Saturday has two NRL matches with the first game for Finals Week 1 is between Cronulla Sharks and Nth Queensland Cowboys with the opening kick to commence at 4pm local time. The game is to be played at Allianz Stadium with the favourite for the match being Cronulla Sharks. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Cronulla Sharks and Nth Queensland Cowboys.

WHERE AND WHEN: Allianz Stadium, 4pm

Opening odds comparison:

Cronulla Sharks	1.70	1.72	1.70	1.72	1.70	1.72
Nth Queensland Cowboys	2.20	2.15	2.15	2.15	2.20	2.10

Preview:

The second finals game is between the Cronulla Sharks and North Queensland Cowboys, taking place on Saturday, 4.00pm at Allianz Stadium. This has the potential to be
another killer game, the first sudden-death match of the series. If truth be told, however, not many people would have predicted this match-up a few months back, with both
teams having gone through some pretty ordinary patches in 2013. Cronulla have had more than their fair share of off-field drama this season, and the Cowboys have
underperformed in many peoples’ eyes.

The Sharks are playing well at the moment though, hunting as a pack and hungry to get the job done this weekend. They will go into this game as favourites, with Todd Carney, Wade Graham, Jayson Bukuya, and Anthony Tupou all returning to the Sharks line-up. Cronulla have had their best season finish since 2008, and their powerful forward-led play could see them get even further. They will have to watch out for a North Queensland outfit with momentum on their side, however, with the Cowboys having won their last six games with an average of 32.5 points per game.

Teams:

Cronulla Sharks:
Michael Gordon, Sosaia Feki, Ben Pomeroy, Jonathan Wright, Beau Ryan, Todd Carney, Jeff Robson, Andrew Fifita, John Morris, Sam Tagataese, Luke Lewis, Wade Graham, Paul Gallen (c). Interchange (from): Isaac De Gois, Chris Heighington, Jayson Bukuya, Anthony Tupou, Bryce Gibbs, Ben Ross

Nth Queensland Cowboys:
Matthew Bowen, Wayne Ulugia, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston (c), Robert Lui, Matthew Scott (c), Rory Kostjasyn, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall, Joel Riethmuller. Interchange (from): Jayden Hodges, Tariq Sims, Scott Bolton, Jason Taumalolo, Ashton Sims

Sharks fine to play NRL finals: Ings

Former ASADA chairman Richard Ings says it’s entirely appropriate that Cronulla be allowed to play in the NRL finals despite being at the centre of an ongoing doping investigation.

While the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority has concluded interviews with Sharks’ players, it is yet to finalise its probe into the club’s 2011 supplements program.

Unlike AFL club Essendon, Cronulla – who have not been the subject of any adverse findings – will be allowed to participate in this year’s finals after finishing the season in fifth spot.

Their campaign kicks off on Saturday against North Queensland at Allianz Stadium.

“I think it’s entirely appropriate that clubs and players continue business as normal until – and unless – ASADA comes to a point of finding that players or clubs have a serious case to answer for the possible breach of anti-doping rules,” Ings told AAP on Thursday.

“We’re not at that point yet in this process.

“Therefore clubs are innocent; players are innocent. They should be allowed to play through the finals series.”

Ings said it was incumbent upon ASADA to decide whether or not doping offences had been committed at the Sharks.

“And that question remains unanswered as of today,” he said.

“There’s a cloud hanging over the club, there’s a cloud hanging over the players at the club and there’s a cloud hanging over the NRL.

“The NRL has invested its faith in ASADA to answer those questions one way or another.

“If doping offences are uncovered by the authority, then there were rules to follow and consequences which may be imposed.”