The Sharks have snapped a three-game NRLW losing streak with an emphatic 40-12 win over the Cowboys in testing conditions in Townsville.
After winning their season opener against the Raiders, Cronulla had lost to Wests Tigers, Titans and Roosters before hitting back in style with a seven-tries-to-two victory.
The Sharks made the ideal start when Ellie Johnston stormed over from 10 metres out in the second minute before five-eighth Emma Tonegato sliced through in the 16th minute and the visitors led 12-0.
The Cowboys showed signs of life in the sets that followed, including a fiery warning shot by China Polata on Talei Holmes.
But the Sharks were stoic in defence and creative in attack, with points soon falling their way as Tonegato and Brooke Anderson both registered first-half four-pointers.
Ellie Johnston try 1st minute
The biggest celebration was saved for 29-year-old Georgia Ravics when she crossed on debut and her teammates raced in to mob the winger.
The Cowboys hung tough and Jasmine Peters found the line through a scintillating 45-metre run full of fancy footwork.
An 18-point deficit at the break was always going to be a big ask for the home side, despite last week’s come-from-behind victory.
Eight minutes into the second half the Sharks went ahead 28-6 when fullback Jada Taylor produced some electric footwork to leave the Cowboys defence in her wake.
How's the step on Jada Taylor!
Adding injury to the Cowboys' woes they lost winger Autumn-Rain Stephens Daly to a suspected serious knee injury in the 50th minute.
To their credit, the Cowboys never gave up and Emma Manzelmann snuck over from dummy half try before Quincy Dodd and Sereana Naitokatoka put the finishing touches on the Sharks' win.
Tayla Preston was golden with the boot, slotting six of seven conversions, having also entered the game with the competition's most kick metres (1,362).
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Match Snapshot
- Cowboys winger Autum-Rain Stephens Daly left the field for a HIA in the 20th minute which she passed but then suffered a suspected ACL injury in the second half.
- The Sharks' half-time tally of 24 points is the most points scored by any team in the opening 40 minutes this season.
- Sharks lock Chloe Saunders ran for 156 metres and had two tackle breaks while centre Tiana Penitani racked up 196 metres.
- Bree Chester worked the house down in defence for the Cowboys with 38 tackles.
Quincy Dodd try 61st minute
- The Sharks' tally of 40 points is the equal highest in an NRLW match.
- Seven Sharks players all ran for more than 100 metres (Jada Taylor, Tiana Penitani, Emma Tonegato, Tayla Preston, Ellie Johnston, Holli Wheeler and Chloe Saunders).
- The Cowboys have lost both their home games in 2023.
- Georgia Ravics made her NRLW debut at the age of 29 for the Sharks, having previously played in the Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership. She scored a try and ran for 98 metres.
Georgia Ravics scores her first NRLW try
Play of the Game
Blistering footwork and speed by Jasmine Peters when the Cowboys had their backs against the wall. Down 24-nil, a Tahlulah Tillett pass put Peters into space, before she bolted 45-metres. The centre showed incredible footwork at high speed, stepping around defenders before scoring just before the halftime break. The try kept the Cowboys in the game, despite the end result not going their way.
Jasmine Peters try 27th minute
What they Said
“I thought it was a really quality game of football. They completed really well and they had a set game plan and I think the girls just rode that out really well, the momentum. We played some really good football off the back of that and we got some momentum back. Just really proud of how the girls performed against a really good footy team.” - Sharks coach Tony Herman
Sharks: Round 5
“Embarrassing. Unacceptable. I’m actually speechless to be honest. How they’ve trained all week and got prepared and then to dish that up. I think it comes down to individual prep. Were they ready to play? When you get beaten by that sort of scoreline at home, I don’t think they were ready to play. Pretty much our whole group was off the mark today.” - Cowboys coach Ben Jeffries
Cowboys: Round 5
What's Next
The Cowboys head to Sydney in Round 6 to face the Dragons at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. The Sharks are away to the Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium in the final game of the round.