Head-to-head & line betting for Cowboys vs. Sharks NRL semi final

Who: North Queensland Cowboys vs. Cronulla Sharks
When: Saturday, September 19, 7:45pm
Where: 1300Smiles Stadium, North Queensland

If what we saw from the Cowboys last week against the Broncos is anything to go by, we’re in store for some great rugby league this Saturday.

In a losing effort, the North Queensland Cowboys looked simply superb and playing at home will make a huge difference.

The Sharks scored an impressive and surprisingly easy win against the lacklustre Rabbitohs, so they should not be underestimated, but the betting suggests the Cowboys will be heading to the preliminary final next week.

Cowboys vs. Sharks odds

When they markets opened, some bookmakers were offering as much as $1.40 for the Cowboys, but those markets have now firmed up and the Cowboys currently sit at $1.38 with Sportsbet.com.au.

Like the Friday night game and the Roosters, we’re expecting multi-bet punters to have the Cowboys running through their selections.

Cowboys (-8 line) – $1.38 to win at Sportsbet
Sharks (+8 line) – $3.15

Both NRL games this week have identical lines, but we’re predicting a very different game here as the Cowboys are very strong at home.

They were forced to play the Broncos at Suncorp last week and that’s a tough ground to play at for any team. Losing 12-16 is nothing to be embarrassed about and the quality of the game was simply outstanding.

The Cowboys were out of their feet come the 80th minute whistle, but they never gave up and they still had a chance to win in the dying seconds. Expect a similar style of game from the Cowboys which will suit them more than it will the Sharks.

The Sharks are getting eight points from bookmakers, which does seem quite generous considering they’re coming off a 28-12 win over the Rabbitohs last week.

The men from Cronulla don’t have as much experience in the finals as the Cowboys and they aren’t expected to win the competition ($16 at Sportsbet). That doesn’t bode well for them here and we are expecting the home side to win comfortably by 10 points.

The pace of the game will be too much for the Sharks, which have beaten the Cowboys twice this season already, but this game is what the Cowboys have been waiting a few years for and they should take it out.

Cowboys vs. Sharks team lists and first tryscorer markets

Teams are unchanged for both sides with Rory Kostjasyn (Cowboys) and Matt Prior (Sharks) being added to an extended bench mid-week.

North Queensland Cowboys:

1. Lachlan Coote – $13
2. Kyle Feldt – $9 at Bet365.com
3. Justin O’Neill – $17
4. Kane Linnett – $17
5. Antonio Winterstein – $9
6. Michael Morgan – $17
7. Johnathan Thurston – $20
8. Matthew Scott – $41
9. Jake Granville – $17
10. James Tamou – $51
11. Gavin Cooper – $18
12. Ethan Lowe – $23
13. Jason Taumalolo – $26

14. Rory Kostjasyn – $23
15. John Asiata – $23
16. Scott Bolton – $34
17. Ben Hannant – $51
18. Ray Thompson – $26

Cronulla Sharks:

1. Michael Gordon – $20
2. Sosaia Feki – $14
3. Gerard Beale – $26 at WilliamHill.com.au
4. Ricky Leutele – $26
5. Valentine Holmes – $9.50
6. Jack Bird – $23
7. Jeff Robson – $41
8. Chris Heighington – $51
9. Michael Ennis – $51
10. Sam Tagataese – $51
11. Luke Lewis – $20
12. Wade Graham – $34
13. Paul Gallen – $51

14. Ben Barba – $26
15. Anthony Tupou – $34
16. Andrew Fafita – $26
17. Jayson Bukuya – $41
18. Matt Prior – $41

Cowboys vs. Sharks stats and exotic bets

Granted, many of these statistics were compiled when the North Queensland Cowboys were absolutely horrible, but if you’re betting on the Sharks they might give you that added confidence.

In 33 games played between these two sides, the Sharks have won 20 which includes both games played this season. They won 18-24 at 1300Smiles Stadium in June and backed that up with another solid 30-18 win at home in August.

That was a rare loss for the Cowboys at home, which boast an 80 percent win rate at home. They have been in inconsistent form towards the latter part of the season, but they looked prime last week and they will be very tough to beat.

Sportsbet are offering an exotic bet featuring star playmaker Johnathan Thurston. Punters can bet that JT will be the leading points scorer for the competition at $2.20. For this bet to cash, the Cowboys will likely have to win on Saturday.

Leading points scorer market:

James Maloney – $2.15
Johnathan Thurston – $2.20
Cameron Smith – $11
Michael Gordon – $11
Corey Parker – $13
Moses Mbye – $51

They are also running a leading tryscorer market which features both Cowboys and Sharks players. Shaun Kenny-Dowall is the current favourite at $5 with the Cowboys Antonio Winterstein on the second line of betting at $7.

Fellow Cowboys back Kyle Feldt has been well backed in the market at $13 with Justin O’Neill at $34. The Sharks are represented by Valentine Holmes ($34), Jack Bird ($41), Sosaia Feki ($67), Luke Lewis ($101), Michael Gordan ($101) and Tim Lafai at $126.

Shaun Kenny-Dowall – $5
Antonio Winterstein – $7 at Sportsbet.com.au
Daniel Tupou – $7
Blake Ferguson – $8
Marika Koroibete – $8
Kyle Feldt – $13
Michael Jennings – $13
Corey Oates – $15
Jordan Kahu – $15
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – $17
Anthony Milford – $21
Ben Hunt – $23
Curtis Rona – $23
Brett Morris – $23
Matt Duffie – $23
Justin O’Neill – $34
Valentine Holmes – $34
Jack Bird – $41
Kane Linnett – $41
Jack Reed – $51
Josh Morris – $51
Kurt Mann – $51
Cameron Munster – $51
Lachlan Coote – $67
Sam Perrett – $67
Will Chambers – $67
Sosaia Feki – $67
Luke Lewis – $101
Michael Gordon – $101
Tim Lafai – $126