NRL: Cowboys eye top-four finish after win over Sharks

The North Queensland Cowboys defeated the Cronulla Sharks 30-22 on Saturday in Townsville, setting themselves up for a potential top-four finish on the NRL ladder.

North Queensland were underdogs with rugby league bookmakers coming into the round 21 clash against the third-placed Sharks.

However, Kyle Feldt put on an exhibition for the Cowboys, scoring a hat-trick to snap an 11-game losing streak that his side held against Cronulla.

The home side were made to overcome some initial adversity, though, with Jason Taumalolo and Reuben Cotter both picking up injuries in the first 20 minutes.

Both forwards are expected to miss Thursday’s game against the Wests Tigers, with Cotter suffering a knock to the jaw and Taumololo suffering a cheekbone fracture.

Cowboys improve top-four hopes

The victory takes the Cowboys to sixth on the NRL ladder, level with the fifth-placed Canterbury Bulldogs on 26 points.

The pair now sit just two points behind the Sharks, who have now lost six of their last seven matches.

With the Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers and Sydney Roosters looking to have the top three spots on the ladder locked in, the race for the final remaining spot in the top four is on.

Top sports bookmakers put North Queensland at $6 to make it in now, with their odds shortened from $7.50 pre-match.

The Bulldogs, who demolished the Brisbane Broncos 41-16 earlier this weekend, are at similar odds.

However, bookies still favour the Sharks’ chances of making the top four, with the club paying just $1.65 to secure a spot.

This is because five of the Sharks six remaining matches are against non-top eight sides. With the Rabbitohs, Titans, Knights, Dragons, Warriors and Sea Eagles to come, the Sharks have one of the easiest rides into the end of the regular season.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, face three top eight sides in the Raiders, Storm and Bulldogs, plus a desperate Broncos side.

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