The wait for a maiden title continues for long suffering Cronulla fans but North Queensland will dare to dream after their staggering 39-0 NRL semi-final win in Townsville on Saturday night.
The Cowboys booked a grand final qualifier against the Storm in Melbourne next week after finally ending the Sharks’ brave title run in front of 21,683 rabid Townsville fans.
In their 20th anniversary season, North Queensland are on track to qualify for their first grand final since their sole 2005 appearance after ambushing the Sharks.
However, there is no light at the end of the tunnel for Cronulla who last made a grand final in 1997 – the longest drought for any team besides Canberra (1994).
And the disgruntled Sharks fans who trudged out of 1300Smiles Stadium did not have to be told that Cronulla have never won a title in their 49-season existence.
It was a remarkable turnaround for the traditionally slow-starting Cowboys, who had conceded the first points and the first try in seven straight games.
In contrast, the resurgent Sharks – the 2014 wooden spooners – had scored the first points in nine of their past 10 games.
North Queensland hit the ground running in Townsville, grabbing a 19-0 halftime lead and never looking back.
Pivot Michael Morgan had beat himself up during the week for not providing enough support for playmaker Johnathan Thurston in a quiet return from an ankle injury in last week’s 16-12 finals loss to Brisbane.
He vented his frustration on the Sharks, opening the scoring before completing a try scoring double in the 46th minute.
Morgan set the tone when he latched onto a Thurston cut-out pass and brought the Townsville fans to their feet by scoring in just the fifth minute.
North Queensland romped to a halftime lead thanks in part to Cronulla’s 16-2 missed tackle count.
The Cowboys kept their perfect finals record in Townsville (6-0) intact.
Cronulla have never won a final outside Sydney.
North Queensland won a season best 17 games this year including a club record 11-game streak.
But there was a debate that North Queensland – who went on a club record 11-game winning run this year – had peaked too early this season.
The win over Cronulla put an end to any doubts over their title credentials.
up up cronulla
Guest
Still proud to come from wooden spoon with basically no kicking game, that being said go cowboys id like to see them win it, theyll smash storm, then hopefully play roosters and win so when maloney joins sharks he will have a fire in his belly!
Psychodelia
Guest
Wabbits, Cowturds - good at putting shi*e on opponents, how about GUMMY SHARKS!!!!!!
Psychodelia
Guest
All Queensland GF would be freakin' sensational. I will be praying to the footy gods all this week, and leaving pineapples, banana and macadamia nut offerings on their shrine. Go go go Broncos and Cowboys!
Psychodelia
Guest
Leave Sam his dreams - that's all the poor little bugger's got.
Psychodelia
Guest
Poor widdle Sam, he is hurting.....
josh
Guest
Don't worry Gallen recons the loss to Manly was good for the Shraks, you know, because they play their best football under pressure...
Psychodelia
Guest
Yep, ol sourpuss thought it up with his big brain.
steveng
Roar Rookie
I noticed Thurston when he came back into the Cowboys locker (after his post match interview) and the team clapped him and he was virtually hobbling to his seat, he looked very tired and in his own words, just after he sat down, he said, 'I'm f*****' (I could read his lips) and sat down, he looked tired and could barely walk. I don't know if he is injured or just purely exhausted from the intensity and pressure of this game. if the Cowboys want to score their first title then Jonathan Thurston is one bloke that they have to have 100% and they should have given him at least the last 15 min of this game off.
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Ah well ,Jack Gibson and Harold Holt are resting easy.
Psychodelia
Guest
Bloody good idea. Rest the bloke!
Psychodelia
Guest
Hahahah - except his wife might have something to say about that.
Psychodelia
Guest
Woo hoo sensational Cowboys - special accolades to Matt Scott, Ben Hannant and Jason Taumalolo.
NQ Cowboy
Guest
Thurston said today on the Footy Show that he's not injured. He just the missed a few goal kicks.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
It's only footy. Just 26 blokes chasing an inflated bag of air
Birdy
Guest
Thurston is so tough, if his groin isn't properly healed by next weekend he will simply rip it out.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
I'll reply to both of you here. If - in fact JT is carrying an injury - it doesn't matter. He will compete at above 100% for an entire match. Regardless of pain. He won't come off early to conserve himself for the fabled "next week". He's like a cattle dog, just does not have an off button. Look out Melbourne.
Richard Maybury
Guest
At 30 points up in the second half, I would have thought it sensible to sit Thurston out but they didn't do it. They may rue that decision next week.
Richard Maybury
Guest
The big question for me is How much of that energy will the Cowboys have left in the tank after that display ? They had a hard week against the Broncos and playing at that pace for a full 80 last night must have taken it out of them. Fitness might well be an issue next week. For the Cowboys to win, they will need to come out and score in the first 10. If they don't do that, Melbourne will wear them out.
Richard Maybury
Guest
On this basis the the Storm will get murdered down in bleak city but I suspect they won't. The sharks had no answer to a rampaging Cowboys side that had skill, effort and most importantly far more desire than Cronulla. They way they attacked every set was as if their lives depended on it right down to the last. Cronulla looked like they were just playing any old game any week of the season.
Alexandria Kellett
Roar Rookie
If JT still has a groin issue the cowbies are going to need someone else to convert. Lowe and Feldty better be working on it nonstop!