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Cowboys v Sharks: Dearden out; Colquhoun to debut for Talakai

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pan66.com
Timestamp

North Queensland host the Sharks on Friday night at Queensland Country Bank Stadium looking to break a seven-game losing streak against the visitors that stretches back to 2018.

A Johnathan Thurston-led Cowboys got the chocolates in round one that night but since then it's been all one-way traffic with Cronulla racking up wins in both Sydney and Townsville. 

Cronulla's big win over Melbourne in round 17 has them in the top four while the victory against their rivals has helped the Cowboys move to second on points differential. 

With both side's looking for their fifth win in a row, the top four battle is set to be one of the matches of the round.

Sportsbet Betting preview: Cowboys v Sharks

The Rundown

Team news

Cowboys: Tom Dearden won't play after his Origin heroics on Wednesday night and is replaced in the run-on side by Ben Hampton. Hampton's inclusion in the halves alongside Chad Townsend sees Tomas Chester join the bench. Tom Gilbert is set to start in the back row alongside Luciano Leilua, with Connelly Lemuelu moving to the bench.

Sharks: Siosifa Talakai has been replaced on the bench by 20-year-old debutant Jesse Colquhoun after sustaining a shoulder Injury in Wednesday's Origin decidder. Nicho Hynes and Toby Rudolf are set to play after the pair missed last week's win over the Storm due to COVID-19 protocols.

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 Kyle Feldt
    Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
  • Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
    Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
  • Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Peta Hiku
    Centre for Sharks is number 4 Connor Tracey
  • Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Brendan Elliot
    Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
  • Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 16 Ben Hampton
    Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan
  • Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend
    Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Forwards

  • Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
    Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf
  • Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
    Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
  • Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Coen Hess
    Prop for Sharks is number 10 Royce Hunt
  • 2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Tom Gilbert
    2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Teig Wilton
  • 2nd Row for Cowboys is number 15 Luciano Leilua
    2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Wade Graham
  • Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason Taumalolo
    Lock for Sharks is number 13 Dale Finucane

Interchange

  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 12 Connelly Lemuelu
    Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Cameron McInnes
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Jake Granville
    Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Braden Hamlin-Uele  
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Griffin Neame
    Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Andrew Fifita
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 18 Tom Chester
    Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Jesse Colquhoun

Reserves

  • Replacement for Cowboys is number 22 Riley Price
    Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Braydon Trindall

Match Officials

  • Referee: Adam Gee
  • Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
  • Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated:

Key match-up

Chad Townsend v Nicho Hynes: A former premiership-winning Sharks lines up against the man who indirectly replaced him in the shire this season. It's safe to say both parties have benefitted from their moves to rival clubs in 2022 with Townsend enjoying a maiden season at the Cowboys. With the departures of Townsend and Shaun Johnson last year, the Sharks have found a playmaker who brings organisation and an X-factor to the side's play. Cronulla's win without Hynes was equally as impressive. 

Stat Attack

Cronulla have made 28 more line breaks than the Cowboys in 2022 and lead the competition in this stat overall, ahead of the Storm and Panthers. Sharks wingers Ronaldo Mulitalo (22) and Sione Katoa (16) are in the NRL's top three while Murray Taulagi leads the way for the Cowboys on 11.

Related

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.