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Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v North Queensland Cowboys Friday 7:50pm at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal

Cronulla's sink-or-swim reckoning

Finals football intensifies on Friday evening as the Cronulla Sharks renew their September rivalry with the North Queensland Cowboys at Allianz Stadium.

The Sharks and Cowboys have met five times in finals football since 2013 with the men from North Queensland holding a 3-2 advantage, including an extra time victory in the most recent meeting two years ago.

Earning a second chance in the finals off the strength of a season that has seen the side hold a place inside the top four since Easter, the Cronulla Sharks will be desperate to prove they are capable of winning when it matters most. 

Losing all four finals contested during Craig Fitzgibbon's coaching tenure, the Sharks have developed an infamous reputation for failing to close out matches following losses decided by field goals in consecutive finals campaigns.

Unable to go the distance with the Storm in a 37-10 defeat last Saturday in Melbourne, Fitzgibbon has retained the same squad with Jesse Ramien included on an extended bench after missing last week with an ankle injury.

The Sharks have won 15 out of 20 meetings against the Cowboys since 2016, however the two losses that were played in Sydney during that period occurred in the finals.

Riding into the Semi Finals without the burden of expectations, the North Queensland Cowboys will be striving to become only the sixth team to reach a Preliminary Final from outside the top four since the abolition of the McIntyre system. 

Staying alive in the finals race with a 28-16 victory over the Knights in Townsville, coach Todd Payten has retained the same squad that fought back from a halftime deficit last Saturday.

The Cowboys have won five out of seven matches in Sydney this season, however one of those losses was the side's heaviest defeat of the year against the Sharks back in Round 7.

Jake Clifford will make his 50th appearance for North Queensland on Friday night; the 26-year-old has enjoyed an unbeaten run of four straight matches since replacing Chad Townsend at halfback a month ago.

Last meeting: Round 21 2024 - Cowboys 30 Sharks 22

Who to watch: For more than 12 months, Nicho Hynes has waited for the opportunity to seize the moment of a sudden death final. Falling short in four previous finals as a starting playmaker and doing likewise with NSW earlier this season, the 28-year-old has lived with a weight of scrutiny unlike any other player in the league. Set to make his fourth appearance back from an ankle injury on Friday evening, the rugby league world will be watching intently to see how Hynes responds under the pressure of prosper or perish football. 

Only one man has appeared in all five previous finals contested between Cronulla and North Queensland: Jason Taumalolo. Coming a long way from an interchange forward struggling to crack first grade when the sides first met over a decade ago, the 31-year-old has grown to hold the second most appearances for the Cowboys as well as being the only forward in the NRL era to win the Dally M Medal. Producing a return to form last week with close to 150 running metres in just over a half of game time, Taumalolo will be aiming to have a similar impact to book the Cowboys a date with the Panthers in the final four.

FAVOURITE: The Sharks are favoured to continue the Semi Final success enjoyed by 79% of top four teams bouncing back from a Qualifying Final loss since 2012.

MY TIP: Sink or swim, make or break, prosper or perish - whichever way you put it the Sharks just have to rise above the pressure and get it done in September. Sharks by 7.

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 22. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 3. Siosifa Talakai 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 17. Thomas Hazelton 14. Daniel Atkinson

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Griffin Neame 18. Jaxon Purdue

Referees: Ashley Klein; Sideline Officials: Dave Munro, Chris Sutton; Video Referees: Wyatt Raymond;