NRLW 2025, North Queensland Cowboys, Cronulla Sharks, Finals, match preview, official team lists, updates

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Wed 17 Sep 2025, 02:20 PM

The North Queensland Cowboys will benefit from a big home-field advantage when they host the Sharks in the opening week of the NRLW finals series.

The Cowboys fell to fourth with a loss to Brisbane last week, but they had done enough work earlier in the year to secure a home final at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

North Queensland won three of five games in Townsville this season and will take plenty of confidence from a road victory over Cronulla at Sharks Stadium in Round 3.

Krystal Blackwell starred on that occasion, with the Cowboys outside backs laying the foundation for their recent success.

The return of playmaker Kirra Dibb has also provided a major boost and she will look to lead her side past last year's grand finalists.

The Sharks have been battered by injuries throughout the campaign and enter the finals on the back of a two-game losing streak.

They have, however, shown they are among the competition's elite teams on their day and will travel north looking to plot an upset.

Finals Week 1 - Finals Week 1 - Saturday 20 Sep

6:15 am

Cowboys

Sharks

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

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Team News

Cowboys: A big boost for North Queensland, with Jakiya Whitfeld set to return from a shoulder injury in Saturday afternoon. The fullback's return will see Krystal Blackwell shift to the wing and Ebony Rafstrand-Smith drop back to the reserves. Coach Ricky Henry has made a bold move by changing his halves for the sudden-death clash, with Tahlulah Tillett named to replace Rosie Kelly. China Polata also comes into the starting side after being 18th player last week, with Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell dropping back to the extended squad.

Sharks: Georgia Ravics has been named to return from a knee injury that forced her to withdraw from last week's loss to the Roosters. The winger replaces the suspended Dom Du Toit. Rhiannon Byers will also complete her comeback from a back injury and has been named on the interchange after acting as 18th player last week. Halfback Chantay Kiria-Ratu has been named in the No.7 jersey despite picking up a knee injury last Thursday.

Finals Week 1 - Finals Week 1 - Saturday 20 Sep

6:15 am

Cowboys

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Jakiya Whitfeld

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 Jada Taylor
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Krystal Blackwell

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Cassie Staples
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Abigail Roache

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Tiana Penitani Gray
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Jasmine Peters

Centre for Sharks is number 4 Grace-Lee Weekes
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Francesca Goldthorp

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Georgia Ravics
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Kirra Dibb

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Emma Verran
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Tahlulah Tillett

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Chantay Kiria-Ratu

Forwards

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Lillian Yarrow

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Ellie Johnston
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Emma Manzelmann

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Georgia Hannaway
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Makenzie Weale

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Manilita Takapautolo
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Tallisha Harden

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Talei Holmes
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 China Polata

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Jaydika Tafua
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Bree Chester

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Brooke Anderson

Interchange

Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Alisha Foord

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Tyla King
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Lily Peacock

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Rhiannon Byers
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Tiana Raftstrand-Smith

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Stephanie Faulkner
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Essay Banu

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Anne-Marie Kiria-Ratu

Reserves

Replacement for Cowboys is number 18 Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell

Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Nakia Davis-Welsh
Reserve for Cowboys is number 19 Ebony Raftstrand-Smith

Reserve for Sharks is number 19 Jacinta Carter
Reserve for Cowboys is number 20 Rosie Kelly

Reserve for Sharks is number 20 Leki Leilua
Reserve for Cowboys is number 21 Lily Dick

Reserve for Sharks is number 21 Monique Donovan
Reserve for Cowboys is number 22 Tafao Asaua

Reserve for Sharks is number 23 Tia-Jordyn Vasilovski

Jakiya Whitfeld
Lily Dick
Tafao Asaua
Tahlulah Tillett

Georgia Ravics
Leki Leilua
Monique Donovan
Nakia Davis-Welsh
Tia-Jordyn Vasilovski

Dominique du Toit

Match Officials

Referee: Kasey Badger
Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy

Last updated: 9/17/2025 6:18:11 AM

Stat Attack

The Cowboys have conceded 94 points in their last three games.
Sharks winger Cassie Staples has scored three tries in two games against the Cowboys.
The Cowboys have only one third of the finals experience of the Sharks’ line-up.
Sharks captain Tiana Penitani Gray has scored three tries in two finals matches for the club.
Cowboys fullback Jakiya Whitfeld has scored six tries in nine games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.