NRL Match Preview: Round 7 v Cowboys

Author: Troy Whittaker Media Coordinator
Timestamp: Sat 20 Apr 2024, 04:04 PM

Two of the NRL's in-form teams will meet in a Sunday afternoon blockbuster when the Sharks host the Cowboys at PointsBet Stadium.

Cronulla entered the round on top of the ladder, having won four of their five matches along with a bye, while North Queensland sat fourth with a 4-2 record.

Despite their ladder position, the Sharks aren't getting swept up in the excitement.

"It's nice and it's pleasing to have this start to the season, but we're not even a quarter of the way through yet," prop Toby Rudolf said.

"There's still plenty of work ahead and still plenty of improvement to go for us."

Cronulla are celebrating two major milestones – front-rower Braden Hamlin-Uele's 100th NRL match and winger Sam Stonestreet's first – while the Paul Green Medal will be presented to the man of the match in honour of a great of both clubs.

De La Salle Caringbah product Stonestreet, who grew up watching the Sharks on the PointsBet Stadium family hill, has earned his crack at the big time with Sione Katoa suspended.

The 21-year-old has a fervent supporter in teammate Rudolf.

"That man is the fastest human being I've ever seen. I'm pretty sure he's the fastest man in the solar system. He is lightning, mate," Rudolf said.

"He's like a gazelle ... You know those lizards that run on the water? That's how he runs. It's quite a sight to see. I just really hope for his, ours and the fans' sake that we see him with the ball in open space."

After an arduous off-season recovering from knee surgery, Hamlin-Uele got through his return for the Newtown Jets last week unscathed. He has been named on the bench to face the club where he debuted with the late Green as coach in 2017.

"It seems pretty fitting. It's like a full-circle moment," Hamlin-Uele said.

"It was a long, tough journey but I'm excited to be back."

He added: "It's the old cliché. You dream of making one (game), your debut. And then you get to 100... it's very surreal."

Fullback Scott Drinkwater will register his 100th Cowboys match, giving North Queensland their own milestone motivation as they aim to rebound from a defeat to the Eels.

Fresh off a standout display in last week's victory over the Rabbitohs, Cronulla flyer Ronaldo Mulitalo is looking to touch down at PointsBet Stadium for a ninth straight match. He's bagged 11 tries from his previous eight starts at the venue.

The Sharks own a 66 per cent win rate over the Cowboys – their best versus any current opponent – and have triumphed in 14 of their past 17 games against the men from Townsville.

They've been beaten just once by North Queensland in their seven most recent clashes at PointsBet Stadium, but the lone loss was a heartbreaking extra-time finals defeat courtesy of a two-point Valentine Holmes field goal in 2022.

In any case, Cronulla are gearing up for a mighty challenge, with ex-Sharks pair Holmes – the competition's leading point-scorer coming into the round – and Chad Townsend central to the Cowboys' cause.

"Two physical teams that just love to play flat and fast," Hamlin-Uele said when asked how he sees the sides matching up.

"They've got some strike players everywhere across the park. Drinkwater for them out the back, Chaddy (Townsend) and Tom Dearden are steering them around pretty well and they've got those back-rowers that are quite elusive.

"Then you've got (Reece) Robson at the ruck who's physical and tough and knows how to run the ball. We'll have our wits about us when they come down, just like they'll have their wits about them. If we play our footy then I'm sure we'll be right."

Kick-off on Saturday is at 4.05pm, with TV coverage on Channel Nine, Nine Now, Foxtel and Kayo.

See the updated team lists below.

Round 7 - Round 7 - Sunday 21 Apr

Full Time

Sharks

Cowboys

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Samuel Stonestreet

Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien

Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine Holmes
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Kayal Iro

Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Tom Chester
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo

Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Semi Valemei
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall

Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Thomas Hazelton

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey

Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Oregon Kaufusi

Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jason Taumalolo
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora

2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton

2nd Row for Cowboys is number 17 Jack Gosiewski
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Jack Williams

Interchange for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Toby Rudolf

Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Jake Granville
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Siosifa Talakai

Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Griffin Neame
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Braden Hamlin-Uele

Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Sam McIntyre