Cowboys vs Sharks
Round 8 2026, Friday 24 April 2026
Verdict: too close to split
CowboysSharks
Result: Cowboys 46 defeated Sharks 34 ✓ Tip correct
Match facts
- Kick-off
- Fri 24 Apr, 6:00pm AEST
- Venue
- Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
- Ladder going in
- Cowboys 11th, Sharks 7th
- Referee
- Belinda Sharpe
- Crowd
- 17,886
- Weather
- Fine, good ground
How the experts tipped
Cowboys 58%42% Sharks
| Expert | Tip | Tip correct |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Baker | Sharks | ✗ |
| Chris Barrett | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Zoe Samios | Sharks | ✗ |
| Zac Bailey | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Frances Howe | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Christian Nicolussi | Sharks | ✗ |
| Billie Eder | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Adrian Proszenko | Sharks | ✗ |
| Dan Walsh | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Andrew Johns | Sharks | ✗ |
| Emma Kemp | Cowboys | ✓ |
| Neil Breen | Cowboys | ✓ |
Going in
| Club | Ladder going in | Last five, oldest first | Model rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | 11th | WWWWL | -2.3 |
| Sharks | 7th | LLWWL | +2.2 |
Last five games
Cowboys
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Round 7 | v Sea Eagles | L 6–38 |
| Round 6 | at Broncos | W 35–31 |
| Round 5 | at Dragons | W 32–0 |
| Round 4 | v Storm | W 28–24 |
| Round 3 | v Titans | W 30–16 |
Sharks
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Round 6 | v Roosters | L 22–34 |
| Round 5 | v Warriors | W 36–22 |
| Round 4 | at Raiders | W 34–22 |
| Round 3 | v Dolphins | L 10–38 |
| Round 2 | at Panthers | L 6–26 |
Head to head since 2024
| Season | Round | Game | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Finals Week 1 | Sharks v Cowboys | 26–16 | Allianz Stadium |
| 2025 | Round 22 | Sharks v Cowboys | 32–12 | Ocean Protect Stadium |
| 2025 | Round 2 | Cowboys v Sharks | 12–36 | Queensland Country Bank Stadium |
| 2024 | Semi-Finals | Sharks v Cowboys | 26–18 | Allianz Stadium |
| 2024 | Round 21 | Cowboys v Sharks | 30–22 | Queensland Country Bank Stadium |
| 2024 | Round 7 | Sharks v Cowboys | 42–6 | Sharks Stadium |
Team lists
Cowboys
- 1 Scott Drinkwater Fullback
- 2 Braidon Burns Winger
- 3 Jaxon Purdue Centre
- 4 Tom Chester Centre
- 5 Murray Taulagi Winger
- 6 Jake Clifford Five-Eighth
- 7 Tom Dearden (c) Halfback
- 8 Coen Hess Prop
- 9 Reed Mahoney Hooker
- 10 Jason Taumalolo (c) Prop
- 11 Heilum Luki 2nd Row
- 12 Jeremiah Nanai Interchange
- 13 Reuben Cotter (c) Lock
- 14 Soni Luke Interchange
- 15 Sam McIntyre Reserve
- 16 Thomas Mikaele 2nd Row
- 17 Griffin Neame Interchange
- 18 Matthew Lodge Interchange
- 20 Zac Laybutt Reserve
Coach: Todd Payten
In Jeremiah Nanai, Murray Taulagi, Reed Mahoney
Out Kai O'Donnell, Matthew Lodge, Zac Laybutt
Sharks
- 1 William Kennedy Fullback
- 2 Mawene Hiroti Winger
- 3 Siosifa Talakai Centre
- 4 KL Iro Centre
- 5 Samuel Stonestreet Winger
- 6 Braydon Trindall Five-Eighth
- 7 Nicholas Hynes Halfback
- 8 Addin Fonua-Blake Prop
- 9 Blayke Brailey (c) Hooker
- 10 Toby Rudolf Prop
- 11 Billy Burns 2nd Row
- 12 Teig Wilton 2nd Row
- 13 Jesse Colquhoun Lock
- 14 Briton Nikora Interchange
- 15 Cameron McInnes Interchange
- 16 Oregon Kaufusi Interchange
- 17 Thomas Hazelton Interchange
- 18 Hohepa Puru Reserve
- 20 Riley Jones Reserve
Coach: Craig Fitzgibbon
Numbers as named by each club on nrl.com. Changes are measured against the club's previous game.
Why the model leaned this way
Going in, Cowboys rated -2.3 and Sharks +2.2 on our scale, a gap of 4.5 points, plus 4.5 points for playing at their own ground.
Scoring
- Cowboys
- Tries Scott Drinkwater 3', Murray Taulagi 14', Murray Taulagi 27', Reed Mahoney 33', Braidon Burns 38', Murray Taulagi 51', Soni Luke 66', Tom Dearden 73', Heilum Luki 79'
- Goals 5/9
- Half-time 26
- Sharks
- Tries Siosifa Talakai 9', Siosifa Talakai 11', Blayke Brailey 44', KL Iro 54', KL Iro 57', KL Iro 75'
- Goals 5/6
- Half-time 12
Draw, teams and scoring: nrl.com match centre. Expert tips: The Sydney Morning Herald panel.