Allianz Stadium will play host to Friday's NRL game between Cronulla Sharks and North Queensland Cowboys. The game kicks off at 7:50 pm with Cronulla Sharks heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Cronulla Sharks vs. North Queensland Cowboys game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Friday September 20, 2024 at 7:50 pm

Where: Allianz Stadium

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Cronulla Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys Odds

Cronulla Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys Preview

Cronulla Sharks are staring down the barrel of eight successive finals defeats as they prepare to welcome North Queensland Cowboys to Allianz Stadium on Friday night.

The 14-10 halftime scoreline in Melbourne’s favour last Saturday was deceptive – and Cronulla was completely overrun in the second half of a 37-10 defeat, as the Sharks’ errors were ruthlessly punished and their goal-line defence lacked the necessary intensity and organisation.

Another Nicho Hynes big-game failure rightly came under heavy scrutiny.

He’s survived the axe with Daniel Atkinson a viable halves option, but the Dally M winner was horrendous and his waspy midweek media reaction to the criticism should have alarm bells ringing in the Cronulla camp.

It was far from their only issue for the Sharks, however, with no forwards making more than 81 metres against the Storm.

Jesse Ramien is a chance of returning in the centres, which would allow Siosifa Talakai to provide some much-needed punch in the forwards.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, can consider themselves fortunate to be lining up in week two, overturning a 12-4 halftime deficit – and surviving a big scare at 16-all – to get away with a 28-16 home win over Newcastle via two late tries.

They struggled to contain Kalyn Ponga all night, but the Knights’ limitations allowed the firepower-laden Cowboys to claw back courtesy of classy touches from Kyle Feldt, Valentine Holmes, Scott Drinkwater and Tom Dearden.

Another sleepy first-half display could prove fatal for Todd Payten’s side, which remains unchanged.

The 2024 ledger between the clubs is square, the Sharks romped to a 42-6 win at home in Round 7, but the Cowboys regrouped with a 30-22 victory in Round 21 on the back of a Kyle Feldt hat-trick – which was just their second in 13 matches against Cronulla.

Of course, the other win was a phenomenal 32-30 golden point triumph in the 2022 Qualifying Final in the Sharks’ backyard, won by a booming Valentine Holmes field goal after Jason Taumalolo sent it into extra-time with a last-minute try.

This is the clubs’ sixth finals meeting since first meeting in the post-season in 2013, with the Cowboys leading the count 3-2. Three of them were decided by two points or less.

The Cowboys won their first match at the new Allianz Stadium – a mid-season upset of the Roosters this year – and won a pair of 2017 finals at the pre-refurbished venue after losing five straight post-season games there from 2011-16.

The Sharks’ only appearance at the new SFS was an ugly 38-12 semi-final loss to Souths in 2022 a week after the Cowboys heart-breaker.

If Hynes and the Cronulla pack play with the poise and authority that they frequently do during the regular season, their $1.60 favourite tag is justified…but it’s a big ‘if’ for a team with the finals yips and their key player battling a crisis of confidence.

Riding a 7-1 run, the Cowboys present a more compelling case with plenty of points in them and fewer mental demons to grapple with.