The Sharks and Cowboys are one win apiece in their 2024 meetings and whoever takes the 2-1 lead this weekend in Sydney will march on to a preliminary final.
SportsBet Betting Preview - Sharks v Cowboys
The men from Townsville left it late to run down a gallant Knights outfit but look to be growing in confidence with four wins on the trot.
The Sharks took a mauling at the hands of minor premiers Melbourne and must regroup quickly if they are to avoid an eighth consecutive finals loss dating back to 2018.
Centre Jesse Ramien is racing the clock to be fit after missing the Sharks' trip to AAMI Park game with an ankle injury while the Cowboys look to have a clean bill of health as they head for their first final at Allianz Stadium since 2017, when they downed the Roosters 29-16 to move into the decider.
The form of Tom Dearden, Scott Drinkwater and Val Holmes makes the Cowboys an extremely dangerous proposition and the Sharks need to rediscover the tenacious tackling that made them the second-best defensive team behind Penrith in the regular season.
Match: Sharks v Cowboys
Finals Week 2 -
home Team
Sharks
4th Position
away Team
Cowboys
5th Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Sharks: Star centre Jesse Ramien is listed among the reserves as he looks to return from the ankle injury that ruled him out of the game against the Storm. Ramien will be given until later in the week to try and prove his fitness but for the moment the Sharks go with the same 17 as week one of the finals. Braden Hamlin-Uele is listed as 18th man.
Cowboys: Coach Todd Payten has the luxury of naming the same 17 that got the job in the sudden-death showdown with the Knights. Jaxon Purdue is listed as 18th man after Thomas Mikaele filled that role in week one. Chad Townsend, Braidon Burns and Tom Chester are part of the extended squad.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William KennedyFullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
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Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione KatoaWinger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt
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Centre for Sharks is number 3 Siosifa TalakaiCentre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine Holmes
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Centre for Sharks is number 4 Kayal IroCentre for Cowboys is number 4 Viliami Vailea
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Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo MulitaloWinger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
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Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon TrindallFive-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden
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Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas HynesHalfback for Cowboys is number 7 Jake Clifford
Forwards
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Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby RudolfProp for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean
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Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke BraileyHooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
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Prop for Sharks is number 10 Oregon KaufusiProp for Cowboys is number 10 Jason Taumalolo
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum Luki
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
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Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnesLock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter
Interchange
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Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Daniel AtkinsonInterchange for Cowboys is number 14 Sam McIntyre
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Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Jack WilliamsInterchange for Cowboys is number 15 Harrison Edwards
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Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Royce HuntInterchange for Cowboys is number 16 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
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Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas HazeltonInterchange for Cowboys is number 17 Griffin Neame
Reserves
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Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Braden Hamlin-UeleReplacement for Cowboys is number 18 Jaxon Purdue
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Reserve for Sharks is number 19 Tuku Hau TapuhaReserve for Cowboys is number 19 Chad Townsend
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Reserve for Sharks is number 20 Jayden BerrellReserve for Cowboys is number 20 Thomas Mikaele
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Reserve for Sharks is number 21 Samuel StonestreetReserve for Cowboys is number 21 Braidon Burns
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Reserve for Sharks is number 22 Jesse RamienReserve for Cowboys is number 22 Tom Chester
Sharks Ins
- Braden Hamlin-Uele
- Jayden Berrell
- Jesse Ramien
- Samuel Stonestreet
- Tuku Hau Tapuha
Cowboys Ins
- Braidon Burns
- Chad Townsend
- Jaxon Purdue
- Tom Chester
Sharks Outs
- Chris Vea'ila
Cowboys Ins
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Sharks have won 11 of their past 13 games against the Cowboys.
- The Cowboys have won three of their past four finals games against the Sharks.
- Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored 10 tries in 11 games against the Cowboys.
- Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt has scored 12 tries in his past seven games.
- The Sharks have lost their last seven finals matches.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
