2025 R2 Sat - North Qld 12-36 Cronulla @ QLD Country Bank

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2025 - Round 2
North Queensland Cowboys v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba (TICKETS)

Saturday 15 March 2025
Kickoff 5:30pm AEDT
Live on Fox, Kayo

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Sam McIntyre 11. John Bateman 12. Kai O'Donnell 13. Reuben Cotter
14. Karl Lawton 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess
18. Jake Clifford 19. Jeremiah Nanai 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Jaxson Paulo 22. Jason Taumalolo

Changes from last match:
In: Kai O'Donnell (second row), Jake Clifford (reserve), Thomas Mikaele (reserve), Jaxson Paulo (reserve), Jason Taumalolo (reserve)
Changes: Jeremiah Nanai (second row to reserve)

1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes
14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Thomas Hazelton
18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Billy Burns 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Hohepa Puru

Changes from last match:
In: Tuku Hau Tapuha (reserve), Mawene Hiroti (reserve), Billy Burns (reserve), Jayden Berrell (reserve), Hohepa Puru (reserve)

Referee: Liam Kennedy Sideline Officials: Jarrod Cole, Tyson Brough Video Referee: Gerard Sutton

HEAD TO HEAD - 1995 - 2024​

	TOTAL	NQL	CRO	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	59	20	39	0
QLD C. BANK	5	1	4	0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2023	Round 9	CRO 44-6	Pointsbet	8148
2023	Round 25	CRO 32-12	QLD C. Bank	17318
2024	Round 7	CRO 42-6	Sharks	12415
2024	Round 21	NQL 30-22	QLD C. Bank	17907
2024	Semi Final	CRO 26-18	Allianz	19124

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2005	Round 13	NQL 56-14	Dairy Farmers	20843
2021	Round 4	CRO 48-10	Netstrata	5119
2023	Round 9	CRO 44-6	Pointsbet	8148

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6
NORTH QLD	BRI (A)	CAN (H)	PEN (A)	SOU (A)
CRONULLA	SOU (H)	CBY (H)	CAN (A)	MAN (H)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 1
NORTH QLD	MAN	L 12-42
CRONULLA	PEN	L 22-28

STATE OF PLAY: 2025 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
NORTH QLD	15th	1	0	0-1-0	12	42
CRONULLA	12th	1	0	0-1-0	22	28

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Sharks racking up the travel km’s early.

I expect the Cowboys to be more competitive at home.

Hopefully the Sharks forwards turn up.

If they do we could have a comfortable win.

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

Only think keeping this from being another smacking for the Cows is home ground advantage. What I am interested in seeing is if the noise around Nicho Hynes starts to play on him and his teammates mentally, because he is definitely off the boil somewhere.

Sharks by 10

 

[This Year?]

I'm expecting a better showing from the Cowboys so it shouldn't be a 50 job, but the Sharks should still win this 13+

 

[Valheru]

Big game for the cowboys IMO. If they don't show up here Payten may as well pack his bags.

Sharks to win with the margin dependant on cowboys effort.

 

[chrisD]

Payten drops Nanai because he needs to work on his defence but Drinkwater is untouched?

 

[Phil McGrawhan]

Todd shoulda been shown the door early last yr .
we will get thumped 34-12

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Todd shoulda been shown the door early last yr .
we will get thumped 34-12

With the amount of talent he has had over the past few years he definitely should’ve done better with that roster.

 

[Fangs]

Similar to the Warriors v Manly game. Which Cowboys team will show up?

Plenty of pressure on the Sharks though. They are expected to win and its always a tough road trip. 0-2 wouldn't be a great start to the season.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Payten drops Nanai because he needs to work on his defence but Drinkwater is untouched?

Todd moving a 22 year old Origin back rower to a different side of the field to accommodate a 31 year old has been POM, then dropping him when he doesnt perform after 1 game is the baldest coaching thing ever

Sharks by 14.

 

[Belza1]

Flakes by 10

 

[JamesRustle]

Sharkies to carry Hynes and win convincingly. Everyone's favorite, Ronaldo, to bag 3 tries.

Sharks fans to read about it on Sunday arvo.

 

[Someone2]

Sharks by 10

 

[Miller was a legend]

Sharks by 10

I hate you

 

[borisdog]

Payten drops Nanai because he needs to work on his defence but Drinkwater is untouched?

He could've dropped anyone for shit defence and been correct.

But it's always the same message. "I've told the boys about the expectations". Yes Todd, apparently you've been doing that for 3 years. They're either not listening or they're no good. And if they're not listening then maybe something needs to change coaching wise, either the message, the training or the human.

 

[Fangs]

Both results feel like an upset tbh.

Cows win an upset because they suck and the Sharks are decent.

Sharks win an upset backing up from Vegas and travelling to Townsville (And if you believe the rumours, a number of players recovering from Covid).

 

[Stinkfinger]

Cows a different proposition up there. Sharts will have their hands full.

 

[Fangs]

He could've dropped anyone for shit defence and been correct.

But it's always the same message. "I've told the boys about the expectations". Yes Todd, apparently you've been doing that for 3 years. They're either not listening or they're no good. And if they're not listening then maybe something needs to change coaching wise, either the message, the training or the human.

Yeah the review line he trots out has worn thin.

No idea what is going on up there but it's the same defensive issues the day Payten arrived there.

 

[MKCS]

I think the Cows can take this one, it's an underdog kind of week.

 

[Someone2]

0/4 come on sharkies