Madimack 'Power Players' - Round 25
The Sharks put the bite on the Cowboys with a statement 32-12 win to keep their top four hopes alive and put North Queensland's finals aspirations in jeopardy on Thursday night.
It was another solid outing for the boys in black, white and blue, with a number of standout performers in the match.
We take a look at this week's 'Power Players' thanks to Madimack.
CONNOR TRACEY
Fullback Connor Tracey was immense for the Sharks.
Tracey took the tough carries to start the Sharks sets off with vigour on his way to 273 metres off 25 runs.
He was direct and dangerous with every touch of the ball, combining superbly with halfback Nicho Hynes out the back to set up Ronaldo Mulitalo flying over on the left edge for the Sharks first try.
Connor also took home the Paul Green Medal as the player of the match, earning a lot of praise from Coach Craig Fitzgibbon in the post-match conference.
"We couldn't find a way to get out of our own end at all and he (Connor Tracey) found a way every set just to get us going and constantly turned up. For the situation of the game we needed that guy more than anything tonight."
NICHO HYNES
Cronulla's halves pairing of Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall proved the difference in the end, with their kicking and game management a class above in Townsville.
Nicho was back to his best against the Cowboys, running dangerously with the ball, setting up his outside men out the back, and sturdy in defence.
Hynes set up his skipper with a perfectly weighted grubber in-goal early in the second, before putting the game out of reach for North Queensland, showing off some classy footwork to cross for a try of his own.
Nicho was clinical off the boot as well, nailing 6 from 6 attempts.
BLAYKE BRAILEY
What an absolute warrior Blayke Brailey is. Not the biggest man in the middle, but possibly the one with the most heart.
North Queensland hammered him all night, sending middle man after middle man directly at Brailey, who never took a backwards step.
Body on the line and with a perfect tackles technique, Brailey was able to handle everything that came, on his way to 44 tackles for the match.
His crisp service was once again on show, controlling the ruck and setting up his big men through the middle with a line break and try assist to his name.
TOBY RUDOLF
Toby Rudolf got through a mountain of work on Thursday night in Townsville.
It might not have been the flashiest performances, but it was the type of stint his side needed.
Run hard, tackle hard, the fundamentals of the game for a front rower, and Toby executed with grit and determination.
On the night Rudolf finished with 125 metres, 43 of those post-contact on some tough carries, with a game high 45 tackles to his name.
NEXT UP
The Sharks will enjoy a longer turn around before heading up the freeway to Mcdonald Jones Stadium to meet with the Newcastle Knights on Sunday.
Grab your tickets for the match here and get up too support the boys on their run home.
