NRL Match Preview - Sharks v Cowboys

Author: Troy Whittaker Media Coordinator
Timestamp: Fri 26 Jul 2024, 05:29 PM

Cronulla will field two debutants against the Cowboys tomorrow night, with hooker Jayden Berrell joining Liam Ison in the updated 24-hour squad after being elevated to the interchange.

Berrell comes into the 17 for prop Royce Hunt, who was too sick to travel with the team on Wednesday. The coaching staff weren't willing to risk waiting until game day to see if Hunt would be fit, prompting them to call on the classy Berrell.

Tom Hazelton will start at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in place of Hunt, who is on the mend and set to play reserve grade for the Jets on Saturday.

Personifying persistence, 29-year-old Berrell began his career with the under-20 Broncos over a decade ago before toiling in the Queensland Cup. He joined the Sharks in 2022 and has been a standout for feeder club Newtown ever since.

While Berrell's journey to the top has been long and winding, the dynamic Ison's shot at the big time has perhaps come sooner than expected.

The 19-year-old, who made the switch to Cronulla from Penrith over the summer, will deputise for the suspended Will Kennedy as the Sharks look to establish their position in the top four with seven games left in the regular season.

Kennedy claimed the Paul Green Medal as best on ground when the teams met in Round 7, scoring a try in the Sharks' rousing 42-6 victory at PointsBet Stadium.

But having handled the jump from Jersey Flegg to weekly reserve grade this season with composure, Fitzgibbon believes Ison will capably cover Kennedy's absence.

"He's got an incredibly high work-rate, Liam," Fitzgibbon said.

"He touches the ball most sets and is really hard to tackle, sharp feet, steps off both feet. He can link up well with the edges too.

"We just want Liam to get out there and bring the best version of himself and enjoy it. It's a lifetime dream, an opportunity to play an NRL game."

The Sharks touched down in North Queensland on Wednesday night, spending time connecting and recovering yesterday before today's captain's run.

Cronulla have beaten the Cowboys in 11 of their past 12 meetings, including three on the trot, but they aren't looking in the rear-view mirror for confidence.

"History goes out the window and we're up here in North Queensland, so we're under no illusions as to the challenge that's in front of us," Fitzgibbon said.

Townsville has, however, been a happy hunting ground for the Sharks, who are undefeated at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in four appearances.

"It's quite a new stadium!" former Cowboy Braden Hamlin-Uele quipped.

"It's a tough place to play. We'll keep that in mind, I guess ... Anyone can beat anyone in this comp, so if we go in there half-hearted and with that in the forefront of our mind and not wanting to earn the good stuff, we'll get our pants pulled down.

"That's not what we're about here."

With a blowout victory over Wests Tigers taking them into a bye last weekend, Cronulla are determined to build up a head of steam as the finals draw near.

While they sit in third place, Fitzgibbon knows there's improvement in his troops.

"You never like to get your lessons painfully, but we got some painful lessons in the middle part of the season and seem to have come out of it alright," he said

"We're not confident we're where we need to be yet, but we're confident we can be."

Meanwhile, North Queensland have won six of their past eight matches to move into eighth position, four competition points behind the Sharks.

"We'll have a challenge," Fitzgibbon said of the Todd Payten-guided team. "Cowboys are a terrific club, terrific squad. They're well coached, plenty of representative players. We need to put a good performance out there to be competitive."

Fitzgibbon paid tribute to the late Paul Green, who played 95 games for the Sharks – where he won the 1995 Rothmans Medal – and 35 for the Cowboys in a 162-match career before coaching North Queensland to their maiden NRL title in 2015.

Following his tragic passing in 2022, the teams have competed for the Paul Green Medal in their past three fixtures, with the recipient decided by the winning coach.

"It's a really special occasion," Fitzgibbon said.

"It's a wonderful tribute from both clubs to put it on. There's a healthy respect between both clubs, a healthy rivalry, and that's exactly what you want. Add Paul Green into that and it makes for a good clash, I think."

Kick-off on Saturday is at 5.30pm. Catch the game live on Foxtel and Kayo.

See the updated team lists below.

Round 21 - Round 21 - Saturday 27 Jul

Full Time

Cowboys

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 Liam Ison
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Viliami Vailea

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Cowboys is number 5 Valentine Holmes

Centre for Sharks is number 4 Kayal Iro
Winger for Cowboys is number 21 Murray Taulagi

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Daniel Atkinson
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Braydon Trindall

Forwards

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Oregon Kaufusi
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jason Taumalolo

Prop for Sharks is number 15 Thomas Hazelton
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 16 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Interchange

Interchange for Cowboys is number 3 Jaxon Purdue

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Siosifa Talakai
Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Sam McIntyre

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Toby Rudolf
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Harrison Edwards

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

Interchange for Sharks is number 21 Jayden Berrell