The Cowboys return to Townsville with their tails between their legs after a Brookvale belting and they will need to hit back hard in front of their home fans.
They may have been underdogs against Manly but few could have envisaged the blitzkrieg that awaited them as they fell behind by 16 points after just 10 minutes and never recovered.
Cronulla will have taken plenty of heart out of their effort against the Panthers in Vegas but ultimately it was another loss to the four-time defending champs, who sent Craig Fitzgibbon's men packing from the 2024 finals series.
Star recruit Addin Fonua-Blake made 190 metres and scored a try in his Sharks debut and he'll look to build on that foundation this week against a Cowboys pack that have a point to prove after the Manly mauling.
Match: Cowboys v Sharks
Round 2 -
home Team
Cowboys
16th Position
away Team
Sharks
8th Position
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Team News
Cowboys: The Cowboys are 1-17 with no late changes. Veteran Jason Taumalolo has dropped out of the squad on Friday and will play Queensland Cup to get some minutes under his belt on return from a Lisfranc injury. "Jase felt he needed another week to be NRL ready," Payten said. "He'll be ready to go for us next week." Kai O'Donnell is set for his first NRL match since 2020 following the shock omission of Origin forward Jeremiah Nanai. After three years with Leigh Leopards in Super League, O'Donnell is set for his first NRL game since 2020.
Sharks: No further changes on game day after prop Tom Hazelton dropped out on Friday due to back soreness. Coach Craig Fitzgibbon has promoted Tuku Hau Tapahu to the interchange in place of Hazelton, with Billy Burns the new 18th man.
Match: Cowboys v Sharks
Round 2 -
home Team
Cowboys
away Team
Sharks
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott DrinkwaterFullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Braidon BurnsWinger for Sharks is number 2 Samuel Stonestreet
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Jaxon PurdueCentre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Viliami VaileaCentre for Sharks is number 4 Kayal Iro
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray TaulagiWinger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
-
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom DeardenFive-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
-
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Thomas DuffyHalfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes
Forwards
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLeanProp for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
-
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece RobsonHooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Sam McIntyreProp for Sharks is number 10 Oregon Kaufusi
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 John Bateman2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Kai O'Donnell2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
-
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben CotterLock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes
Interchange
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Karl LawtonInterchange for Sharks is number 14 Daniel Atkinson
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Harrison EdwardsInterchange for Sharks is number 15 Siosifa Talakai
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Griffin NeameInterchange for Sharks is number 16 Braden Hamlin-Uele
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Coen HessInterchange for Sharks is number 18 Tuku Hau Tapuha
Reserves
-
Replacement for Cowboys is number 21 Jaxson PauloReplacement for Sharks is number 20 Billy Burns
Match Officials
- Referee: Liam Kennedy
- Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Cowboys have won only two of their past 14 games against the Sharks.
- Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall has scored five tries in his past three games against the Cowboys.
- The Cowboys have won five of their past six games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
- Sharks utility Siosifa Talakai will make his 100th appearance for the club.
- Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi requires one try for 50 NRL tries.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
