The Sharks face a formidable challenge this weekend when they travel to Townsville to take on a North Queensland side currently riding an 11-game winning streak.
While coming into the game with a good deal of confidence after two wins either side of a round 14 bye, the Sharks will need similar strong performance should they hope to return home with what would be an extremely valuable two competition points.
Coach Shane Flanagan has thrown added some uncertainty in terms of his team selection, with Paul Gallen selected but in jersey 18, while Ben Barba has been named on the interchange bench, with his role on Saturday night still unclear.
Whatever the final outcome, a fit and firing Gallen would be an asset to the Sharks, while should Barba deliver a similar cameo to the one he produced against the Knights the Cronulla side stand an excellent change of securing the points.
The match against the Cowboys is scheduled for a 5.30pm kick-off at 1-300 SMILES Stadium, with the NYC clash to get underway at 1.00pm.
The Sharks team to play the Cowboys is as follows;
NRL Team List – Round 16
Sharks v Cowboys
Saturday, June 27
1-300 SMILES Stadium
Kick-off – 5.30pm
1 Michael Gordon
2 Sosaia Feki
3 Gerard Beale
4 Ricky Leutele
5 Valentine Holmes
6 Jack Bird
7 Jeff Robson
8 Andrew Fifita
9 Michael Ennis
10 Matt Prior
11 Luke Lewis
12 Wade Graham (c)
13 Chris Heighington
INTERCHANGE
14 Jayson Bukuya
15 Ben Barba
16 David Fifita
17 Sam Tagataese
18 Paul Gallen
