Sharks rally to crush Cowboys streak

The Cronulla Sharks survived an 18-0 half time deficit to win 24-18 in front of a devastated 18,826 fans at 1300 Smiles Stadium on Saturday night.

In a game where both sides were either rocks or diamonds it was Michael Ennis who provided a dominant 80 minute display to steer the Cronulla Sharks to victory.

The score by half time was 18-0 in favour of the Cowboys and it accurately resembled the home side's control.

With 59 per cent of possession it wore the Sharks down. Jake Granville came up with the first and best of the Cowboy's first half tries as his 60m solo effort from dummy half involved breaking three tackles and diving over under the posts in the 12th minute.

North Queensland's forwards made easy metres led by Matt Scott, James Tamou and Granville from dummy half.

In the 14th minute Scott was the victim in what appeared as an accidental crusher tackle from Matt Prior. It forced the Queensland Maroon's front rower off the field but he did return near the end of the first half.

The first half dominance had many predicting a Cowboys win was a foregone conclusion but to the knowledge of none a Sharks reissuance was on its way.

In the first 12 minutes after half time Cronulla had 85 per cent of possession and responded with two tries through Luke Lewis and Sam Tagataese.

On both attacking plays it was Michael Ennis drifting from close range out of dummy half to feed the barnstorming forwards to plant the ball over the line in the 42nd and 48th minute.

At 18-12 up, the Cowboys were starting to gain more attacking field position but the absence of Jonathan Thurston was being felt when fifth tackle options were poorly completed.

Ben Barba was injected into the game after 45 minutes he was busting tacklers and the line to give the Sharks the upper hand for the rest of the game. The points followed and Andrew Fifta in the 61st minute was next to cash in on Ennis's third try assist of the night.

Even after Ricky Leutele's try in the 65th minute gave the Sharks their first lead of the night and eventually the final score of 24-18, nobody counted out the Cowboys as four of their 11 wins in their streak had come from behind with 10 minutes to play.

Cronulla needed a spirited effort from their forwards as the omission of Paul Gallen was massive in their hopes of containing the likes of Scott, Tamou and Jason Taumalolo.

They did receive it through, with tireless performances from Wade Graham and David Fifita as they were the best of an overall great Sharks pack.

Next week the Cowboys will play the St George Illawarra Dragons at WIN Stadium on Saturday, while the Sharks will travel to Brookvale Oval to play the Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday.

Match Details

North Queensland Cowboys 18 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24
Venue: 1300SMILES Stadium
Crowd: 18826
Halftime Score: North Queensland Cowboys 18 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 0

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (18)
Tries: Jake Granville, Justin O'Neill, Antonio Winterstein
Conversions: Ethan Lowe (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Ethan Lowe (1/1)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (24)
Tries: Luke Lewis, Sam Tagataese, Andrew Fifita, Ricky Leutele
Conversions: Michael Gordon (4/4)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Michael Ennis
2 points - Sam Tagataese
1 point - Ben Barba

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to this Round 16 clash between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Cronulla Sharks. For this 5:30pm kick off the sky is clear and the pitch looks like it's going to host some fast, expansive footy. Both teams are 1-17 which means both Jonathan Thurston and Paul Gallen are out tonight. Will the Cowboys have the drive and class to keep their 11 game winning streak alive? Especially without JT and playing against a bottom eight opponent? Can the Sharks provide the upset and join the top 8? Stay tuned for kick off around 5:35pm.

Cronulla are running out. This is a family friendly crowd, there was no booing for the Sharks. Never I rugby league have I seen this happen!

Well it's the Sharks to kick off and get us underway. Here we go!

1: Matt Scott and Gavin Cooper looked strong in the first set of the night. Morgan will kick on fifth down to the Cronulla 20m line and Feki returns the ball.

1: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Ricky Leutele makes an unforced error.
45m out on tackle three Leutele makes an awful play the ball. The Cowboys will get great field position early.

3: Taumalolo is only just taken down by Heighington on fourth tackle, 2m out from the line. Granville attempts to barge over from dummy half on fifth but no dice. Cronulla will start their set on their line.

4: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Wade Graham makes an unforced error.
Excellent metres were made from the Sharks forwards in this set but Wade Graham losses control of the ball while being tackled by three North Queensland players.

5: Penalty to the Cowboys. Andrew Fifta is charged with misconduct in the ruck and the Cowboys have a full set to utilise from 20m out.

6: Surprisingly the Sharks come up with some great defence on their line. On fifth tackle the Cronulla players all rush and up pressure Coote into a dropped ball.

7: Jeff Robson gains excellent metres on a fifth tackle kick and Coote is forced into the in goal to retrieve the ball.

8: From 40m out of the Cronulla line Morgan comes up with a dull kick which goes straight down Gordon's throat. JT there would have been better with the kick placement.

8: The Sharks make 50m and the fifth tackle kick is easily taken by Coote.

9: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Antonio Winterstein makes an unforced error.
He's lost the ball running into the line. The Sharks are now in a prime attacking position, 30m out.

10: Robson finds space with a dummy 5m from the line but Matt Scott's effort comes up with a great try saver. The Sharks though squeeze the ball into the in goal and the Cowboys must prepare for a goal line drop out.

11: All the Sharks backs are shifting across the left side of the field running a set play. Gordon passes on to Feki running the touch line but he drops the ball 5m out.

12: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Jake Granville. Kick to come.
Granville puts in a solo effort from dummy half and runs 60m between three Cronulla forwards to land himself a try under the black dot. Normally that works late in the game with tired forwards, that was not good for the Sharks to concede 12 minutes in.

13: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Ethan Lowe successful.
The second rower looked like a natural kicking that goal.

14: Matt Scott on the first set after points ends up injured around the neck in what only looks like an accidental crusher tackle from Matt Prior.

14: It's severe enough for Scott to come from the field and it'll be a free interchange due to the injury.

16: Another penalty conceded by Prior, this time it's now 10m out from the Sharks line. He affected James Tamou's play the ball. It looks like North Queensland will take a penalty goal.

16: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Penalty goal attempt by Ethan Lowe successful.
This attempt was 15m out in front of the posts and Lowe has no issues lining this one up.

18: Ben Hannant is on for the injured Matt Scott and makes a god run to start.

18: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Justin O'Neill. Kick to come.
Another long range try. This time the Cowboys start their play from 60m out and some second man plays get Michael Morgan running directly at the defence. He throws a dummy to the wing and breaks through the line. Morgan in the back field passes to Justin O'Neill which means Gordon is on and island and O'Neill touches down.

19: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Ethan Lowe successful.
Too easy with the conversion.

20: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
James Tamou makes an unforced error.
Tamou comes up with no respect for ball security on the first set after points. That will be killing coach Green.

21: Penalty to the Sharks. Without having earned their field position the Sharks have the chance to get back in the game. They get a set of six from 10m out of the line.

23: The last play option for the Sharks was disappointing. They go for a try with a long range kick to the winger but the kick is shanked, it's safely in Matthew Wright's hands.

23: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Jason Taumalolo makes an unforced error.
Dropped on the ground during the tackle and they aren't treating possession with enough respect.

24: The Sharks get back into attacking field position but they are too quick to pass the ball onto the wing. Leutele gets the ball and is immediately bundled over the sideline by Wright.

25: Penalty to the Cowboys. Granville is jumped on by a late extra man. They get a new set of six from 40m out.

26: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Antonio Winterstein. Kick to come.
A traditional Cowboys set play normally run by JT gets them more points tonight. Across the left side of the field Morgan passes to Coote and that's where he attracts too much attention from the Sharks. Kane Linnet has the ball and runs in the clear, he passes further out to Winterstein to avoid the covering Gordon. Too easy!

27: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Ethan Lowe unsuccessful.
from halfway between the left touchline and the middle of the field he leaves the kick to the right of the posts.

29: Lowe makes it to halfway on fifth tackle and a low kick to Gordon is fielded 10m out from the Sharks line.

30: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Valentine Holmes makes an unforced error.
Holmes takes the hit up to give his forwards a rest but he has lost the ball cold in the tackle. The Cowboys will get a scrum from 35m out.

31: Granville sends Taumalolo at the line on fourth but the Sharks handle it comfortably. Fifth tackle sees Robson's foot intercept the kick and the Sharks halfback gains 30m on the first tackle.

32: On fifth the Sharks have made 80m and Robson's high kick is magnificently taken by Coote. Cowboys provide some energy out of their own end and make quick metres.

33: Coote's kick on fifth tackle is high and goes too long. Holmes takes an easy catch in the in goal and that means the Sharks will start a seven tackle set on the 20m line.

34: Miachel Ennis uses the fourth tackle to grubber kick from 45m out down to the Cowboys goal line. Coote miss fields the bouncing ball and the Sharks trap him 3m out.

35: The Cowboys are forced to kick from 30m out on fifth tackle and Ennis charges it down. Jack Bird has possession and that is the type of energy the Sharks need to get back in this game.

35: It's Ennis again he grubbers from dummy half into the in goal and he with two other Cowboys get to the ball. The play is being referred to the video referee to make a decision on the play. On field call is no try.

35: The play is ruled a knock on by Ennis. It's without a doubt the correct call but Ennis still has the look of disbelief on his face.

36: Luke Lewis has to knock a pass to Coote down as more points could have come from the complete pass. The Cowboys have a new set of six from 40m out.

37: There was not much doing from the Cowboys attack there, on fifth tackle the ball ends up with Leutele on a poorly guided grubber kick.

38: Another set is given to the Sharks as Gavin Cooper knocks on a Jeff Robson kick on the halfway line.

39: Beale makes it 25m from the Cowboys line on fourth. The fifth tackle sess Jack Bird field a poor Robson kick, he passes to David Fifita and his grubber is knocked on by the fullback. There's 20 seconds left and the Sharks have a scrum 10m out.

39: Jack Bird drifts 20m across the field looking for a Sharks player to run onto the ball but nobody is available. Eventually one of them gets the ball and he's taken care of by the Cowboys line.

40: That's half time and it's been a promising display from the Cowboys. Not much resistance has been put up by the Sharks and it looks like if the Cowboys can keep up their will to score tries they have the skill and the forward pack to put up another 20 points in the second half. Scott and Coote have been the Cowboys best so far. Michael Ennis has been the best in a side lacking class and effort occasionally. The Cowboys have complete control and it would be unlikely for them to give that up in the second half. Stay tuned for the second 40 minutes.

40: The players are back on the field and are ready to go. The Sharks will get the first possession.

40: Penalty to the Sharks. Granville got caught around Tagatese in the play the ball and it slowed the play down.

40: Penalty once again to the Sharks. Now they are 30m out from the Cowboys line and making quick metres.

41: The third penalty in 90 seconds goes to the Sharks. They'll tap and go from 10m out hoping for a quick try.

42: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Luke Lewis. Kick to come.
Ennis from 5m out skips over from dummy half to link up with his first receiver Luke Lewis. He ran an excellent strong line to barge over for a try.

43: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
From 15m out and slightly to the right of the posts Gordon makes no mistake.

45: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Jayson Bukuya makes an unforced error.
On the first set after points there is tragedy. Bukuya tried to play the ball too quickly and now the momentum of the opening five minutes they've had is now gone.

47: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Justin O'Neill makes an unforced error.
On a sweeping right attacking play O'Neill leaves the ball behind and Sosaia Feki fields the ball and makes 10m. He's not able to play the ball and the ref calls timeout. Feki's neck is the issue here.

47: The play is put on report as a dangerous tackle, it didn't look like an obvious crusher but that will be for the match review committee to decide. Penalty to the Sharks. Feki will come off the field and this free interchange will see Ben Barba get his first minutes of the night.

47: The Sharks spent the entire set in the Cowboys red zone and on the fourth tackle Wright is forced to knock a Ben Barba pass down to stop Gordon from potentially scoring in the corner.

48: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Sam Tagataese. Kick to come.
This Cronulla set of six was finished early. On tackle two it's Michael Ennis once again shifting from dummy half 5m out and links up with his second runner Sam Tagatese. His effort gets him storming past the Cowboys defensive line and over for a four pointer.

49: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
From 10m left of the uprights Gordon converts and suddenly we've got a game.

51: The Cowboys make a direct effort to trap the Sharks in their half and it means the Sharks make only 38m in their set. A long kick is required from Robson and it's Coote who fields it and runs it back down the field.

52: On fifth tackle Morgan contests the high kick, he knocks the ball back but Leutele is able to secure possession 10m out.

53: Wade Graham gets the responsibility of a fifth tackle kick after 50m was made on the set. He comes up with a good kick deep in the corner.

54: Justin O'Neill makes 55m from a break on the right wing but cover defence from Barba and particularly the fast Jack Bird is able to close all the gaps on him. JT's up and excited on the bench but on the next play the Sharks are able to get their hands on a pass to stop the play. It was knocked forward so it's another Cowboys set coming up.

55: Coote gets flashy near the line with a quick tap on for his winger but Holmes fields the flick and he's tackled but we're going the other way.

55: Penalty to the Sharks. The Cowboys tried to slow the play the ball down and the Sharks advance.

57: Barba looks damaging and he breaks a full Cowboys line. A from Barba in the back field goes to the supporting Wade Graham and he has 30m to get to the line. He stumbles in the final 10m and the covering Cowboys stop him 50cm short of the line. Andrew Fifita knocks the ball on in the next play and the Cowboys are off the hook.

58: Penalty to the Cowboys and the Sharks really should not have given that up. Momentum turns once again.

59: Cameron King is now taking some responsibility at dummy half for the Cowboys and his fifth tackle grubber forces Bird to clear the ball over the dead ball line. The Sharks will have to give a goal line dropout.

60: Miachel Morgan makes a meal of the set play. He has two options to pass too but he passes between both of them and Holmes gets the ball in the clear. He makes a classy 80m before being pulled down.

61: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Andrew Fifita. Kick to come.
The Sharks need the entire set to get over the line but Ennis for the third time tonight provides a pass from dummy half to get Andrew Fifita over the line and the ball down past the chalk. There is plenty of life left in the Sharks.

63: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
From halfway between the right touchline and mid field Gordon is successful and we're all tied at 18.

64: Penalty to the Sharks. It means Cronulla gets easily out of their half and it's charged on Patrick Kaufusi.

65: Jayson Bukuya breaks a few tackles on fourth and gets the Cowboys defence in patches. Fifth tackle sees a Robson grubber kick misfielded by Coote and Leutele may have a try. The video referee will decide but the on field ref says no try.

65: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Ricky Leutele. Kick to come.
Correction the on field referee thought try. The replays all show Coote misfields and Leutele gets his hand down on the ball. The try is awarded and Cronulla hit the front for the first time tonight.

66: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
From almost on the left touch line Gordon gets his kick going straight over the black dot.

69: Sam Tagatese is full of confidence. He runs over Granville and makes a further 30m in the backfield. He dismantles Coote but is pulled down by others. Fifth tackle sees Linnett field a grubber kick 15m from his line.

69: Play is stopped because Wright is unable to play the ball. On replay it shows Ennis landed a high shot on him and the penalty is given.

70: Not much was happening from the Cowboys halves. They didn't look dangerous and fifth tackle is fielded easily by Leutele.

70: The Sharks get quickly down the field and out of the blue Holmes attempts a field goal. It misses to the left and it gifts the Cowboys a seven tackle set from the 20m line.

72: The attack looked better wit Coote involved but fifth tackle was awful. It lasted about 30 seconds did fifth tackle and eventually a grubber kick is put in and is too long. Cronulla will get a seven tackle set.

74: The Sharks make it 30m within the Cowboys posts but Graham's field goal attempt was never looking like going over the cross bar.

75: Another seven tackle set is and the Cowboys are giving their all in attack. On fifth tackle Granville runs hard, pokes his nose though the line, but is pulled up and he knocks the ball on.

76: The Sharks only get to their 40m line on fifth and Robson's kick was no good either. It's fielded on the full by Coote 25m out.

77: A strong defensively set has been provided by the Sharks and it's completed with Barba taking a screamer in the air 15m away from his line.

78: It's halfway where Cronulla use their fifth tackle option through Graham. He kicks low and directly over the sideline to take time off the clock and get some air back in to the lungs of his team.

79: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Jake Granville makes an unforced error.
The Cowboys somehow make their way to within 35m of the Sharks line by the fourth tackle. Matt Scott receives the ball from Granville but he passes straight back to the hooker and he drops the ball.

80: With that it brings us to full time. The Sharks have kept the Cowboys scoreless in the second half and put 24 points on the board to out play the Cowboys and take a 24-18 victory.

80: It's a big win away from home for the Sharks that have an abundance of road games coming up. They enter the top eight tonight and may stay there come the end of the round depending on other results. Thank you very much for joining the line update tonight and a match report will follow and will be available here in about 45 minutes time. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.