FULL-TIME: Sharks 42 def Cowboys 6
Hynes loses it in contact.
Sharks get the feed
First touch from Valemei and then it is knocked on by Sam Stonestreet.
VIDEO REF: Gee has a NO TRY
He's been great today Nicho! Probably the best on the park and he adds it!
Three straight doubles for Mulitalo! Well worked to the left as Trindall and Kennedy combine to send Ronaldo away for try number two
Nanai hasn't scored a penalty try and it's a clean tackle !
Video Ref NQL: Gee has a PENALTY TRY!
PUSH AND SHOVE!
SIX MORE NQL: Slow peel
KNOCK ON BRAILEY
CHALLENGE CRO: On field call is knock on.
Put down by Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.
Ball knocked down by Blayke Brailey. Sun turns to night at Shark Park.
PENALTY NQL: Tackle in the air against William Kennedy.
Oh my goodness Chad... a big mistake after just earning 6 more.
SIX MORE NQL: Leg lift
Holmes adds the extras.
After forcing a goal-line dropout. North Queensland finally crossed for their first try after over an hour of game time. A well worked set play saw Chad Townsend put the ball behind the defensive line and Valentine Holmes was able to pounce and score for the visitors.
Jake Granville SIGHTING!
FORCED DROPOUT NQL: Mulitalo catches it in the field of play and runs towards the Monty Porter Stand to take it dead.
Rare break sees Semi Valemei in space but he's brought down 40m out
Cronulla have a disappointing end of set.
PENALTY SHARKS: Sam McIntyre is out of play. What is yet to go wrong for the visitors.
Conversion successful.
I think it's time to wave the white flag. Following off another Cowboys mistake out of yardage. The Sharks shift play to the left and Hynes delivered a wonderful pass to Mulitalo who was allowed to run untouched right round underneath the sticks.
Cowboys put it down yet again. This is like watching a Sydney Shield side go around at the moment. Just some lackadaisical errors.
Sharks taken on the last and it'll be a change over.
That will rub salt into the wound... pretty embarrassing from the Cowboys.
FALCON! Hynes kicks it and it hits Robson's noggin.
Well taken from Stonestreet in the air. Cowboys had a much better set coming out of their own end.
Hynes is successful.
A Hynes bomb was up in the air for Drinkwater to take. But under pressure from Briton Nikora, he spilled the ball and Trindall was jolly on the spot for his second try.
Cowboys forced to turn the ball over on the last.
CHALLENGE SUCCESSFUL: It'll be ruck interference against Siosifa Talakai.
Hang on we have a challenge here
Neame has lost it...
PENALTY COWBOYS: Slow peel
Cronulla are just dominating the middle third at the moment and have done so since the whistle blew.
Todd Payten filthy with his sides defence. Craig Fitzgibbon says to forget the scoreboard and earn what you delivered
BACK UNDERWAY! Sharks kicking off for the second half.
HALF-TIME: Sharks 24 leading North Queensland 0
No they cannot. Holmes puts it down.
Williams knocks on - can the Cowboys capitalise
Alarm bells have to be ringing for Todd Payten's team at the moment. Just seem to be behind on every aspect.
Anti climax for the Sharks as the pass goes forward
Hynes adds the extras.
After Scott Drinkwater's intercepted pass, the Sharks again set up camp down in the Cowboys half. Blayke Brailey capitalised on a quick play the ball finding Trindall who put boot to ball and got a room-service bounce for a great individual try.
PICKED OFF! Intercepted by Mulitalo and he gets up and over halfway
PENALTY COWBOYS: Hand on Ball
Bend it like Nicho!
A Braydon Trindall kick was batted back by Jesse Ramien, Jack Williams was on the spot who got it onto debutant Sam Stonestreet to cross for his maiden try in the NRL.
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki has PASSED his HIA.
Will Kennedy takes it on the full continuing his outstanding opening half.
12-0
BIG BALD TOM! The Cowboys had to do a lot of defence on their line and eventually it took their toll. Tom Hazelton beat a handful of defenders to get his way to the line and give the Sharks a handy 12-0 lead.
Teig Wilton denied by Chester and Drinkwater! Great defensive effort from the Cowboys
Hynes' grubber kick is taken by Chester but it'll be a goal-line dropout.
PENALTY SHARKS: High shot against Chad Townsend.
Starting to have some rhythm this one
Griffin Neame ON > Jason Taumalolo OFF.
PENALTY SHARKS: High tackle by Jeremiah Nanai.
Much better kick from Townsend!
Trindall's kick is recovered by Chad Townsend.
Cowboys hang on to secure the attacker on the last. Sharks really turning the Cowboys around. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki was receiving treatment and has come from the ground for a HIA with Jeremiah Nanai coming in.
Kick sails over the dead ball line. Pretty woeful result for the visitors
Mulitalo is ruled to have lost that bomb, Kennedy claimed number two but Adam Gee correctly rules a knock on.
PENALTY SHARKS: A great first up take by Samuel Stonestreet! But, Val Holmes is pinned for taking him in the air.
Dearden breaking down the Sharks right for the first linebreak of the afternoon. Kennedy able to take the high kick on the next play!
Hynes adds the extras
A high kick from Nicho Hynes was defused by Scott Drinkwater, but as he was getting dragged towards the sideline. He flipped it back in play, but it was intercepted by Will Kennedy who fooled the lone Cowboy in cover defence to score for his maiden try of 2024 after 2 minutes.
Both sides through their opening sets but the Sharks just having to work from further out of their own end to start.
KICKOFF! Adam Gee blows time on and we're underway with the Sharks getting first use of it running from left to right.
Game number 100 for Braden Hamlin-Uele this afternoon. Big crowd is in at Shark Park.
Referee is Adam Gee in game number 244. Dave Munro and Paki Parkinson are the touch judges. Our video review official is Ashley Klein
Good afternoon and welcome to Shark Park for this Round 7 NRL clash between the Cronulla Sharks and North Queensland Cowboys. Both sides have been entertaining to watch in season 2024, with the Sharks at the top of the ladder while North Queensland have a 4-2 record through six matches. On the team cards this afternoon, Cronulla are 1-17 but have a debutant with Samuel Stonestreet playing in his maiden NRL game. North Queensland have promoted Jack Gosiewski to the run on team while Jeremiah Nanai drops to the bench. Kickoff just after 4pm and after Rhys' blog of the Dogs and Knights.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Adam Gee
Touch Judges: David Munro, Paki Parkinson
Video Referee: Ashley Klein
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (42)
Tries: William Kennedy, Thomas Hazelton, Samuel Stonestreet, Braydon Trindall (2), Ronaldo Mulitalo (2)
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Nicho Hynes (7/7)
Penalty Goals:
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (6)
Tries: Valentine Holmes
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (1/1)
Penalty Goals: