compete with the best teams and still win. The question now is whether they will be able to turn things around against the Sharks on Saturday.
The Cowboys showed true grit and endurance both in defence and attack, with no signs of backing down against the Bulldogs last weekend. This has brought a fresh boost of confidence to the side.
Since 2018, the Cowboys have yet to beat the Sharks in Townsville. They had previously faced the Sharks in round 7 at PointsBet Stadium, and the Sharks defeated them 42-6. Round 25 of 2023 produced a similar result, with the Cowboys losing 32-12 at home to the Sharks.
All eyes will be on Tom Dearden, and his combination with youngsters Heilum Luki and Jaxon Purdue could be lethal for the Sharks, given their performance last weekend, as well as Valentine Holmes, who did not appear fatigued from Origin, making impressive plays last weekend in his kicking proficiency and running metres.
This weekend will also witness the return of Murray Taulagi, which will provide additional backup for the Cowboys and pose a further threat to the Sharks.
While a deadly weapon on the outside edge, winger Kyle Feldt could be ready to set the record straight, scoring six tries in the past seven games.
The Sharks devoured the Tigers in a 58-6 victory in round 19, but they will confront an entirely different scenario this weekend against the Cowboys, where they must remain focused and vigilant to maintain their place in the top four.
After a bye last weekend, they should be well-rested and confident in their ability to succeed. The Sharks have won 11 of their last 12 games against the Cowboys, and with their record at this venue, they could easily take home another win.
The Cowboys represent an immediate threat to the Sharks, with strong, confident players and a tough defensive line, but the Sharks’ team is equally menacing.
Players like Ronaldo Mulitalo can be dangerous on the outer edge, having scored a hat-trick against the Tigers and five tries in his last three games against the Cowboys, while the return of Siosifa Talakai may erode the Cowboys’ confidence. While Sione Katoa and Jesse Ramien combine to form a dangerous combination that can often be unstoppable, Daniel Atkinson could catch them off guard. Braydon Trindall is still filling in for the injured Nicho Hynes, and captain Will Kennedy is out due to suspension, with Liam Ison taking over.
The Sharks have proven to be a resilient team, with or without Hynes, demonstrating they can come together to get the job done. They may well prove to be a tough opponent for the Cowboys.
This weekend’s game could play out like a game of chess, guided by strategy and bolstered by strength, with only the best moves winning.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Number Crunch Stats.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
Sharks by 12 points.
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