Cronulla Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys

For all the talk about the finals being a new competition and that not too much can be read into regular-season form, momentum is a wonderful thing.

North Queensland have more of it than any other team after a six-game winning run, which followed the sacking of coach Neil Henry for next year, propelled them into the play-offs.

And the Cowboys will fancy their chances against a Sharks side they defeated 31-18 at Remondis Stadium only two weeks ago – their second win against Cronulla this season. The Sharks, though, were missing playmaker Todd Carney that day and his anticipated return from injury on Saturday is a massive boost. The Sharks were also able to rest a few men against Canberra last Sunday and a week off has probably done those players the world of good.

Both teams have gone through hell and back this season, with few predicting either would make it to September. The Sharks, who enjoyed a cruisy 38-18 last-round win over Canberra without the likes of skipper Paul Gallen and Todd Carney, have had to deal with a litany of off-field dramas - including ASADA’s doping investigation which has plagued the club since February. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have won all six games since coach Neil Henry was told he won’t be needed next year.

They enter this knockout final with better recent form than any other side in the top-eight. Gallen, Carney, Wade Graham, Jayson Bukuya and Anthony Tupou return for the Sharks, while Kangaroos prop Matt Scott is slated to make an earlier-than-expected come back from a broken finger for the Cowboys.
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If Todd Carney can overcome his troublesome hamstring, the star playmaker could bring it home for the Sharks. He’s missed the last two games because of the injury.

SHARKS: Michael Gordon, Sosaia Feki, Ben Pomeroy, Jonathan Wright, Beau Ryan, Todd Carney, Jeff Robson, Andrew Fifita, John Morris, Sam Tagataese, Luke Lewis, Wade Graham, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Isaac De Gois, Chris Heighington, Jayson Bukuya, Anthony Tupou, Bryce Gibbs, Ben Ross (two to be omitted).

COWBOYS: Matthew Bowen, Wayne Ulugia, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Robert Lui, Matthew Scott (capt), Rory Kostjasyn, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall, Joel Riethmuller. Interchange: Jayden Hodges, Tariq Sims, Scott Bolton, Jason Taumalolo, Ashton Sims (one to be omitted).