The Cronulla Sharks have picked up an uninspiring victory over an injury-decimated North Queensland Cowboys outfit by ten points to keep themselves planted in the top four with two rounds to play.
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Final score
North Queensland Cowboys 16
Cronulla Sharks 26
Both the North Queensland Cowboys and the Cronulla Sharks will be under pressure for vastly different reasons when the two teams do battle in Townsville. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:30pm (AEST).
The Cowboys might have started life without Johnathan Thurston strongly after the superstar was ruled out for the rest of the season with injury, but things have gone pear-shaped over the last few weeks.
Three straight losses to the Sydney Roosters, Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers have left the 2015 premiers sliding down the ladder, and with other injuries piling up, Michael Morgan has been able to do very little to arrest the form slump.
It’s left the Cowboys sitting in eighth spot and while the Dragons losing on Friday helps them in their quest to make the finals, they must get back into the winner’s circle sooner rather than later.
Morgan, while leading the side hasn’t received the level of support he needs from others. Players like fullback Lachlan Coote and youngster Te Maire Martin must do more to capitalise on whatever momentum their pack can generate for them.
The amount of momentum the Cowboys pack can generate could be a key feature of this evening’s contest. The Sharks will be determined to prove they haven’t lost the mettle in the middle that won them the 2016 premiership.
Cronulla have spent much of the season winning when they shouldn’t have. Errors, a general lack of patience in attack and poor discipline have put them on the back foot more times than you could count on both hands.
Despite that, they sit in the top four even after a pair of back-to-back losses against Brisbane and Canberra. A loss here though will see them stay two points behind the rampant Eels, leaving them facing the real prospect of not having a double chance in September.
It does appear the wheels have fallen off for Cronulla though. The last two weeks has seen a poor effort on defence, and a tired-looking side.
If Shane Flanagan can arrest the slide, then full credit to him and his staff, but for that to happen, Cronulla must settle in attack. They must slow the pace of the game and grind their way to victory and if fatigue is indeed the issue, then that’s going to be a lot easier said than done.
Prediction
Despite the Sharks ways of finding ways to win this year, the wheels look to have fallen off. The extra defence has finally caught up with them, and while the potential return of Brailey will help, the Cowboys are going to be too desperate at home.
Cowboys by 4.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this all-important Round 24 fixture from 7:30pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
It looked like he was grabbed before the first touch though.
Griffo
Guest
That penalty for holding back was ridiculous. A player can juggle the ball, forwards, over the defensive line and regather before it hits the ground or someone else and that is not a knock on that's fine but if that is the rule then a player who juggles it forwards should be able to be tackled as if he is in possession of the ball because for all intents and purposes until it IS a knock on he is in possession of the ball.
Mike
Guest
Good job to the Cowboys in today's game. That second half was a mighty effort with lots of players giving everything they had. Very good display inspite of the result. For the Sharks they played fantastic in the first half with good defensive and attacking performances. Just got to work on bits of that second half and they look like a much better team.
R N
Roar Rookie
He really is going to next level... great to see! Not to get to gushy... but he has a great penalty kick for touch! Hope Thurston continues to let him do it next year, always gets good meters even when little room to work with! Thought Bowen has been really good the last two games, hope he consolidates a spot.
rakshop
Roar Rookie
1. Coote 2. Winterstein 3. Hudson 4. O'Neil 5. Ponga 6. Asiata 7. Thurston 8. Scott 9 Chudleigh 10. Hannant 11. Kafusi 12. Cooper. 13. Fensom Plus one man on the bench 14. Spina Not a bad team dont you think! You could win a grand final with that team
Scott Pryde
Expert
Apart from those soft early tries Rob, the Cowboys worked hard with their backs to the wall. Cronulla have plenty to work on. No worries. Thanks for your comments.
R N
Roar Rookie
Take a bow Cowboys! As a fan can't ask for more! Can someone please ask Fiffita to look as though he is a least trying to get his foot to the ball when playing it! I am going to have a stroke one day yelling at the screen... does my head in... and also ask Prior to stop picking up legs 3rd man in.
Rob
Guest
Proud to be a Cowboys supporter. Could have been a flogging if they didn't roll their sleeves up. Morgan was really good leading the young blokes. Sharks had to many guns, experience and early glut of possession which they turned into points. Some poor reads by the Cowboys early. Thanks Scott.
Scott Pryde
Expert
No worries Jimmy - Cowboys and their fans can be proud of that effort given the injuries.
Ian
Guest
No... But I think Cronulla has learned how to do a Melbourne. Watch Cam Smith. He somehow has got the timing exactly right so he slows play but doesn't get pinched. Gallen is good, but not quite in that league
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 NRL Season as the North Queensland Cowboys went down to the Cronulla Sharks by 26 points to 16. I hope you enjoyed the call. That's me out for the weekend in terms of NRL, but you can join me from 1:30am (AEST) tomorrow morning (or in about 4 hours time) for our live coverage of the FIBA Asia Cup as the Australian Boomers meet the New Zealand Tall Blacks in the semi-finals of Asia's Basketball tournament (hopefully it's more competitive than the Rugby, which is live right now with Connor Bennett.) My weekly talking points will be out shortly after the final game tomorrow evening. Bye for now.
Jimmmy
Guest
Thanks Scott. Cows couldn't get home but we tried our heart out. Tigers game is a must win now.
Ian
Guest
Maybe the Cowboys were never going to get close in this game, but it seems that whenever the officials made a misteak, it went against them. That penalty for holding back after an attempt to intercept? REALLY The penalty for a shoulder charge? I think he has arms between his shoulders and what he hit the shark with. And WHEN is the NRL going to figure out how to give an advantage to the team sinned against. Knock-Out Morgan, and it's just a penalty. If the player MUST spend 15 minutes in HIA, then the offender ought to be doing likewise.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers? Can the Cowboys hang onto their spot in the eight?
Rob
Guest
Morgan is easily the best on ground tonight. Shame he was lost to a head knock this week and last week for the Cowboys.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Cronulla Sharks have picked up an important victory over the North Queensland Cowboys to keep themsleves in the top four after a strong first half. The Sharks came racing out of the gates, but were helped by some poor discipline from the Cowboys, to go with a handful of injuries which hurt the Cowboys in a big way. North Queensland went to the break behind 24-6, but kept fighting despite running low on troops in the second half. They scored two second half tries, defending their line brilliantly, for the most part, not letting the Sharks across with only a penalty goal adding to the total for the men from the Shire. The Cowboys cotinue to dangle onto their place in the top eight, but a match against the Tigers next week should deliver them two all-important points as they look to hang on for a spot in the finals. North Queensland Cowboys 16 Cronulla Sharks 26
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION MISSED by ETHAN LOWE Cowboys 16 Sharks 26
Jimmmy
Guest
Another gutsy performance by the Cows . It's just not our year . You have not lost any fans boys.
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - TRY COWBOYS, MICHAEL MORGAN Hampton with the first run of this set for the Cowboys, before Shane Wright, who has had a pretty good debut goes through the middle. Up to halfway, then Morgan beats Maloney but is quickly hit by three. Down the short side goes Hampton, with a short ball to Lowe and he is tackled 30 out. Morgan back to the middle for Taumalolo before Morgan goes to Lowe on the last and this is superb. He offloads to Hampton, then the ball pops back out into the path of Morgan who runs straight through a gap to score. The Cowboys can't win this, but wow are they working hard. Cowboys 16 Sharks 26
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - The Sharks back to halfway through Prior on the third before Maloney is strangled to ground as he looks to take on the line. Tagatest cuts back across the ruck, then Segeyaro kicks for the corner and it rolls dead. Seven tackle set for the Cowboys. Cronulla have played a pretty ordinary second half here. Cowboys 12 Sharks 26