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Cronulla Sharks v North Queensland Cowboys

Thursday, May 18, 7:50pm (AEST), Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney




All eyes will be on Johnathan Thurston and if he takes his spot in the Cowboys side to take on the Sharks on Thursday night. He has flown into Sydney with the Cowboys squad and will be given as much time as possible by Cowboys coach Paul Green. It’s imperative to keep an eye on team news as the impact of JT is huge here.
History
Cronulla have won the last two against North Queensland including a preliminary final win last year. The Sharks and Cowboys clashed three times in 2016, with the Sharks holding a 2-1 advantage. Sharks five-eighth James Maloney scored a double and kicked six goals in the Sharks 32-20 in last year’s preliminary final.
Form
Cronulla have won 6 of their last 7 matches and have moved up to second on the ladder following an 18-14 win against rivals St George Illawarra at Kogarah. The Sharks have not conceded more than 18 points in a game since Round 1 and rank top in defence conceding just 13.2ppg. Despite Johnathan Thurston being absent, the Cowboys punished a hapless Canterbury team in Round 10 to win 30-14. The Cowboys have now won two of their last three. North Queensland are sixth on the ladder with a 6-4 record and have won three of their four road games. The Cowboys rank ninth in both attack and defence.
Key Matchup
James Maloney v Michael Morgan. Maloney will have fond memories of his last clash against the Cowboys, bagging 20 points in the preliminary final victory. Defence has always been the issue for Maloney and he’ll need a strong game here to cement his spot in the NSW Origin side. Morgan was outstanding in last week’s win over the Bulldogs and grabbed 3 Dally M points for his performance. He scored a try and had a hand in four others. Critics have been crying out for Morgan to step up when Thurston is unavailable and he finally delivered. He’ll need to back it up again this week, especially if Thurston doesn’t pass a fitness test.
Stats That Matter
Cronulla have a 4-6 cover record with an 8-2 under number while North Queensland are 6-4 ATS with a 6-4 under number. Cronulla have won the last two against North Queensland including a preliminary final win last year. Eight of the last 10 clashes have topped 38 points. The Sharks have failed to cover any of their last four at Shark Park and are 17-23 ATS at the ground with a 24-6 under record since 2014. The Cowboys have covered four straight and the over has hit in the last five on the road.
Final Thoughts
The Wolf will be on JT watch like everyone else, but still favours the Sharks on the back of their brick wall defence. As mentioned, the Sharks have not conceded more than 18 points in a game since Round 1 and rank top in defence conceding just 13.2ppg. They’ll grind out another victory here, but the Cowboys with a converted try start is The Wolf’s recommended play.
How It’s Shaping Up
Cronulla by 2
Best Bet
North Queensland +6 ($1.91)

Other Recommended Bets
Under 37.5 ($1.88)

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