Queensland Country Bank Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 2 NRL game between North Queensland Cowboys and Cronulla Sharks. The game kicks off at 5:30 pm with Cronulla Sharks heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the North Queensland Cowboys vs. Cronulla Sharks game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Saturday March 15, 2025 at 5:30 pm
Where: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks Odds
North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks Preview
Round 1 losers North Queensland and Cronulla face off in Townsville on Saturday night, with the Sharks arguably taking more positives from their opening 2025 performance.
The Cowboys were overwhelmed in a 42-12 defeat to Manly, conceding three tries in the first 10 minutes as the Sea Eagles exploited their left edge before dominating through the middle.
Despite the early onslaught, North Queensland showed resilience, keeping their line intact for the final 25 minutes and scoring the last two tries, with Braidon Burns and Viliami Vailea impressing on the right edge.
In response to the heavy loss, coach Todd Payten dropped Origin forward Jeremiah Nanai for Kai O’Donnell, who returns to the NRL after three seasons in England. Jason Taumalolo and Jake Clifford have been named among the reserves.
The Sharks, meanwhile, put up a strong fight against Penrith in Las Vegas, ultimately falling 28-22 after a spirited performance.
Nicho Hynes’ leadership and decision-making were scrutinized, but Braydon Trindall continued his strong 2024 form, and Addin Fonua-Blake made an immediate impact in the forwards.
The Cowboys have won just two of their last 13 matches against the Sharks, though they claimed a 30-22 victory in Townsville in Round 21 last year—albeit without Nicho Hynes and Will Kennedy. The Sharks, however, dominated with a 42-6 win at home in Round 6.
While the Cowboys are traditionally stronger at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, where they went 8-5 last season, they also conceded 40-plus points to lower-ranked teams like the Warriors and Broncos. The Sharks, on the other hand, lost only two of their seven interstate games in 2024.
With question marks over the Cowboys’ defense following last week’s performance, the Sharks’ forward momentum, led by Fonua-Blake, could make this a challenging night for the North Queensland faithful.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
Head To Head Bet
We're tipping Cronulla Sharks to win at $1.36 odds.
First Try Scorer
First Try Scorer: Ronaldo Mulitalo at $6.20.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks Teams
Cowboys team: 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
Sharks team: 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