Sharks and Cowboys meet in top four clash in Townsville

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Thu 14 Jul 2022, 05:55 PM

It’s a game featuring a North Queensland side in second place, up against a Sharks outfit having won four in a row, their most recent win an impressive 28-6 demolition of the Melbourne Storm.

Led by a former Sharks favourite son, at a venue the Cowboys have turned into something of a fortress this season, and the Cronulla side is fully aware they have a considerable challenge awaiting in their top four clash in Townsville tomorrow night.

Despite being without former Shark in Valentine Holmes who is being rested following Wednesday’s Origin decider, the Cowboys will still take to the field with a high level of confidence, steered around the paddock by 2016 Sharks Premiership winning half back Chad Townend who has found a new lease of life since shifting to North Queensland.

“Most of the boys can’t wait to get out there and play Chaddy, he was a big part of this club for a long time,” Sharks centre Jesse Ramien expressed earlier in the week. “I’m sure there will be a bit of chatter out there on the field.

“He’s been playing some real good footy for them, maybe career best form. We’ll have a job on our hands to shut him down and get at him.”

However as important as Townsend has been to the Cowboys in 2022, their success has come from a variety of contributors and as a result of a resolute defensive attitude, however Ramien believes a win on Friday night will be another step forward as his team chases a top four finish.

“If we can go up there and put in a good performance it would be massive for us, it can really set our season up.” Ramien said.

“But (the Cowboys) are not in the top four for no reason. They’re defence has come a long way, they’re working hard for each other, they keep turning up, that’s what wins games,” he added.

While Ramien was integral in the Sharks win over Melbourne, the team also benefited from the return of hard-running prop Braden Hamlin-Uele who managed a successful return from a long-term pectoral injury.

“I was happy to get through the game and the boys performed exceptionally. The lungs were burning, but the pec was fine. I was more worried about getting put on report twice,” Hamlin-Uele said.

On report but not charged, Hamlin-Uele will again take his place in the Sharks side this week, however not so fortunate was back rower Briton Nikora who will miss the Cowboys match after copping a one-game suspension for dangerous contact.

In Nikora’s place comes talented youngster Teig Wilton, with the Sharks to also welcome back Nicho Hynes and Toby Rudolf after the pair missed the Storm win due to Covid.

Otherwise, the Sharks team is set to take on a similar look to the one which took to the field a week ago, with Siosifa Talakai, a member of the NSW team in last night’s Origin match, included in the 19-man squad.

Connor Tracey, outstanding in the game against Melbourne where he ran for a game-high 175 metres, has been selected in the centres for the Sharks, Talakai comes in as a part of a six-man reserves list, with utility Braydon Trindall and young forward Jesse Colquhoun have been retained in the 19. Aiden Tolman comes out of the team as named on Tuesday.

The game will also be Tracey's 50th in the NRL. He played two top grade games at Souths in 2019 before debuting for the Sharks in the NRL in 2020.

In other team news, the Cowboys have chosen to rest Holmes as well as backrower Jeremiah Nanai following the Origin game in Brisbane, while Jordan McLean who was injured in NSW Origin camp, has also been ruled out of tomorrow’s game.

In the head-to-head numbers from matches played between the two clubs, the Sharks hold a sizeable advantage, having won on 34 occasions as compared to 18 wins from the Cowboys.

Should they win tomorrow night it will be the Sharks eighth straight victory over North Queensland and the fourth in a row against the Cowboys in matches played in the Sunshine State.

Their most recent meeting came in round 15, 2021 in Townsville with the Sharks prevailing 26-24 in a match they led 26-12 until the 74th minute before almost getting run down. The Sharks also claimed the win in 2020 in their only other appearance at the new Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

The Cowboys, who will be aiming to win a sixth straight match at home, come into the contest on 26 competition points, following 12 wins and four losses so far in 2022, two points and one win ahead of the Cronulla side.

For Townsend, who played 146 games from 2011-20 for the Sharks, this will be his first against his old club when representing the Cowboys. Following a brief stint at the Warriors in 2021, Townsend arrived in Townsville for the 2022 season.

And adding just a little more spice to Friday’s game, Coaches Todd Payten and Craig Fitzgibbon were teammates at the Roosters in 2003.

The Sharks v Cowboys match is scheduled for a 6.00pm kick-off on Friday night, with the two 19-man squads listed below.

Round 18 - Round 18 - Friday 15 Jul

Full Time

Cowboys

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Peta Hiku

Centre for Sharks is number 4 Connor Tracey
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Brendan Elliot

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 16 Ben Hampton

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Coen Hess

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Royce Hunt
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Tom Gilbert

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Teig Wilton
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 15 Luciano Leilua

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Wade Graham
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason Taumalolo

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Dale Finucane

Interchange

Interchange for Cowboys is number 12 Connelly Lemuelu

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Cameron McInnes
Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Jake Granville

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Braden Hamlin-Uele
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Griffin Neame

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Andrew Fifita
Interchange for Cowboys is number 18 Tom Chester

Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Jesse Colquhoun