NRL Match Preview: Round 8 v Cowboys

Author: Troy Whittaker Sharks Media
Timestamp: Thu 23 Apr 2026, 12:17 PM

Passion will be palpable when the Sharks face the Cowboys with the Paul Green Medal on the line in an Anzac Round showdown at Townsville's Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Friday night.

Recharged after a bye, seventh-placed Cronulla are eager to return to winning ways after a two-match streak was snapped by a loss to the Roosters in Round 6.

The Cowboys – who sit on the same amount of points as the Sharks but rank 11th due to differential – are also looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat, having gone down to the Sea Eagles 38-6 on home turf last week.

The Anzac spirit will loom large given Townsville is Australia's premier garrison city as the home of the Lavarack Barracks, a major Army base.

Emotions will be heightened by the Paul Green Medal, named after the former Cronulla halfback and premiership-winning North Queensland coach who tragically died in 2022. The clubs have honoured Green since 2023, with the coach of the victorious team awarding the prestigious medal to the Man of the Match.

Sharks prop Addin Fonua-Blake is the most recent recipient of the Paul Green Medal, dominating in Cronulla's 32-12 victory in August last season.

Team News

In a major boost for Cronulla, inspirational co-captain Cameron McInnes will return from an eight-month layoff with an ACL injury via the bench, bolstering the middle rotation. Elsewhere, coach Craig Fitzgibbon has made the bold call to leave Sione Katoa out of the starting side, in turn shifting Mawene Hiroti to the wing and elevating Siosifa Talakai from the interchange to start in the centres.

For the Cowboys, second-rower Jeremiah Nanai is back from the shoulder injury he suffered while representing Samoa in last year's Pacific Championships. Winger Murray Taulagi and hooker Reed Mahoney are also important inclusions for the hosts after missing the loss to Manly through concussion protocols.

Stat Attack

Cronulla possess a strong record over the Cowboys, boasting a 67% win percentage – their highest against any opponent. The Sharks have taken the spoils in 12 of their past 14 encounters, including three on the trot, while keeping North Queensland to a paltry 12 points or less in five of their past seven games.

Expect attacking action aplenty, with Cronulla conceding 22 points or more in five straight games and North Queensland at least 24 points in five of their seven outings – perhaps a reflection of the faster pace under the new six-again rules.

Both sides are equipped with strike power – the Sharks average 26.3 points per game and the Cowboys 23.5 – that will keep fans on the edge of their seat.

And while Cronulla will enter the match as warm favourites according to oddsmakers, North Queensland's form prior to last round – four straight victories including upset triumphs over last year's grand finalists Melbourne and Brisbane – means the Sharks can ill afford to take their foot off the pedal.

Enigmatic Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater shapes as the key threat, having already notched up seven try assists (equal fourth in the league), 10 line-break assists (second) and three tries. Dynamic centre Jaxon Purdue is also in fine form.

Sharks No.1 Will Kennedy has begun the year in style, posting four tries and four try assists while averaging 122 run metres. Five-eighth Braydon Trindall (four tries, seven try assists) is another dangerman for the boys in black, white and blue.

Player & Coach Perspective

"Going to Townsville, it's always a good trip to reconnect and get closer as a squad," Sharks co-captain and hooker Blayke Brailey said.

"I know the flight back from Perth was tough not winning, so I don't want to feel that again. Hopefully, we can go there and play the way we want to play.

"Everyone is fresh in the mind and the body, so hopefully our performances reflect that and we can start fast and put in a full 80-minute performance we're proud of."

Round 8 Media: Blayke Brailey

"We've come up a couple of days early to get ourselves acclimatised and ready. It's an exciting round obviously being Anzac Round. It should be close to a capacity crowd," coach Craig Fitzgibbon told the media on Thursday morning.

"It's the Paul Green Medal as well, so it's an important game.

"We're coming off a bye, so the most important thing for us is to reconnect to each other and play the sort of footy that we know we can. We definitely understand it's going to be a difficult fixture. The Cowboys, up until last week, were playing really good footy; they'd won four in a row. So it makes for a really good challenge for us.

"Cam (McInnes) would have played months ago if you let him. He's just a fantastic leader and a fantastic guy who gives our team a lot of intensity, not only in preparation but the way that he plays. He's an important asset to us."

The Coach's Mail - Round 8

Where to Watch

The match will be broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo with a 6pm kick-off.

For those not travelling north, Sharks at Kareela is the next-best place to watch the boys in black, white and blue! CLICK HERE for more information.

See the squads below.

Round 8 - Round 8 - Friday 24 Apr

8:00 am

Cowboys

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Braidon Burns

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Mawene Hiroti
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Jaxon Purdue

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Siosifa Talakai
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Tom Chester

Centre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Samuel Stonestreet
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Jake Clifford

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Tom Dearden

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Coen Hess

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reed Mahoney

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jason Taumalolo

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Toby Rudolf
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum Luki

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Billy Burns
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Jesse Colquhoun

Interchange

Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Soni Luke

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Briton Nikora
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Sam McIntyre

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Cameron McInnes
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Thomas Mikaele

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Griffin Neame

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton
Interchange for Cowboys is number 18 Matthew Lodge

Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Hohepa Puru
Interchange for Cowboys is number 19 Kai O'Donnell

Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Tuku Hau Tapuha

Reserves

Reserve for Cowboys is number 20 Zac Laybutt

Reserve for Sharks is number 20 Riley Jones
Reserve for Cowboys is number 21 Kaiden Lahrs

Reserve for Sharks is number 21 Riley Pollard
Reserve for Cowboys is number 22 Robert Derby

Reserve for Sharks is number 22 Sione Katoa