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Sharks v Cowboys: Tricky treat for home fans; Nanai, Neame add punch

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Tue 8 Sep 2026, 07:01 PM

No strangers to facing off in finals - both the Sharks and Cowboys will be hoping to shake off their most recent form in this elimination final.

The Sharks come into this game having lost four of their past five games - with their win in Round 25 against the Titans also seeing them have to fight back from a poor 16-8 deficit in the first half to claim the win.

Last round, they had victory stolen from them in the final seconds, with the Storm producing a try of the year contender to snatch the win.

For the Cowboys, it has been an inconsistent season overall, with some highlight wins like taking down Penrith in a milestone match for Jason Taumalolo and record lows like their 82-12 loss to the Roosters.

Last round, they were outplayed and out-enthused 50-30 by a Raiders side with nothing to lose, so will be looking to aim up for this must-win clash.

The two clubs have plenty of post-season history as well, so will be aiming to reset their campaigns and claim another win against their finals rivals.

Finals Week 1 - Finals Week 1 - Saturday 12 Sep

9:50 am

Sharks

Cowboys

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney

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Team Lists Get Tickets

Team News

Sharks: The Sharks welcome back playmaker Braydon Trindall after two games out with a shoulder injury while Nicho Hynes, Blayke Brailey, KL Iro and Teig Wilton are all back on deck after a rest in Round 27. Billy Burns, Toby Rudolf and Hohepa Puru revert to the interchange alongside Tom Hazelton, who has served a one-game ban for dangerous contact.

Cowboys: Prop Griffin Neame (toe), back-rower Jeremiah Nanai (knee) and winger Zac Laybutt (concussion) all return for the sudden-death encounter. Coen Hess and John Bateman slide to the bench while Kai O'Donnell and Sam McIntyre drop to the reserves and Robert Derby makes way. Captain Reuben Cotter has been named pending his judiciary appearance where he is pleading not guilty to a careless high tackle charge.

Finals Week 1 - Finals Week 1 - Saturday 12 Sep

9:50 am

Sharks

Cowboys

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa

Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Braidon Burns
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Riley Jones

Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Jaxon Purdue
Centre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro

Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Tom Chester
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo

Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Zac Laybutt
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall

Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Jake Clifford
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicho Hynes

Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Tom Dearden

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Griffin Neame
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey

Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reed Mahoney
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Jesse Colquhoun

Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jason Taumalolo
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora

2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum Luki
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton

2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Siosifa Talakai

Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Soni Luke
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Billy Burns

Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 John Bateman
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi

Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Thomas Mikaele
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton

Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Coen Hess
Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Hohepa Puru

Interchange for Cowboys is number 18 Kaiden Lahrs
Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Toby Rudolf

Interchange for Cowboys is number 19 Ethan King

Reserves

Reserve for Sharks is number 20 Niwhai Puru

Reserve for Cowboys is number 20 Kai O'Donnell
Reserve for Sharks is number 21 Samuel Stonestreet

Reserve for Cowboys is number 21 Sam McIntyre
Reserve for Sharks is number 22 Mawene Hiroti

Reserve for Cowboys is number 22 Liam Sutton

Blayke Brailey
Braydon Trindall
Mawene Hiroti
Nicho Hynes
Teig Wilton
Thomas Hazelton

Griffin Neame
Jeremiah Nanai
Liam Sutton
Zac Laybutt

Braden Uele
Michael Gabrael
Riley Pollard

Robert Derby

Match Officials

Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated: 9/8/2026 7:20:32 AM

Stat Attack

The Sharks have won 14 of their last 17 games against the Cowboys.
The Cowboys have won two of their last three finals games against the Sharks in Sydney.
Since their premiership win in 2016 the Sharks have won only four of their last 15 finals games.
Cowboys winger Braidon Burns will make his 100th NRL appearance.
Sharks winger Sione Katoa requires one try to reach a century of NRL tries.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.