Saturday first NRL Week 1 match 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 which see’s home team Cronulla Sharks hold favouritism in the market. 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

Cowboys wary of Carney factor for Sharks

North Queensland are wary Todd Carney’s presence will ensure they face a different Cronulla in Saturday’s NRL elimination final to the one they beat a fortnight ago.

The Sharks were without their key playmaker in the round 25 loss to the Cowboys at Remondis Stadium, part of North Queensland’s remarkable six-match winning run to reach the finals.

Both the Sharks and Cowboys are heavily reliant on their five-eighths and whichever No.6 has the upper hand on Saturday is set to emerge victorious.

Carney has more than three times the number of try assists (20) of his next best teammate while Cowboys talisman Johnathan Thurston is just as vital to his team’s hopes.

There’s no doubt Carney’s return to Cronulla’s line-up in time for the finals has put the Cowboys on notice.

“Without Carney it’s a totally different team,” Cowboys winger Antonio Winterstein told AAP.

“He’s the go-to man in their team and he’s the general.

“When we played them and he wasn’t there, that really took away their kicking game. They couldn’t really get into any good field positions.

“This week it’ll be a totally different side and they’ll be stepping it up with a fully-fit squad.”

Winterstein has been an ever-present through the Cowboys’ winning streak and he feels the belief generated over those games will carry over into the finals.

“A few weeks ago no-one expected us to be there,” Winterstein said.

“To prove everyone wrong and prove ourselves wrong is a massive feeling.”