NRL Round 11 Preview and Prediction - Cronulla Sharks v North Queensland Cowboys @ Shark Park

Cronulla Sharks v North Queensland Cowboys @ Shark Park
 
Preview - The defending Premiers are flying high and will be looking to maintain 2nd spot on the ladder when they take on the Cowboys at Shark Park on Thursday night. The Sharks, after a shaky 1-2 start to the season, have now won 6 of their past 7 games as they look to set up a Top 4 finish which would ensure them a decent crack at back-to-back titles, a feat which no team has achieved since 1992. The Sharks won a gritty local derby 18-14 over the Dragons last Friday night at Kogarah to maintain their perfect record away from home. At home they have been off colour this year with just 1 victory from 4 attempts. The Cowboys are hot on the Sharks’ heels in 5th place after a dominant 30-14 victory over the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium without Johnathan Thurston. The Cowboys can go equal on points on the ladder with the Sharks if they achieve their 7th victory of the season on Friday night. 
 
History - Last season these teams clashed in the Preliminary Final with the Sharks steamrolling the Cowboys 32-20 at Allianz Stadium. Even though the Cowboys made a late rally, they were never in the game as the Sharks blew them away with a dominant display in the forwards. Overall the Sharks enjoy a good record against the Cowboys with 25 victories to 16 defeats overall. 
 
Cronulla Sharks’ Scouting Report - The Sharks have named an unchanged side from the one that scraped home against an understrength Dragons’ side at Jubilee last week. Valentine Holmes, after a quiet start to the season, is starting to find his feet at fullback amidst the rumours that Josh Dugan could be joining the Club on a big money deal. 
 
North Queensland Cowboys’ Scouting Report - Johnathan Thurston has been named on an extended bench, however is said to be unlikely to return from a shoulder injury. Michael Morgan had by far his best game of the season last week, scoring a try and having a hand in several others, as he took responsibility of being the chief playmaker. 
 
Verdict - Sharks by 1-6 in an entertaining game 
 
The Sharks’ home form has been patchy so you would have to give the Cowboys a chance here based on that. I just think it’s hard to go back-to-back on the road, and the Cowboys would have done plenty of travelling in the past week having played 2 straight Thursday night games in Sydney. Eventually the Sharks are going to rev up and play their best football at home and, with the last game before Origin takes away some of their best players, I think it is the perfect platform for them to put in an outstanding performance. I expect this game to be quite open and entertaining especially with the Cowboys rediscovering some of their defensive swagger last week. The Sharks will look to create a similar ambush of the Cowboys as they achieved in last year’s Preliminary finals by getting on top in the forwards.