Sharks end unwanted finals run to set up Penrith clash

A PREVIEW OF THE FIRST NRL MIDTERMAL

Result: On Friday, September 20, in front of 19,124 spectators at Allianz Stadium, Cronulla Sharks defeated North Queensland Cowboys 26–18.

Important moment: After a Nicho Hynes bomb 15 minutes in, Ronaldo Mulitalo hammered and his amazing aerial bat-back found its way to Cameron McInnes. At that time, the Sharks led 12-0 and the Cronulla captain sprinted in to give the Cowboys a mountain to climb.

The stat: Following years of mockery and a week in which Hynes’s big-game experience was called into question, the Sharks finally stopped their appalling finals record and won their first postseason game in eight years.

Injury watch: Cowboys centre Valentine Holmes and winger Kyle Feldt met a tragic finish as they hobbled out of the

injured in the second half. Feldt, who is headed to England, will always be known as the player whose game-winning late try gave them their first Premiership. Next season, Holmes is expected to join the Dragons.

What comes next? Cronulla will play Penrith on Saturday at Accor Stadium in a preliminary final, the club’s first since 2018. The Cowboys’ season is ended.