The North Queensland Cowboys have secured a thrilling 1 point victory in golden point to secure their spot in this year’s finals.
North Queensland were given an almighty scare by a plucky Sharks side but the class of Johnathan Thurston was enough to see them home.
The Cowboys will be eyeing a top 4 finish but face a tough match up next week against the ladder leading Manly Sea Eagles.
FINAL SCORE:
Cowboys 20
Sharks 19
A Cronulla Sharks side destined for the wooden spoon heads to Townsville to face the red-hot North Queensland Cowboys outfit on Monday night NRL. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:00pm (AEST).
The season from hell got that little bit worse last Sunday, when Cronulla ‘won’ their first wooden spoon since 1969 in front of the Remondis faithful.
And while the Sharkies conceded 22 points in the scrappy affair against the Raiders, the Cowboys laid on 22 of their own in defeating premiership-favourites Souths at the weekend.
With five wins from their last six starts, the Cowboys have been making their presence felt in the lead into the finals series.
A win tonight will see them move to fifth, and it will have them in with a huge hope of finishing inside the top four by the end of round 26.
Since returning from the origin arena for the back half of the season, representative stars Thurston, Scott and Tamou are playing the way we all know they can.
Throw in the form of pacey fullback Michael Morgan and the barnstorming Sims brothers and you can see this team means business heading into the business end.
Having averaged in excess of 30 points per game at home this season, the hosts again look destined to make the scoreboard attendant earn their keep here tonight.
This game looks a matter of ‘Cowboys by how many’- and with most betting agencies offering close to a 30 point start for the Sharks, I still don’t think that will be enough.
Cowboys by 42.
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If you are following the action live, be sure to share your thoughts on the match in the comments below.
Ryan Selvage
Roar Guru
The beauty of hindsight, hey? Here i was writing off my own boys before they produce one of the efforts of the season.
Judge Holden
Roar Guru
Take everything week by week. I'll wait until next weeks game to gauge whether or not they are still a chance. Manly are the luckiest team in the comp.
Liatrevlis
Guest
Copyright !!!! Royalties
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Cowboys phoned it in.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Gold, that has stuck for me. Im going to steal that one. Caramello Cowboys lol. 2 weeks ago I thought they were a chance at the title, I think I will stick to my mighty roosters
Liatrevlis
Guest
Ha ha caramello cowboys !!! Soft in the middle
Liatrevlis
Guest
I suggest that Ricky's no coach , raiders are rubbish
The eye
Guest
Doesnt reflect on the scoreboard and the 2 points are meaningless one way or the other to us- but the Sharkies won that game tonight so I hope the club gives them all a bonus..for the first time in 4 years the backline looked threatening with the ball..and the pack shamed the cowboys forwards..
Felix
Guest
Not only was the attack poor, it took them until the 82nd to muscle up in defence and put pressure on the line. They were average at best across the park.
Felix
Guest
Sure. I'd suggest you re-watch the Tigers vs Canberra vs The Field for the last umpteenth weeks and report back on your depth findings. Cowboys were rubbish tonight and made a very determined and spirited Sharks look excellent. And my hat is off to them too, well played. But to use this game as evidence of depth in the league overlooks a lot of fundamental cracks.
Rasputin
Guest
They thought it was gonna be a milk run....they were looking too far off to the manly game next week. Tough luck young sharks, see you next year
Parrafan
Guest
Really took some guts from those Sharks players. They have a couple of up and comers in the works including Valentine Holmes who is a very interesting prospect. Anyone who says fold the Sharks or move them to Perth has rocks in their heads.
Rasputin
Guest
Go the cowboys! can't wait for the bigger one next week, should take 3 field goals to drown manly if more time is allowed on the field. Go 'Git Em' JT!
Judge Holden
Roar Guru
They deserve to have their ears chewed out after that. Pedestrian attack and no-one else made a play on the fifth bar Thurston, who was well below par. At least the lad can kick a dropgoal.
Liatrevlis
Guest
All clubs should be made to field 3 to 5 new ( Holden cup type) players every year , this will improve our code and bring back reserve grade
Judge Holden
Roar Guru
Fortunate ending that. Reminded me of the Cowboys vs Sharks match in 2010 which went to golden point. That game was probably the funniest I've ever seen. A comedy of errors. Hopefully they fire up for Manly next week or there will be blood. It was great to see the Sharks have a real dig though. I've always respected them for their resilience.
Renegade
Guest
Agree. Anyone that uses the "not enough players for expansion" is a muppet.
jamesb
Guest
Well, that was an unexpected golden point game. Cowboys just fell over the line. Sharks are missing 100 players, but still competitive. Yet people are still against expansion. If I were the Sharks, if get rid of Flanagan and put Shepherd in charge
Liatrevlis
Guest
What a game , they were givn a 30 point start ! Cows will not win the premiership this year !
Stone
Guest
Damn straight. Cows fan and always disliked the Sharks, but was proud for those kids. Great game.