Matchday Details
Sunday, August 3 – 4:05PM (AEST) – Sharks Stadium
📺 Broadcast: Nine / Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Adam Gee | Bunker: Ashley Klein
Sharks
1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Billy Burns 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Jayden Berrell 19. Hohepa Puru 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Thomas Hazelton 22. Samuel Stonestreet
Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Braidon Burns 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Harrison Edwards 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Marly Bitungane 15. Kaiden Lahrs 16. Kai O’Donnell 17. Coen Hess 18. Jaxson Paulo 19. Nicholas Lenaz 20. Mason Kira 21. Jamal Shibasaki 22. Dane Aukafolau
Match Preview
The Cronulla Sharks welcome the North Queensland Cowboys to Sharks Stadium as the two sides, who harboured serious top eight aspirations coming into the season, now scrap it out to keep their finals dreams alive on Sunday afternoon to close out round 22.
The Sharks were far from clinical against the Rabbitohs as they battled their way to a 14-12 win to extend their winning streak to three straight: it sees them precariously placed in seventh on the ladder with just six rounds left. While on the other side, the Cowboys have had a very up-and-down season so far and need to start stringing some wins together to give themselves a remote chance of being there come finals time; and while it wasn’t pretty, a 38-32 win against the Dragons seems as good a place as any to start.
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon would have been less than impressed with his side’s performance against South Sydney, but luckily for them, they left Gosford with a win and two points in the bank and now get to return to their fortress at Sharks Stadium. The Sharks have won five of their seven home games this year, and their last three on the trot, but Fitzgibbon will want to see a significant improvement from his key players, especially in front of their home faithful.
Cowboys halfback Tom Dearden was nearly untouchable in their round 21 encounter with the Dragons and his combination with the rest of his spine teammates is crucial if the Cowboys want to have any hope of sneaking their way into the top eight come season’s end. Dearden set up a try, scored two of his own, and rounded out his performance with two line-breaks as he tore the Dragons to shreds with his running game. His partner in crime, fullback Scott Drinkwater, also stamped his mark on the game with a try and a try assist; the duo will need to be firing on all cylinders and at their creative best in the latter stages of the season to have any hopes of playing September footy.
The Sharks have a dominant record over the Cowboys, emerging victorious in eight of their last 10 clashes, but the dominance doesn’t stop there with the Sharks having won 40 of their 60 encounters over the years. The Sharks welcome back hard-running second rower Briton Nikora while Siosifa Talakai takes his place in the centres. The Cowboys have brought Jake Clifford back into the fold at six while Todd Payten has handed an NRL debut to 22 year-old second rower Marly Bitungane, who will come off the bench in jersey 14.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Sharks by 6
See our full Round 22 Predictions (live Wednesday 12pm) here: 2025 NRL Tipping: Round 22 Writer Predictions
Have your say: Who wins? Drop your tip in the comments or vote in our poll.
Related Links
- Round 22 Late Mail
- 2025 NRL Round 21 Injury List
- Power Rankings – Round 21
