North Queensland Cowboys secured a victory against the Cronulla Sharks, finishing with a 46-34 scoreline in a game marked by numerous tries. The match, held at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Friday, saw a standout performance from Scott Drinkwater.
Drinkwater was instrumental in the Cowboys' win, contributing a try, three try assists, a crucial 40/20 kick, and seven tackle busts. His efforts helped the Cowboys build a significant lead. The team established a 26-12 advantage by halftime.
Later in the game, Tom Dearden crossed for a try after Drinkwater's successful 40/20. Murray Taulagi also added to the Cowboys' tally, scoring multiple tries, including one to extend their lead. For the Sharks, KL Iro managed a double, and Soni Luke scored in the 66th minute, narrowing the margin and keeping the Sharks in contention. Oregon Kaufusi's offload to Blayke Brailey also resulted in a Sharks try.
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Team Lineups and Key Players
The Cowboys fielded Scott Drinkwater at fullback, with Braidon Burns and Murray Taulagi on the wings. Tom Dearden played halfback, supported by five-eighth Jake Clifford. Reed Mahoney was the Hooker, with Heilum Luki and Thomas Mikaele in the second row, and Reuben Cotter at lock. Jeremiah Nanai made a return from injury via the interchange.
The Sharks' lineup included William Kennedy at fullback, Mawene Hiroti and Samuel Stonestreet on the wings, and Siosifa Talakai and KL Iro in the centres. Braydon Trindall was five-eighth and Nicholas Hynes halfback. Blayke Brailey was Hooker, with Billy Burns and Teig Wilton in the second row, and Jesse Colquhoun at lock. Cameron McInnes also featured, returning from an ACL injury.
Match Context and History
This Round 8 fixture for the 2026 NRL season also contested the Paul Green Medal. Historically, the Sharks have held an advantage over the Cowboys, winning six of their last seven encounters and a notable 44-6 victory in Round 9 of the 2023 season. Prior to this match, the Cowboys had experienced a defeat, losing to the Sea Eagles 38-6 at home, and had a recent streak of four consecutive wins. The Sharks, however, were noted for their strong recent form against the Cowboys, especially when playing in Townsville.
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"The Cowboys, up until last week, were playing really good footy; they'd won four in a row." - NRL.com
The Sharks entered the match with a points-per-game average of 26.3, while the Cowboys averaged 23.5. Cronulla faced several injury concerns, notably without Braden Hamlin-Uele and Ronaldo Mulitalo.
