The Cronulla Sharks are through to their first NRL Grand Final in almost two decades after they defeated the North Queensland Cowboys in a dominating display at Allianz Stadium by 12 points.
Cronulla came flying out of the gates, and the Cowboys never got into the match being dominated in the forwards and not able to control the Sharks creative weapons.
After playing a 90-minute epic last week, the Cowboys were fatigued from the get-go and were at only 41 per cent possession through the first half, being held scoreless to the break and making a lot of errors, making themselves their own worst enemy.
Lachlan Coote set the tone in the first set of the match dropping a simple kick and while their defence held the Sharks out for the first quarter of the game it was never going to be enough.
Matt Prior and Andrew Fifita led things early with some brilliant work from Wade Graham and Paul Gallen that allowed Cronulla to dominate up the middle, leaving the Cowboys with no chance of answering.
Graham’s combination with Maloney on the left edge was fantastic all game long, and they looked incredibly dangerous. With the kicking game from the halves being pin-point accurate and Ennis playing somewhere near his best the Sharks would have dominated the Cowboys on a good day.
The scoring opened in the 17th minute as James Maloney was forced to slot over a penalty goal. Given the Sharks had all the ball up until that point, it seemed like a moral victory for North Queensland.
The Sharks would score their first try just five minutes later though on the back of an error and scrum, with Fifita offloading to set up a try for Siosaia Feki in the corner.
Maloney then slotted another penalty goal to extend the lead to eight, before Chad Townsend struck right on the stroke of halftime with a long-range effort and a final pass that had a few questions over it from Maloney.
It was clear heading into the second half that the Cowboys would need an excellent start and that’s exactly what they got as they scored in the second minute through Lachlan Coote, who got a freakish bounce on a grubber from Johnathan Thurston.
It wouldn’t make up for his plethora of mistakes in the first half though as it only temporarily eased the pain for the Cowboys who were back on the rack shortly afterwards.
The Sharks would score ten minutes later through Luke Lewis after Michael Ennis went from dummy half, linking with Jason Bukuya who then threw a short ball to Lewis who crashed over.
Three minutes later, Cronulla were over again after they went the length of the field on the back of a penalty, with Maloney going himself and scoring through the defence.
The lead continued to grow with Maloney slotting over another penalty goal before he finished it off himself with a long range effort from an intercept.
Kyle Feldt would score a pair of consolation tries for the Cowboys before Coen Hess also scored in the last two minutes as the Cowboys put on a late rampage, but in the end, it was all too little, too late.
The Sharks then, through to their first grand final since the super league war and will finally hope to clinch their first premiership against either the Canberra Raiders or Cronulla Sharks.
Final score
Cronulla Sharks 32
North Queensland Cowboys 22
Match Statistics
Tries: Sharks (5), Cowboys (4)
Conversions: Sharks (3/5), Cowboys (2/4)
Possession: Sharks (54%), Cowboys (46%)
Completions: Sharks (32/38), Cowboys (24/31)
All Runs: Sharks (170), Cowboys (124)
All run metres: Sharks (1576), Cowboys (1028)
Line breaks: Sharks (5), Cowboys (2)
Offloads: Sharks (13), Cowboys (6)
Missed tackles: Sharks (15), Cowboys (53)
Penalties: Sharks (6), Cowboys (8)
Errors: Sharks (7), Cowboys (11)
The Roar’s NRL Finals MVP
3 – James Maloney
2 – Chad Townsend
1 – Wade Graham
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
Renegade
Roar Guru
Thanks VOR, no preference mate... Got to put in another performance like last night against whoever it is.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Cheers mate, will do ? Gotta soak this up!
Renegade
Roar Guru
Haha correct OB. Dusty as today mate!
Renegade
Roar Guru
Thanks Scott, going to be a great week leading into the big one!
V.O.R.
Guest
Yep any chance the Cows had of clawing back into the game with 20 minutes to go was snuffed by a few dubious penalties. They are a momentum team and they've closed in on big margins in the past. While the Sharks definitely deserved their victory the refereeing was substandard at crucial stages again.
V.O.R.
Guest
Congrats to you and your daughter CC...Last weeks ferocious QLD derby cost the Cows but not to take anything away from the Sharks. Good luck next week.
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Whats the deal with Jack Bird, he seems to have alienated quiet a few opposition players and the fans give it to him constantly.
V.O.R.
Guest
Congrats Rene...enjoy mate. Who would you prefer to play in the GF?
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Congratulations - Well done Rene - Good to see you put your money where your mouth is. We'll keep an eye out for the bloke in the Sharkies jumper who's shouting the bar. I reckon you'll be facing the Green Machine in the GF. It's guaranteed to be a cracker and will go down as one of the best GF's in history. Enjoy every minute mate.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
You needed to be cuddled more as a child Pete
HarryT
Guest
Congratulations Sharkies, what a powerful game they played. Seeing how zonked the Cowboys looked I was thinking that it would have been fairer if, like the AFL, all teams had a break before the finals.
Andrew
Guest
Good on the Sharks fans, it looked like a great atmosphere and thank goodness it wasn't played at Shark Park or ANZ for that matter. As for the game itself, I think the Cows were worse more than the Sharks were good. Reminded me a bit of 2001. The Eels were awesome all year and beat the Broncos in the Prelim. It was an average performance but everyone overlooked it in the excitement of a first grand final appearance in 15 years. The Sharks need the Raiders to win; their attack is too one dimensional (I.e all through Maloney) to trouble the Storm. To be honest though, while I couldn't see the Cowboys winning at 8-0, the Maloney forward pass to Townsend with Sutton standing right there, was too much for me. From that point forward I watched more AFL. I saw two more horrible play the ball penalties in the second half against the Cows (a strip call on Gallen and a hand in call on Bukuya) and it killed my league buzz, so I didn't see any more than that.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Congratulations Sharkies and their fans, good luck next week.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
50 long years and 8 days to go.Please make it happen for they good guys. When the Sharks forward dominate and their backs click into gear,they play a brand of football that not only is attractive but wins games. Glad I was their with my daughter last night at Allianz,what a night.Atmosphere,and speed of the game,played in the right spirit was a great spectacle. A great night for the many families who attended,to rl a great family game. The Cowboys IMO played their G/.F last weekend against the Broncos,they could only must up enough energy to contain the rampaging Shark's forwards for a brief period.Everyone of the Shark's pack and their benchers,played to their potential. Townsend (who received a fair share of criticism)redeemed himself with his attack and positional play,and the sight of him expressing his emotions at the end,said it all. Hopefully next Sunday week night is :BITE NIGHT
Spongebob
Guest
Cowboys season was over when they lost in Melbourne. They really needed to win that game, they'd be at home playing the Raiders after 2 weeks break today if they had.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
I betting you've got the biggest hangover you e had for a while today Renegade .
Woodhouse
Guest
Want some fries to go with that salt?
Donde es Fuss
Guest
i will be my inheritance that that was the sharks GF, the way Townsend celebrated says he has nothing more. Sharks fans going on like they have won - you have won nothing in 48 years and will get humiliated next week
Aaron
Guest
Is James Maloney the most under-rated player in the competition? He's a specialist at getting teams to the Grand Final, and seems to just make teams better. In saying that, I really hope Sharks get done next week by whoever wins out of Storm and Raiders. Paul Gallen holding a trophy is a terrible sight. Even worse is hearing his self-centred victory speech. I was going to say speeches but that would be a gross exaggeration given he's only ever had to give one.
JR Salazar
Guest
Good performance from the Sharkies. May be a fairytale story in the making if they win the GF after being two years removed from the Wooden Spoon and supplements saga.