Queensland Country Bank Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 21 NRL game between North Queensland Cowboys and Cronulla Sharks. The game kicks off at 5:30 pm with North Queensland Cowboys heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the North Queensland Cowboys vs. Cronulla Sharks game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Saturday July 27, 2024 at 5:30 pm
Where: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE
North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks Odds
North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks Preview
Another crunch game on Saturday with North Queensland eager to cement a place in the Top 8 and Cronulla still looking to dig its way out of a slide.
The Cowboys have won six of their last eight, bouncing back from a golden point loss to Manly before the Round 19 bye with a gritty 20-18 victory over the Bulldogs last Sunday. Heilum Luki bagged a double and Jaxon Purdue scored the decisive second half try for the Origin-weary outfit.
Young gun Purdue moves to the centres this week with Valentine Holmes going to the wing in the Cowboys only change.
The third-placed Sharks are coming off the bye, having demolished Wests Tigers 58-6 in their most recent outing after losing five of their previous six. The absence of Nicho Hynes didnt worry the Sharks in the 10-try stroll, with wingers Ronaldo Mulitalo and Sione Katoa scoring five between them.
The Sharks have named debutant Liam Ison at fullback for the suspended Will Kennedy, while Siosifa Talakai is back from a ban on the interchange.
The Sharks have won 11 of their last 12 against the Cowboys the only exception was the 2022 golden point qualifying final.
Its been one-way traffic since then: Cronulla won 44-6 and 32-12 last season, and 42-6 in the Round 7 clash this season, with Mulitalo scoring five tries across those three games.
The Sharks are 4-0 interstate this season, while the Cowboys 4-4 home record includes a 30-point loss to the Warriors only last week. But there has been a genuine defensive improvement since that night, while the Sharks are up against it with spine stars Kennedy and Hynes on the sidelines.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks Tip
We're tipping North Queensland Cowboys to win at $1.73 odds.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks Teams
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Valentine Holmes 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Griffin Neame 18. Jake Granville 19. Braidon Burns 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Murray Taulagi 22. Jake Clifford
Sharks team: 1. Liam Ison 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Braydon Trindall 8. Royce Hunt 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Thomas Hazelton 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Billy Burns 19. Samuel Stonestreet 20. Niwhai Puru 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Jack Williams
