Sharks v Cowboys semi-final tips & predictions | NRL 2024

Sharks v Cowboys best bets

Sharks v Cowboys NRL semi-final preview

The Cronulla Sharks will host the North Queensland Cowboys at Allianz Stadium on Friday night in week two of the 2024 NRL finals, with the winner set to face the Panthers in Penrith next weekend.

These two clubs met in round 21 in Townsville, where Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt scored a hat-trick as the home side won by eight points. That was just North Queensland’s second win from 13 clashes with Cronulla since 2018, and their last two meetings in Sydney have resulted in huge victories for the hosts.

As such, online bookmakers have Cronulla pegged as $1.60 favourites to win through to the preliminary finals. That leaves the Cowboys as $2.40 outsiders, with the line set at 4.5 points.

North Queensland coach Todd Payten has named an unchanged line-up following last week’s win over the Knights. The Cowboys dominated possession in that game, leading to more running metres and line breaks en route to a 12-point victory.

Cronulla were on the other side of a similar situation against the Storm in Melbourne last weekend. The visitors fell behind in possession, set-completion rate and missed a whopping 41 tackles to lose by 27 points.

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has also stuck with the same 17 that ran out last week. Siosifa Talakai is named to start in the centres, with Jesse Ramien among the reserves as he looks to return from an ankle injury that ruled him out of the clash with the Storm.

Sharks v Cowboys team lists

Cronulla Sharks

1. William Kennedy
2. Sione Katoa
3. Kayal Iro
4. Siosifa Talakai
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
14. Daniel Atkinson
15. Jack Williams
16. Royce Hunt
17. Thomas Hazelton

North Queensland Cowboys

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

Sharks v Cowboys betting strategy

While the Sharks have the wood over the Cowboys in recent years, there is no escaping the fact they’ve now lost seven consecutive finals. Off the back of a win last weekend, the value is with North Queensland to defy the odds and beat Cronulla at $2.40 with top NRL bookies.

Kyle Feldt has been in arguably career-best form in his final season with the Cowboys, scoring a whopping 12 tries in his last seven games. He’s also scored the first try for North Queensland in each of their last three matches as underdogs. At $8.75 with Marantelli Bet, Feldt offers great odds to be the first across the line again.

Similarly, Briton Nikora has been in brilliant form for the Sharks in their run to the finals, scoring tries in five of his last six appearances. The second-rower will be running at Jeremiah Nanai, who has missed 16 tackles in his last three games. Top betting sites are paying good odds of $2.45 for Nikora to score once again.

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