The minor premiership has been won, with the trophy to be presented at the round 25 home game against the Roosters, now the task for Sharks NYC coach John Morris and his team is to remain focused as they pursue an even bigger prize at the end of October.
The young Sharks are nine points clear of their closest rivals at the top of the NYC ladder, meaning that with just three games to go it is impossible for them to be caught.
A record-breaking 14-wins in a row, half-back Kyle Flanagan on track to smash the all-time point scoring high and by any measure it has been a highly impressive season by the Sharks Holden Cup squad.
But it is far from over and nothing will be handed to them over the closing three weeks and the finals to follow, with the North Queensland Cowboys set to deliver a timely reminder as to that fact on Saturday evening.
In firing a warning shot last weekend, the Cowboys easily disposed on the second-placed Panthers and taking the Sharks down and spoiling the unbeaten run is sure to be high on their agenda.
However, this Sharks squad has plenty of resolve and when coupled with a team-full of outstanding individuals, it’s not too difficult to see why they are flying so high in 2017.
While Flanagan, with his 314 points is just eight short of the Holden Cup scoring record, Sione Katoa (first in try scoring with 23, first in tackle busts, first in line breaks), Blayke Brailey (first try and line break assists) and Billy Magoulias (first off-loads), and it is easy to see why the Sharks have achieved so much and sit high on top of the competition table at this point in the season.
The Sharks come into this game after avenging one of only two losses suffered in 2017, with their 40-12 over Brisbane showing how far they have come since going down narrowly to the Broncos in round one.
As for the squad list, Morris has stuck with the team which beat the Broncos last Friday night, with regulars Jack Williams and Brock Ilett still sidelined with injury but inching closer to a return in the coming weeks.
The Sharks and Cowboys NYC match kicks off at 5.10pm at 1300SMILES Stadium.
The Sharks 20-man squad is listed below.
NYC Team List – Round 24
Sharks v Cowboys
Saturday, August 19
1300 SMILES Stadium
Kick-off – 5.10pm
1 William KENNEDY
2 Sione KATOA
3 Isaac LUMELUME
4 Jesse RAMIEN
5 Josh TUILAGI
6 Luke METCALF
7 Kyle FLANAGAN
8 Ryan KING
9 Blayke BRAILEY
10 Daniel VASQUEZ
11 Briton NIKORA
12 Tony MATAUTIA
13 Billy MAGOULIAS ©
Interchange
14 Eddie FAALUA
15 Joshua CARR
16 Bessie AUFAGA-TOOMAGA
17 Zachary FAULKNER
18 James Roumanos
19 Jackson FERRIS
20 Teig WILTON
21 Luke JURD
22 Fine KULA
23 Clayton Uia
