Sharks run rampant over disorderly Cowboys

The Cronulla Sharks put on a dominant display by defeating the North Queensland Cowboys 30-18 to pose as a legitimate top four contender at Remondis Stadium on Saturday night.

Despite Cronulla admitting throughout the week the Fifita brothers situation was a distraction to their preparation for tonight's match, the Sharks put in one of their best performances of the season.

Led by experienced fullback Michael Gordon; through inspiring kick returns, a 90 metre try and try saving defence, the Sharks were able to stave off a late finishing Cowboys.

In the final 20 minutes North Queensland were able to dominate possession and apply pressure after the Sharks had the majority of the ball for the first three quarters of the game.

In the 72nd minute the Cowboys scored a try through former Sharks winger Matthew Wright as he grounded a grubber kick from Jonathan Thurston in the right corner. Moments later Thurston converted and the Sharks were clinging to a 24-18 lead.

The remaining eight minutes were played with the same fanatic pace and semi-final atmosphere on display from the opening whistle.

The Cowboys had opportunities to level the scores but Wade Graham was able to barge over for a try from dummy half in the 79th minute to seal the victory for the home side.

At halftime the Sharks were heading into the sheds with a 14-0 lead but with the Cowboys record of five wins from 10 or more points down this season, it meant Cronulla remained focused for the entire second half.

Thurston and the Cowboys lacked the composure that has built their impressive season to date, which allowed them to head into this matchup having won 15 of their previous 16 games. Now the Sharks lay claim as the only NRL side to beat the Cowboys since March.

North Queensland struggled to make metres for most of the night and sorely missed Matt Scott who was ruled out before the game to rest and nurse a neck injury.

It wasn't a night for Thurston to remember, his lack of defence was responsible for two Sharks tries.

Jack Bird in the 32nd minute was able to put a right foot step on the halfback and scored to put the Sharks up 14-0.

Then in the 43rd minute Gordon was able to bust straight past Thurston and Taumalolo to notch his length of the field try.

James Tamou was put on report for a high tackle on Matt Prior in the 36th minute.

Next week the Sharks will host the Melbourne Storm on Monday night at Remondis Stadium, while North Queensland have a short turnaround and will host the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the first Thursday night match of the tail-end of this season at 1300SMILES Stadium.

Match Details

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 30 North Queensland Cowboys 18
Venue: Remondis Stadium
Crowd: 13,878
Halftime Score: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14 North Queensland Cowboys 0

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (30)
Tries: Michael Gordon, Ricky Leutele, Jack Bird, Gerard Beale, Wade Graham
Conversions: Michael Gordon (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Michael Gordon (1/1)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (18)
Tries: Antonio Winterstein, Kane Linnett, Matthew Wright
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Johnathan Thurston (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Michael Gordon
2 points - Wade Graham
1 point - Paul Gallen

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to possibly the most anticipated match of Round 22. This afternoon the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks host the North Queensland Cowboys out at Remondis Stadium. The Sharks are 1-17 as named earlier in the week. The Cowboys have decided to rest Matt Scott, who is dealing with a neck injury, and have brought in Ben Hannant from the bench to start at prop. Ben Hoare joins the reserves in jersey 18. Both teams enter the match in hot form. The Cowboys have won a staggering 15 of their last 16 games, that's only one loss since round three. The Sharks have quietly put together seven wins from their past eight matches which has got their eyes on a potential top four finish. Each team will be missing a representative front rower in Andrew Fifita and Matt Scott. It's often said in rugby league circles that forwards win matches and the backs determine by how much. With the likes of Paul Gallen, James Tamou, Jason Taumalolo and Wade Graham on the park this promises to be a blockbuster clash. Kick off is approximately 5:35pm.

The Cowboys and Sharks are now out on the field. It's a cold but clear afternoon at Remondis and kick off is underway. Sharks to receive.

Penalty on tackle one to the Sharks. Cowboys have been ruled to rake the football out.

2: The Sharks get their first full set of six all inside the Cowboys half and look to play an expansive game to get a try. On fifth tackle Jack Bird runs across the field from 10m out, palms off Thurston but his flick pass attempt goes in to touch and misses Sosaia Feki.

3: Cowboys make it to halfway on fifth tackle. Thurston puts his first touch of the footy through a kick to trickle over the sideline 15m out from the Sharks line.

4: Gallen's had two runs dragging three players already he's locked in. Sharks reach the Cowboys 30m line on fifth. Robson's kick to the wing goes to Antonio Winterstein in his 100th first grade game.

5: Michael Morgan makes something from nothing inside his half. He runs to the centre's, drags three players and offloads to Winterstein. He runs 30m before being taken 30m out from the Sharks line. Fifth tackle is a controlled bomb from Morgan and Gordon takes the ball comfortably.

6: Two Cowboys rush out of the line on fifth tackle to challenge a Bird kick and the Sharks make some extra metres before kicking straight to Coote who fields the ball under the posts.

7: The Cowboys are given a penalty for an easy trip out of their own half. Now they'll be inside the Sharks 20m by the end of the set.

7: On fourth tackle Lachlan Coote tries to grubber kick through to the in goal from 5m out and it's blocked and picked up by Wade Graham.

8: Quick play the balls gets Cronulla to the Cowboys 40m by fifth tackle. They attempt to run the ball again by pass inside to a hard running Holmes. He is dealt with and it's the Cowboys ball from 30m out.

9: This game is going at a fanatic pace. The Cowboys attempt an odd low kick through the line on fourth tackle from 30m out but it's immediately stopped and the Sharks have the ball.

10: The Sharks have earned two penalties and have charged all the way up to the Cowboys 10m line. Now they elect to stop play and set up for a penalty goal.

11: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
From 10m out and right in front Gordon makes no mistake. The Sharks lead 2-0.

12: On the first set after points Gallen and Heighinton make strong runs to get to halfway on fourth tackle. Ennis uses fourth tackle to kick long for Coote on his own try line.

13: Since the penalty goal the run of play has slowed slightly. Thurston has fifth tackle from 45m out and he elects to bomb for Gordon at fullback. Gordon was safe hands under that high ball and they advance up the middle of the field.

15: At the back end of the set Cronulla became adventurous with their play. Graham and Holmes link to make 30m on their left edge but Leutele is tackled over the sideline 25m out by Winterstein.

15: The Cowboys just put in their best set of the match. Thurston on fifth tackle fakes to kick, breaks three tackles and offloads. Granville charges for the posts from 10m out and another grubber kick goes through and is fielded by Gordon.

16: However the Cowboys get a penalty as Granville was inappropriately tackled. The Cowboys take the tap and are looking for a try.

17: On tackle three the Cowboys pass to their right edge and Feki sprints up from the line to tackle Gavin Cooper as soon as he receives the ball, it results in a North Queensland knock on.

18: Once again near the end of the Sharks set they find space to gain metres down the Cowboys right edge. Robson is allowed to kick from 35m out on fifth tackle and puts it low through the middle of the field.

19: North Queensland are struggling to make ground and Thurston miss kicks on fifth tackle. The ball takes a low trajectory and goes straight to Holmes. Coote attempts to tackle him but comes up dusty.

19: Bomb is the kick of choice from Robson on fifth and he forces a mistake from Coote. The Sharks instantly have another set of six.

20: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Ricky Leutele. Kick to come.
Michael Ennis fakes to pass right from the play the ball and gets the ball left. Robson throws a couple of dummies and feeds the ball further left to Gordon. He runs for the line on an angle and draws Kane Linnett towards him. Gordon then throws the ball to Leutele and he fends off one to score near the left corner.

22: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Great kick from Gordon. Swings the ball right to left and gives the Sharks an eight point buffer.

24: Not bad from the Sharks to restart the game, they make it to halfway on fifth tackle. Ennis scurries from dummy half and Wright is messy in his attempt to field the ball but he does manage to get it and run at the Sharks.

25: JT takes on the line and sends Cooper through the Sharks line. Overall they make 61m on the set and it's a lacklustre finish to the set, Holmes receives the ball and carts it up for the Sharks.

26: Easy metres for the Sharks. They are playing predominately on their left side of the field and the fifth tackle kick goes to Wright again. He fields the ball 10m out and goes for a hit up.

27: JT charges at the line again but his dummy gets him through the line. Thurston was marked and he passes to Morgan who was 2m to his left and but Morgan dropped the ball.

27: On fifth Graham makes 15m running at the Cowboys line and then is able to grubber to Wright from 20m out.

28: Only 40m gained from the Cowboys in their set, Thurston is forced to kick long but Gordon takes the catch on the full and earns great field position for the Sharks.

29: On last the Sharks grubber through Jack Bird 12m out on fifth tackle. The Cowboys hang on and are just able to get inside the field of play.

29: The Sharks are aiming up on the Cowboys and have raised the intensity even further. Last tackle for the Cowboys means Coote kicks long from his 15m line.

30: Now 30m away from the line the Sharks earn a penalty and kick to touch for another set of six on the Cowboys line.

32: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Jack Bird. Kick to come.
On tackle three it appears the Cowboys have finally broken. Robson gives early ball to Jack Bird on the right side of the field and from 10m out Bird puts a right foot step on Thurston, he's able to reach out and put the ball down with Coote too late to arrive for Thurston's miss.

32: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Coote is successful from centre field and 15m out. On replays of the try Coote makes contact with his knees on Bird's face. Gallen is asking for an eight point try to be ruled and he's got a legitimate case.

32: Gallen does not get the eight point try he wants and the Sharks once again make approximately 50m on the return set.

34: Robson on fifth kicks down to Coote and the ball bounces through his legs and over the dead ball line. The ruling from the officials is a goal line dropout and replays show that is the wrong call. Play will continue however.

35: The Sharks got a full set on the Cowboys line and they attempt to score through their left side attack. The Cowboys hang on but Thurston is pushed back into the in goal after he received a grubber kick. Another drop out coming from North Queensland.

36: Robson puts an inside ball to Graham, who was one on one with Coote, but he drops the ball. Although the referees call the Cowboy with the football back and they rule a high tackle from Taumalolo on the previous tackle.

37: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Paul Gallen makes an unforced error.
On a routine hit up towards the Cowboys line Gallen drops the ball.

37: The first tackle after the scrum the Cowboys earn a penalty. A quick tap is taken but the Sharks were ready for the Cowboys, only 10m gained there.

37: North Queensland go end-to-end and get two tackles on the Sharks line. Gavin Cooper almost backs over the line on fourth tackle but on fifth the Cowboys halves made a mistake, they didn't take control and Cooper puts a 2m grubber kick in which gets no result.

40: Cronulla complete their set of six and Ennis kicks the ball low and over the sideline to end the first half action.

40: The game so far has been played at a fanatic pace and has a semi-final feel about it. This is the best half of football we've potentially seen from the Sharks this year and towards the back end of the half the Cowboys looked frustrated after being dominated all throughout the first 40 minutes. We can not forgot though the Cowboys have comeback five times from a 10 points or more deficit this season, that being the most by any team in the NRL. Stay tuned for the second half kick off in about 5 minutes.

40: So both teams are ready on the field and the Cowboys will have first use of the football.

41: The Sharks are again quickly up on defence and trap the Cowboys to their 40m line on fifth tackle. The resulting kick and fielding of the ball by Gordon means the Sharks start the half with great field position.

42: 52m metres from the Sharks in their set means a low kick to Coote is able to be chased and keeps the Cowboys deep in their half.

43: Asiata put in a big run to get the Cowboys inside the Sharks half. Gordon is once again the receiver of the kick at his 10m line.

43: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Michael Gordon. Kick to come.
A 90m try coming out of halftime does not look good for the Cowboys chances tonight. He busted through the attempted tackle from Thurston and Taumalolo at the Sharks 20m line and then ran 80m to score in the corner with Coote's arms around Gordon's legs. Excellent stuff from the fullback.

45: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon unsuccessful.
From the left touchline Gordon used a lot of time but he missed slightly to the right of the posts.

46: Winterstein is forced back to his 5m line after receiving the ball from a huge metre gaining Sharks set.

47: The Cowboys are awarded a penalty for pushing a tackled player after a held call. Cowboys will start their set 60m away from the line.

47: Another penalty goes to the Cowboys and they'll now start a set from 30m away of the line.

48: Lachlan Coote goes slightly unconventional by grubber kicking towards Antonio Winterstein on third tackle and the winger appears to have scored in the corner. The play has been sent to the video referee to review but the call on field is try.

48: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Antonio Winterstein. Kick to come.
Coote on third tackle grubber kicks to Winterstein and he plants the ball under pressure from Gordon in the corner. That makes it the 50th try for Winterstein playing in his 100th game.

48: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
JT just swings the ball too far to the left of the posts from the sideline.

50: On the first set after the Cowboys try they make it 35m away from the Sharks line. Thurston skies the ball and Gordon is unable to make the catch midfield under pressure. Coote is able to gather the ball first and a quick pass long to Linnett has a try on. The three covering Sharks defenders either run for Winterstein or miss Linnett and the play is refereed to the video referee with the call of a try.

50: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Kane Linnett. Kick to come.
The video referee agrees and rules try.

50: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
JT has his kick from slightly left field go through the posts.

52: Taumalolo just gets inside the Sharks half and JT kicks high to Gordon once again. The play is stopped because Tagataese is ruled to have taken the legs of Thurston while he's in the air. North Queensland will get a penalty from 15m out right in front.

52: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Penalty goal attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Interestingly JT opts for the penalty goal to reduce the deficit to six.

55: Metres are now easy all of a sudden for the Cowboys out of half time and JT kicks to the left corner where Gordon is once again asked to bring the ball back.

55: The Sharks are awarded a penalty and that will get them up to halfway.

55: Once again another penalty for the Sharks, that promotes the Sharks to 35m away from the NQL line.

57: The Sharks look dangerous and Ennis puts a grubber kick in from 2m out and Thurston catches instantly and makes 10m before being tackled.

57: Thurston is forced to kick from just inside his red zone and Barba at fullback now has a slight misfield and will be late to return the ball.

58: Cronulla make it 50m up field but Robson has a shocker of a fifth tackle kick, going straight to Wright.

59: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Gerard Beale. Kick to come.
Give the try assist to Jonathan Thurston. From 10m out on fifth tackle Thurston puts a flat cross kick to his opposite wing and the ball goes nowhere near its target. Beale makes a catch clear of any Cowboys players and he sprints 90m to score untouched.

59: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
He was right under the posts and makes no mistake.

61: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Sam Tagataese makes an unforced error.
Play has resumed and the Sharks have made an error at the play the ball on third tackle just 30m away from their line.

63: Not much was doing from the Sharks in that set. On fifth tackle though Cooper makes it into the in goal and twisted to put the ball down on the line but the two Sharks defenders made a sensational effort to keep the ball away from the grass. Sharks will get a seven tackle set from the 20m line.

64: A more respectable result from the Sharks in that set. They get the Cowboys at their 30m line to start their set.

65: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Johnathan Thurston makes an unforced error.
A late pass to Coote from JT goes behind the fullback and JT's attempt to gather the loose ball is knocked on.

67: Ennis has made a rare mistake on fifth tackle there. He was 15m out from the Cowboys line but decided against kicking and passed to Jack Bird. Bird kicked too long and the Cowboys now get the 20m restart and seven tackles.

68: A forward pass goes unnoticed from the officials on fourth tackle. Coote got it to a charging front rower about a metre forward. JT on fifth doesn't elect to kick and pass through to Linnett. He's grounded and the loose ball is with the Sharks 70m out.

69: The theme of the day must be to run on fifth tackle but neither side is getting any positive results. Robson spills it as he's grounded 30m away from the Sharks line on fifth tackle.

70: The experience of JT finally shines through there as on fourth tackle JT grubbers from 10m out and Michael Gordon takes the ball dead to avert the danger. Goal line drop out ahead.

71: Cronulla looked spirited in defence all set and were able to keep the Cowboys out. On fifth tackle there's a thousand things to review and the Cowboys might have a try.

71: Michael Morgan lowers the ball to place a grubber kick but the ball hits the ground before he connects the ball with the boot. The on field referee says no try but technically that is a drop kick, although the video referee rules that is ok but there is a knock on from Barba so the Cowboys get another set on the Sharks line.

72: On fourth tackle JT decides to kick low to the corner of Matthew Wright and he's got what looks like a try. The play is referred to the video referee as no try to review a obstruction and putdown.

72: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Matthew Wright. Kick to come.
On fourth tackle JT decides to kick low to the corner of Matthew Wright and there is no obstruction plus the grounding is clean. Here we go for the grandstand finish.

72: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
From the right, JT's non preferred side he nails the conversion from the sideline.

78: Apologies everyone the server dropped out. Back and forth football has ensued but Bukuya has just put his body on the line to trap Morgan inside his in goal. Goal line dropout ahead for the Cowboys.

79: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Wade Graham. Kick to come.
The Sharks had fifth tackle and a touch from the Cowboys gave the Sharks six more tackles. Cronulla were set up for a field goal but Graham ducks from dummy half and scores a try, his first for the year. Pandemonium has resulted in the grandstands.

79: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
With the conversion that is fulltime.