Friday, September 23Cronulla Sharks ($2.20) vs North Queensland Cowboys ($1.70), Allianz Stadium at 7:55pmTeam news: The week off has been timely for Cronulla -- the Sharks naming both explosive forward Sam?Tagataese and captain Paul Gallen; the skippers back injury has seen him on light duties but he has declared himself a certain starter after missing the qualifying final in week one.Joseph Paulo will miss the game with a knee injury while Wade Graham should play but has been monitored since suffering concussion early in the win against Canberra.Cowboys forward Ethan Lowe has already been ruled out for the season and will undergo spinal surgery this week. Co-captain Matt Scott continues to nurse a back injury but has been named, while the premiers will be boosted by the return of centre Kane Linnett. Winger Antonio Winterstein has however been ruled out with his place taken by Javid Bowen.Key head-to-head: Jason Taumalolo vs Paul GallenThis clash will be a worth the price of admission alone and threatens to shake the very foundations of Allianz Stadium.Its the young bull in Jason Taumalolo against the old warhorse in Paul Gallen. The toughness of the Sharks veteran can never be questioned but Im not sure it will be enough to get the better of the Cowboys wrecking ball.Taumalolo credits Gallen as the player he idolises more than any other and both have racked up an average of more than 160 metres with the ball each game this season.This could possibly be Gallens last big chance to ice his glittering career with a premiership and it might just be possible if he can conquer Taumalolo on Friday night.Sharks:?1. Ben Barba 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Jack Bird 4. Ricky Leutele 5. Valentine Holmes 6. James Maloney 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Michael Ennis 10. Matt Prior 11. Luke Lewis 12. Wade Graham 13. Paul Gallen (c)?Interchange:?14. Gerard Beale 15. Chris Heighington 16. Kurt Capewell 17. Jason Bukuya 18. Sam TagataeseCowboys:?1. Lachlan Coote 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin ONeill 4. Kane Linnett 5. Javid Bowen 6. Michael Morgan 7. Johnathan Thurston (c) 8. Matt Scott (c) 9. Jake Granville 10. James Tamou 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Coen Hess 13. Jason Taumalolo Interchange: 14. Rory Kostjasyn 15. John Asiata 16. Scott Bolton 17. Ben HannantKey Stats:?The Cowboys eliminated the Sharks from last years finals series with a 39-0 beltingThe Sharks have a 51 percent winning record at Allianz Stadium but have won their last four there?The Cowboys have won just six of 21 at Allianz Stadium, havent won there since 2010 and lost their only clash against the Sharks at the venueUBET verdict:?$2.20 Sharks, $1.70 CowboysOne of the rare occasions where the side who had the week off (Cronulla) are at home in Week 3 of the finals and find themselves as the outsiders. The Sharks have only won four of their last 11 matches against the Cowboys, but they are a much better side this season. The Cowboys put in another wonderful performance last week in their win over Brisbane, with JT the catalyst behind that. Many think that game, and extra time played, may well have sapped the energy out of the Cowboys for this week. Interesting comments, but punters have brushed that aside as North Queensland go in as favourites.Weather:?Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of a morning shower and a temperature of 17 degrees at kick-off.Prediction:?A preliminary final isnt exactly unfamiliar territory for Cronulla but they are unfamiliar with winning them. The Sharks have lost at this stage of the finals on six previous occasions since their last grand final appearance in 1978.?The Sharks are a better side than the team that were thumped 39-0 by the Cowboys in last years finals series, but I am not certain they have improved enough to exact revenge on the reigning premiers.I believe North Queensland have too many weapons, too much big game experience and they also have the two JTs -- in my opinion Johnathan Thurston is the best back in the world and Jason Taumalolo is the best forward in the world and that alone makes it too hard to tip against the Cowboys.Tip: Cowboys by 8Enter your ESPNfootytips NRL selections Discount Nike Vapormax . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. Vapormax For Sale Cheap . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. http://www.discountvapormax.com/ . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. Nike Vapormax Wholesale China . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. Cheap Vapormax China .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. Sydney FC are determined to prevent their FFA Cup final loss to Melbourne City from infecting the rest of their season.The Sky Blues were jumped from the outset of Wednesday nights final at AAMI Park by a physical Melbourne outfit who didnt allow them to play the game on their terms.With Tim Cahills header giving City a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute, Sydney fought back but were unable to produce an equaliser, handing City their first silverware in their seven-year history.Sydney, who last took home a trophy in 2010, can take comfort from their position at the top of the A-League ladder - not to mention the fact it was their first loss in 15 games.But captain Alex Brosque admits he and coach Graham Arnold will need to ensure the teams disappointment doesnt have a corrosive effect on the remainder of their season.There is that danger, Brosque said after the game.The boys werent happy. Heads were down. Everything was a pretty awful mood within the changerooms. Its definitely one thats very different to what weve been used to this year.Arnie, myself, we just need to pick the boys up, which well do. Well go back to the hotel and recover and a good win on Sunday against Newcastle goes a long way to getting our season back on track.Sydney coach Arnold was gracious in defeat after the game, saying City had come a long way from their Melbourne Heart days.ddddddddddddIn general play it was an even contest, and youve got to congratulate Melbourne City on winning their first trophy in only a short time, he said.You can see by the crowd tonight and the number of people around the place ... theyll be a big club and get better and better.But he couldnt resist throwing in a pointed remark about the small number of empty seats at the FFAs handpicked venue.It was a fantastic occasion but it wasnt a full house, he said.I think if wed played in Sydney it would have been.Arnold was unimpressed with Luke Brattans late challenge on Michael Zullo in the opening minutes of the game, and equally unimpressed with his sides failure to match Citys physicality.The Brattan tackle sparked a near 20-man melee and prompted plenty of heat throughout the first half, with 10 fouls in the opening 15 minutes.Youve got to match the fight, Arnold said.I thought Brattans tackle in the first minute was horrendous. I thought that was probably something that set the tone for the game. ' ' '
