NRL finals live updates: Cronulla Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys semifinal - blog, scores and stats

The Cronulla Sharks have their second chance after defeat last week to Melbourne.

Tonight they face a Cowboys team full of confidence in a sudden-death semifinal.

Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.

Key Events Kick-off at the Sydney Football Stadium 6 minutes ago Ashley Klein brings up 400 NRL matches as a referee 14 minutes ago Late changes for the Sharks 51 minutes ago Show all key events Kick-off at the Sydney Football Stadium M By Michael Doyle We are underway. Tonight, one team moves onto the preliminary final and the loser has their premiership dream dashed. The Sharks kick-off and they will be running to the left of your screen. Let me know your thoughts on the footy in the comment section. Report from pitchside at the SFS M By Michael Doyle "Perfect for good rugby league." This is how ABC Sport sideline eye John Goobs has described conditions at the Sydney Football Stadium. Follow the ABC Sport blog and listen to the live call M By Michael Doyle The best way to enhance your blogging experience is to listen to the ABC Sport live call, online or on the ABC Listen app. Listen in and let us know your thoughts on all things footy in the comment section of the live blog. ABC SPORT Ashley Klein brings up 400 NRL matches as a referee M By Michael Doyle A massive congratulations to tonight's whistle-blower — Ashley Klein. He will be officiating his 400th NRL match tonight. (AAP) The price of being a regional NRL fan M By Michael Doyle The cost of flights from Townsville to Sydney has more than doubled, leaving die-hard Cowboys fans devastated they will miss out on tonight's semifinal.

'Exorbitant' airline price hike grounds regional NRL fans desperate to attend semifinal clash Kick-off is 15 minutes away M By Michael Doyle Hey Mick 🖐️😀 Sharkies! 🩵🤍🩵 - Natty Hello Natty. Thank you for joining me on the ABC Sport live blog. We are 15 minutes away from kick-off in the semifinal between Cronulla and North Queensland. Like Natty, you can join the blog through the comment section. Cronulla's media team producing an exellent hype-up video M By Michael Doyle I am ready for this match. Jumping on the Cowboy bandwagon M By Michael Doyle Hello Mick, good to see you again. Go Cowboys! They are my favourite team for the rest of 2024... - Mike Hello Mike. Thank you for joining me on the ABC Sport live blog. There are just six teams left this season, which means 11 fan bases are barracking for the lesser of evils. Bulldogs fans cheering for Melbourne. Tigers fans cheering for the Roosters. No-one cheering for Manly. It's a special time of year. Remembering the last time these two clashed in the finals M By Michael Doyle The Sharks and the Cowboys produced one of the great matches in recent years, during the 2022 finals series. It was North Queensland's Valentine Holmes — a Cronulla premiership winning in 2016 — who produced a two-point field goal to win the game for the Cowboys. Late changes for the Sharks M By Michael Doyle The team lists are in — and the Sharks have made changes. Jesse Ramien returns to the side and will play in the centres. He will wear number 22 this evening. Siosifa Talakai, wearing number 3, has moved back to the bench.

That forces number 14 Daniel Atkinson to be 18th man. That is an interesting decision. Atkinson has been very handy for the Sharks in 2024 and is a versatile player. The Cowboys are as advertised. (NRL) A year of change which has broughts success to Townsville M By Michael Doyle Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden will take the club to a semi-final in their first premiership campaign as co-captains of the Cowboys. It is an opportunity the pair, still in their early twenties, dreamed of as teenagers not too long ago. But the pair do not want the story to end tonight. One season into their captaincy, Cowboys Cotter and Dearden take the team to a semifinal All eyes on Nicho Hynes M By Michael Doyle Nicho Hynes has conceded he may forever be known as a player who has failed to win big games, but his teammates have come to his defence ahead of tonight's semifinal.

'Shut some people up': Sharks teammates launch fierce defence of Nicho Hynes after Greg Alexander's axing call Who will the winner meet in the preliminary final? M By Michael Doyle The winner of tonight's semifinal will face the Penrith Panthers next week in the preliminary final. The Melbourne Storm will host either the Sydney Roosters or Manly Sea Eagles in the other preliminary final. Welcome back to the ABC Sport live blog M By Michael Doyle Good evening Australia. There are no more second chances in 2024. Win, and you are one step closer to being crowned premiers. Lose, and the season ends. The first NRL semifinal is on tonight as the Cronulla Sharks are hosting the North Queensland Cowboys. Join the blog and give your thoughts on all things footy in the comment section above.

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