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Stadium farewell series v Sharks

We’re counting down our final season at our inaugural home ground – with just 11 regular season home games left at 1300SMILES Stadium, we take a look at the rivalry played out in North Queensland between the Toyota Cowboys and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

History

Meetings – 23

Head to head – Cowboys 11 wins, Sharks 12 wins

Biggest victories – Cowboys def. Sharks 56-14 in Rd 13, 2005; Sharks def. Cowboys 46-16 in Rd 15, 2002

First meeting - 1996 – Round 12: Cowboys 16 def. Sharks 10

The two sides first clashed in North Queensland mid-way through the Cowboys’ second season in the competition. Taking on a star-studded Sharks outfit ironically featuring current Cowboys head coach Paul Green as well as superstars David Peachey, Mat Rogers and Andrew Ettingshausen, North Queensland pulled off a shock upset. Fullback Reggie Cressbrook scored a try and kicked two goals, while winger David Bouveng and Damian Gibson also crossed for the Cowboys.

Highlight

2015 – semi-final: Cowboys 39 def. Sharks nil

It’s a night etched in the memory of Cowboys and Sharks fans alike. In search of their maiden premiership, the Cowboys returned to 1300SMILES Stadium after being pipped 16-12 by the Broncos in the first week of the finals. Any suggestions of a straight-sets finals exit were quickly alleviated as the Cowboys crushed the Sharks in front of 22,000 fans to earn a trip to Melbourne for a preliminary final berth. Five-eighth Michael Morgan scored a double, while Scott Bolton, Kyle Feldt, Ethan Lowe, Justin O’Neill and Antonio Winterstein also crossed, while Johnathan Thurston added five goals and a field goal.

Last regular season game

2018 – Round 1: Cowboys 20 def. Sharks 14

Johnathan Thurston celebrated his 300th NRL game with a gritty season-opening victory over the Sharks. Gavin Cooper, Kyle Feldt, Coen Hess and Justin O’Neill scored tries, while Thurston experienced a rare off night with the boot, adding two goals from five attempts.

Preview

Both sides enter the Round 3 contest with a win and a loss through their first two games of the season. The Cowboys opened 2019 with a victory over the Dragons before falling to Brisbane in Round 2, while the Sharks were toppled by the Knights in Round 1, but rebounded to beat the Titans last weekend.

Acknowledgement of Country

North Queensland Cowboys respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.