Final thoughts
I could have written this at half-time. Even though the Sharks had turned around the same deficit against the Cowboys earlier in the season, there was a ruthlessness to Paul Green’s men that never looked like leaving them. In the circumstances, the Sharks did well to keep the scoreline below 40. They were simply outclassed and outplayed by a Cowboys side that will be brimming with confidence when the players head to Melbourne to play the Storm in next weekend’s prelimination qualifying semi-final (or something). Away from Townsville, it will be a big task, but there’s no doubt they have the talent and momentum to make it happen. Thanks for joining me tonight, I’ll catch you next time.
Full-time: North Queensland Cowboys 39-0 Cronulla Sharks
80 mins: Luke Lewis charges down a kick and runs about 30m before he’s brought down. That’s possibly the highlight of the game for the Sharks. The ball goes out and the siren blows. The Cowboys have crushed the Sharks.
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TRY! North Queensland Cowboys 39-0 Cronulla Sharks
78 mins: Merciless stuff from the Cowboys. Ethan Lowe puts the finishing touch on a nice set play, Thurston skews the conversion, and the Cowboys are a point away from the big four zero.
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75 mins: A late consolation for the Sharks? They’re pressing but a poor decision to kick means the Cowboys are back on the attack and looking for one more try.
74 mins: Enough time to get past the 40-point barrier? If I was a betting man I’d say yes. The Cowboys look as hungry now as they did in the first minute. Depressing stuff for the Sharks.
72 mins: The only question now is “how many”? The game is effectively over but the Cowboys refuse to take their foot off the throat. Little bit of a scare for Feldt who looks like he’s hyperextended his knee. He’s trying to run it off... not sure why they don’t bring him off.
70 mins: Time to look to next weekend methinks. Can the Cowboys beat the Storm? On the evidence of this performance, that’s a big yes. Obviously Melbourne will be hugely different proposition but the Cowboys have the talent.
TRY! North Queensland Cowboys 35-0 Cronulla Sharks
68 mins: This is turning into a hammering. Thurston with a cheeky through-the-legs pass to set the attack on its way and Feldt dodges through to score under the posts. A simple conversion from JT.
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65 mins: The short answer is no. Great defending from the Cowboys to foil some excellent passing from the Sharks. Flanagan’s side have just been outplayed by a better team tonight.
63 mins: No dodgy reffing decisions can rob the Cowboys now. In fact they might want one just to get it out of the way. The Sharks on a rare foray forward. Can they sneak something?
TRY! North Queensland Cowboys 29-0 Cronulla Sharks
61 mins: That’s all she wrote. Winterstein with another try for the Cowboys, scooping up from a knock-back from a high kick and diving over in the corner. JT misses the conversion but there’s no coming back from this. It’s just a question of how many they can rack up.
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58 mins: Someone call PETA because the Sharks are being battered tonight. Still the Cowboys look to add to their lead, still Cronulla hold them out. Their bodies maybe broken but their willpower is still holding up. Just.
55 mins: Ben Barba has been the man with the spark for the Sharks since he came on. Not sure there’s enough time, or momentum, for him to turn this one around though. The Cowboys nullify a Sharks attack then march down the field. They’re not as dangerous as they were in the first half but they’re still controlling this game.
53 mins: There have been a couple of breaks in play, but has it been enough to give the Sharks a chance to recuperate? Well the Cowboys’ charge has relented slightly although they’re still the team on top. A penalty in their own territory to the visitors buys them some more breathing space.
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51 mins: Gallen is back on the pitch but I suspect it’s more out of desperation than a return to full fitness. A huge shoulder charge from Graham catches O’Neill high, and the Cowboys star is visibly shaken. He’ll take a concussion test. The Sharks needed the break.
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49 mins: Barba dodges and weaves his way deep into Cowboys territory but the final pass bounces off hands and the Sharks’ brief spark is snuffed out.
48 mins: The Sharks look like a team that has already played 80 minutes. Any sort of respite from this pressure would be welcome right now, let alone getting something on the scoreboard.
TRY! North Queensland Cowboys 25-0 Cronulla Sharks
46 mins: Morgan scores again, battering through a tired-looking Sharks defence. Robson looks shattered. Thurston makes the conversion. This could get ugly.
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44 mins: It’s all going the Cowboys’ way. A grubber into the in-goal refuses to go out and the Sharks are forced to kick it back. More pressure to come from the hosts.
43 mins: Well they’ve started better than they did in the first half - just not as well as the Cowboys did. At least it’s not one-way traffic... although as soon as I’ve finished typing that the Cowboys get a repeat set and charge towards the Sharks line. Again.
Second half: North Queensland Cowboys 19-0 Cronulla Sharks
41 mins: Peeeeep! And we’re off again. The shellshocked Sharks have to turn the momentum straight away if they want to get something from this. If the Cowboys score first in this half, it’s as good as over.
Half-time: North Queensland Cowboys 19-0 Cronulla Sharks
40 mins: The Cowboys press and press but JT decides their work in this half is done and kicks a sweet field goal just as the siren goes. A full stop on a big statement from the Cowboys. See you after the break.
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39 mins: One last push from the Cowboys? A Holmes mistake gifts them another set about 20m out but they fail to get through on the first attempt. Still pressing though.
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37 mins: The Sharks go close at the other end, or as close as they’ve been all game, but there’s no way through and the Cowboys come away with it - a counter-attack that’s stopped short by a debatable Ennis tackle. It’s going to take something special for the visitors to come back from this... especially with Gallen limping off.
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35 mins: Gallen goes off with an ankle knock. The Sharks have a mountain to climb, and their lead Sherpa is MIA.
33 mins: This has been brutally efficient stuff from the Cowboys. I watched Mexican cartel film Sicario the other night and those drug lords weren’t nearly as ruthless.
TRY! North Queensland Cowboys 18-0 Cronulla Sharks
31mins: Bolton charges through the line for a try. There was an air of inevitably about it. The Sharks look dead on their feet. JT converts and the Cowboys finally have the scoreline their dominance deserves.
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30 mins: A penalty to the Cowboys and they take the territory. They want another try, and if they keep up this pressure it won’t be long in coming.
29 mins: Slightly better from the Sharks, they’ve actually put a set together. Round of applause please. It ends when a grubber goes out behind, but at least there was some intent there. If nothing else it’s checked the Cowboy’s “all-out attack” mentality.
27 mins: How are the Sharks still in this? The Cowboys have monstered them, not helped by a few silly errors, but just when the hosts look like scoring another try, they fall inches short.
25 mins: Do I detect a slight drop in tempo? Can’t say I’m surprised. The Cowboys couldn’t keep that pace up for a full 40 minutes. Plenty of damage done though, and the momentum is still very much with the hosts.
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23 mins: The Sharks have made almost twice as many tackles as the Cowboys already. That’s gotta hurt. They need a break, in every sense. The upside is they’re only 12 down, which considering the pressure they’ve been under is something of a ray of light.
21 mins: The Cowboys look like they want to wrap this one up before half-time. Desperate defence from the Sharkies, and somehow they hold off another attack on their try line.
20 mins: The Cowboys pressing for another, right on the Sharks line. A grubber into the in-goal is dealt with well by Beale under a lot of pressure. This has been relentless from the Cowboys. Bird looks like he’s picked up a knock on his arm. This start could not have gone worse for the Sharks.
18 mins: Short kick from the Sharks from the restart aaaaalmost pays off but they’re just not getting the breaks tonight and the Cowboys come away with the ball in the ensuing confusion.
TRY! North Queensland Cowboys 12-0 Cronulla Sharks
16 mins: It’s O’Neill under the posts, with a big helping hand from a Morgan break. JT kicks the conversion. The Cowboys’ early surge shows no signs of relenting. Sharks floundering.
14 mins: Scott is a behemoth for the Cowboys. It took four Sharks just to slow him down just then. The visitors are hanging in but the Cowboys look energised.
12 mins: No sooner have the words come out of my, erm, hand, than the Sharks start attacking the Cowboys line. Just when it looks like the Cowboys might be under pressure, though, a silly penalty lets them off the hook. This is breakneck stuff.
10 mins: How are the Cowboys going to bounce back from this? Sorry, force of habit. How are the Sharks going to bounce back from this? The Cowboys have dominated the early exchanges, the Sharks need to slow it down or build a bit of pressure themselves.
8 mins: End to end stuff! Just when it looks like the Cowboys are going to cross for another try, the Sharks intercept a poor attempt to keep the ball in play and run it right up the other end, falling just short of an immediate reply. Still the Cowboys on top but they almost let the Sharks back in there.
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TRY! North Queensland Cowboys 6-0 Cronulla Sharks
5 mins: Morgan crosses! Great pressure from the Cowboys and the Sharks crumble. Good running from Scott, even better work from Morgan. Thurston can’t curl the resulting kick enough and it goes wide.
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North Queensland Cowboys 2-0 Cronulla Sharks
3 mins: Thurston kicks it straight and true. An easy one for JT. This must be an odd feeling for the Cowboys - they’ve made a good start.
2 mins: Early penalty to the Cowboys, they seem to have caught the Sharks off-guard with a blistering start. Thurston to kick.
Kick-off
1min: Peeeeeeeep!!! And we’re off. The Cowboys start by piling into the Sharks line. Good metres from the hosts early on. Plenty of passion on show already.
Not long to go now people. Gallen just leading his side out onto the pitch. I’m sure he’ll get a rapturous reception from the home crowd.... (cough).
It’s not the biggest stadium but it’s great to see it pretty packed. Plenty of noise too, crowd seem very excited. Of course, that could all turn sour if a big decision goes against the Cowboys. Surely not?
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Here are the line-ups. No late surprises from either side.
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. Interchange: 14 Rory Kostjasyn, 15 John Asiata, 16 Scott Bolton, 17 Ben Hannant
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). Interchange: 14 Ben Barba, 15 Anthony Tupou, 16 Andrew Fifita, 17 Jayson Bukuya
A possible drinking game for anyone watching the finals: down a shot every time a Nine commentator says “do or die”. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard/read it this week. That said, there’s been a notable dip in the number of “last-chance saloons” this year – criminal really considering the pun potential from cowboy connotations. I’m still waiting for a Cowboys-Sharks game where I can legitimately use the pun “Ten-Gallen hat” - although admittedly I’m not sure what circumstances might lead to that. Maybe some sort of millinery mishap in the change rooms which leaves Gallen trapped under 10 hats. Hmm, I maybe losing the plot.
Anyone watch last night’s game between the Roosters and Bulldogs? Are we media types making too much of this Evans try controversy, or was it a genuine game changer? If you haven’t already guessed, by the way I phrased that question, I’m in the first camp. Should it have been awarded? Probably not. Would it have altered the result? Probably not. Anyway, here it is again for your perusal.
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From jumping sharks to punching them – hats off to Mick Fanning who has leapt to the top of the World Surf League, two months after his king hit on a shark in South Africa. I’d think twice about going to the beach again after that, let alone getting back into the water.
Preamble
Evening everyone, well we’ve had almost everything you expect from a finals series so far. Golden point – check. Controversial tries – check. Wayne Bennett’s expressionless face – check. The only thing missing is a good, old-fashioned anti-Cowboys conspiracy, and quicker than you can say “wasn’t that seven tackles?” up pop the Sharks to remind everyone of grievances past. In the words of Paul Green (or someone very much like him) “I gotta lotta problems with you people”.
Still, you know what they say “ third fourth time lucky” and beating the Sharks tonight would go some way to salving those old finals wounds. Not that Cronulla will roll over. The Cowboys will have to channel their inner Fonzie if they want to jump these Sharks, which is something this blog may have just done with that laboured pun*.
Michael Maguire’s remark that Cronulla are genuine contenders for the title this year may have sounded like the typical post-game mutterings of a man keen to cover his own side’s shortcomings, but there’s more than a trickle of truth in it. And after all their off-field problems, the Sharks are the closest thing we’ve got to a “finals fairytale” this year – although Maroons fans might view Paul Gallen as a Wicked Witch rather than Prince Charming.
Hello and thanks for joining us for tonight’s knockout clash between the Sharks and the Cowboys in Townsville. A trip to Melbourne for a shot at the grand final is the prize on the line, with the loser facing yet another year without silverware. Richard Gadsby will be here shortly to bring you all the action from Townsville. Until then, here’s what Nick Tedeschi has to say about tonight’s two opponents.
Home On The Range
North Queensland will be out to protect their unbeaten home finals record when they host Cronulla on Sunday night.
The Cowboys have played five finals at the ground now known as 1300 Smiles Stadium dating back to 2004 and have never lost at the ground. Four of the wins – including the last three – have been by double digits. All have been in front of a rabid home crowd, one as loud as any in the NRL.
Of the last 13 finals matches played outside of Sydney, 10 have been won by the home team. One-club towns get a monumental home-field advantage in September and the Cowboys know it.
Nothing to Lose for Sizzling Sharks
It has been nearly 50 years without a premiership for the team from The Shire but it is impossible to write off the irrepressible Sharks.
With just six teams left in the title race, last year’s wooden spooners may be in better form than any of the remaining sides. Only the Roosters and Bulldogs have won more games than Cronulla since Round 21. The Sharks come into this off the biggest Week 1 finals victory, dismantling the defending premiers South Sydney.
Cronulla aren’t flashy about the way they go about their football but they play with a toughness that will put a big scare into North Queensland. The Cowboys won’t be helped by the fact the Sharks rolled them twice this year and eliminated them just two seasons back. The Sharks don’t have a hoodoo on the Cowboys but they do have the wood on them.
With nothing to lose and the pressure squarely on the North Queensland, Paul Gallen’s team look every chance of besting the Cowboys on Saturday night.
You can read Nick’s full thoughts on the weekend action here.
