Can the North Queensland Cowboys go eighty minutes closer to the grand final or will the Cronulla Sharks stop them in their quest for their maiden premiership?
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The Cowboys and the Sharks will meet at 1300Smiles Stadium to determine who will take on the Melbourne Storm in the preliminary finals.
You can’t talk about the Cowboys and the Sharks without mentioning the infamous seventh tackle Beau Ryan try in 2013.
It was the second in the three-year series of controversial finals exits for the Cowboys, including Michael Oldfield’s try off a Kieran Foran knock-on.
The most recent coming off a supposed Robert Lui forward pass in last year’s semi-final against the Roosters.
Enough talk about controversial decisions, the Cowboys will be wishing to put their past behind them as they look to win their first premiership since their foundation 20 years ago in 1995.
The Cowboys’ forward pack of Matt Scott, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Jason Taumalolo, et. al must step up and prove themselves as the one of the most dominant positional teams in the National Rugby League. Cowboys fans from all over North Queensland will be wishing that this year they will be able to progress to the preliminary finals and that if they lose it will be on their own terms as opposed to a controversial refereeing decision.
Rory Kostjasyn returns on a five-man bench with Ray Thompson named as 18th man in the only change to Paul Green’s side since their loss 12-16 at the hands of Queensland rivals the Brisbane Broncos in the qualifying final.
Johnathan Thurston has been viewed as a future immortal and will be the key to the Cowboys’ title shot.
Thurston’s game may not have been at its best last week but the inclusion of the three-time Dally M Player of the Year has proven the difference to North Queensland’s finals hopes in the past and he will no doubt step up his game when they host Cronulla.
The Sharks are also in the hunt for a maiden premiership and will be wishing to end their 48-year drought and create a strong charge toward the big dance. The crowd will no doubt be against them but Cronulla will step up with their sizable forwards and fast, versatile backs leading the way.
Their game against the Rabbitohs proved that they were up to it in 2015, after winning the wooden spoon in 2014. It’s been a remarkable turnaround.
Shane Flanagan has added Matt Prior to a five-man bench in the Sharks’ only change to the team that defeated the South Sydney Rabbitohs 28-12 last week.
When Michael Ennis was cleared by the judiciary for a high tackle you could instantly feel the relief of Sharks fans the world over, the NSW Blues hooker has been one of Cronulla’s most consistent performers in 2015 and the player they cannot do without.
Ennis proved this claim last week by creating two try assists and making a total of 33 tackles as well as an average of nine metres per run in 75 minutes, an outstanding effort for any hooker. He has been in the thick of NRL finals before and was instrumental in the Bulldogs’ rise to the grand final last season, something he will wish to emulate at his new club this season.
The Cowboys and Sharks have played each other 33 times since 1998. Cronulla have won the most meetings with 20 wins to their name, contrasted to the Cowboys’ 13 victories. The two sides played in Round 16 when the Sharks defeated North Queensland 24-18 before meeting again in Round 22, the Sharks also victorious 30-18.
Prediction
It will be a closely-fought battle. Cronulla will have a slight edge over North Queensland.
Sharks by 4.
What you need to know
Kickoff: 7.40pm (AEST)
Venue: 1300 Smiles Stadium
TV: Nine Network, Live
Last meeting: Sharks defeated Cowboys 30-18 (Round 22, 2015)
Head-to-head: 33 played – Cowboys 13, Sharks 20
Cowboys last three games: 12-16 versus Broncos, 42-12 versus Titans, 6-14 versus Storm
Sharks last three games: 28-12 versus Rabbitohs, 12-14 versus Sea Eagles, 35-28 versus Eels
Teams:
North Queensland Cowboys
1 Lachlan Coote, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Justin O’Neill, 4 Kane Linnett, 5 Antonio Winterstein, 6 Michael Morgan, 7 Johnathan Thurston (c), 8 Matthew Scott (c), 9 Jake Granville, 10 James Tamou, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Ethan Lowe, 13 Jason Taumalolo
14 Rory Kostjasyn, 15 John Asiata, 16 Scott Bolton, 17 Ben Hannant, 19 Ray ThompsonCronulla Sharks
1 Michael Gordon, 2 Sosaia Feki, 3 Gerard Beale, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Valentine Holmes, 6 Jack Bird, 7 Jeff Robson, 8 Chris Heighington, 9 Michael Ennis, 10 Sam Tagataese, 11 Luke Lewis, 12 Wade Graham, 13 Paul Gallen (c)
14 Ben Barba, 15 Anthony Tupou, 16 Andrew Fifita, 17 Jayson Bukuya, 18 Matt Prior
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