2025 NRL Round 2

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North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks NRL Tips - Cowboys face another mauling

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: 13 Mar 2025

Andrew Hendrie 13 Mar 2025

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North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks expert predictions for Saturday's NRL Round 2 game
Kick off is at 5.30pm AEDT at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Sharks tipped to continue recent dominance over Cowboys
Cowboys to struggle in attack after tough R1 defeat
Betting tips: Sharks -8.5 at the line & Cowboys Under 21.5 team points; Briton Nikora to be a weapon on the edges

Top picks for Saturday night NRL including tryscorers!

North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks, Round 2 2025 - Expert Prediction

The Sharks pushed four-time reigning premiers Penrith all the way in Vegas and can continue their recent dominance over the Cowboys when the two teams clash in Townsville on Saturday.

North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks, Round 2 2025 - Expert Prediction
Head To Head
North Queensland Cowboys Form Analysis & Betting Trends
Recent Form
2025 Betting Trends
North Queensland Cowboys Team News
North Queensland Cowboys Team List
Cronulla Sharks Form Analysis & Betting Trends
Recent Form
2025 Betting Trends
Cronulla Sharks Team News
Cronulla Sharks Team List

Cronulla were impressive under the bright lights of Allegiant Stadium as they narrowly went down by six points to the Panthers and have had a fortnight to recover as they look to get their season up and running with a victory here.

It's been one-way traffic on the majority of occasions these two teams have played over the last few years, with the Sharks winning 12 of the last 14 meetings - including knocking the Cowboys out of last season's finals series. Considering the Cowboys were absolutely hammered by the Sea Eagles last week, leaking 42 points, it's tough to see the hosts overturning this H2H.

Cronulla covering a -8.5 line and reducing North Queensland to Under 21.5 total team points is the play for this game, while Briton Nikora looks good value for Anytime Tryscorer, with the Cowboys looking very shaky on the edges against Manly last week.

Sharks have won 12 of the last 14 meetings between the teams
Sharks have covered a -8.5 line in nine of those victories
Cowboys are coming off shocking 42-12 loss to Manly in R1
Four of Cowboys' last six defeats have been by 9+ points
Cowboys have scored 21 points or less in five of their last seven games vs Sharks
Sharks have reduced their opponents to Under 21.5 points in nine of their last 14 games
Briton Nikora has scored a try in his last four games outside of Sydney, including vs Panthers in Vegas last weekend
Cowboys conceded two tries to second-rowers Ben Trbojevic & Haumole Olakau'atu last week vs Manly within the first 10 minutes - Nikora should get his chances on the edges

Head To Head

As mentioned, Cronulla have dominated this matchup in recent times, winning 12 of the last 14 games between the sides dating back to 2018. The Sharks prevailed 26-18 in the most-recent encounter in last season's finals series.

North Queensland Cowboys Form Analysis & Betting Trends

Recent Form

Last 5 W/L	Last 5 ATS	Last 5 O/U
0-1	0-1	1-0

The Cowboys were blown off the park early by Manly in their season opener last week and never recovered - they'll need significant improvement to trouble a well-oiled machine in the Sharks in their first home game of 2025.

Todd Payten's team trailed by 16 points after 10 minutes at Brookvale and it was curtains from there. North Queensland lacked direction in the halves with the loss of Chad Townsend as Tom Duffy struggled at halfback on debut.

2025 Betting Trends

ATS	Over/Under	1-12	13+
0-1	1-0	0-0	0-1

North Queensland Cowboys Team News

Payten has already swung the axe on his under-performing team, dropping Origin star Jeremiah Nanai to reserves, with Kai O'Donnell back from the Super League and set to play his first NRL game since 2020.

Jason Taumalolo is listed among the reserves as he edges closer to a return, while Jake Clifford is the 18th man.

North Queensland Cowboys Team List

1. Scott Drinkwater

2. Braidon Burns

3. Jaxon Purdue

4. Viliami Vailea

5. Murray Taulagi

6. Tom Dearden

7. Thomas Duffy

8. Jordan McLean

9. Reece Robson

10. Sam McIntyre

11. John Bateman

12. Kai O’Donnell

13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange

14. Karl Lawton

15. Harrison Edwards

16. Griffin Neame

17. Coen Hess

Reserves

18. Jake Clifford

19. Jeremiah Nanai

20. Thomas Mikaele

21. Jaxson Paulo

22. Jason Taumalolo

Cronulla Sharks Form Analysis & Betting Trends

Recent Form

Last 5 W/L	Last 5 ATS	Last 5 O/U
0-1	0-1	1-0

It was a solid opening performance from the Sharks as they went down by a 28-22 score against the Panthers in Vegas to launch the season.

Addin Fonua-Blake could prove to be one of the signings of the season, with the bulldozing prop running for 190 metres and scoring a try on his Sharks debut. If Fonua-Blake can continue to lay that sort of foundation through the middle, then Nicho Hynes and Brayden Trindall will have plenty of time and space to get their lethal backline involved out wide.

2025 Betting Trends

ATS	Over/Under	1-12	13+
0-1	1-0	0-1	0-0

Cronulla Sharks Team News

Craig Fitzgibbon liked what he saw in Vegas and has named the same 17 players for this trip to Townsville, with Mawene Hiroti and Billy Burns listed among the reserves.

Cronulla Sharks Team List

1. William Kennedy

2. Samuel Stonestreet

3. Jesse Ramien

4. Kayal Iro

5. Ronaldo Mulitalo

6. Braydon Trindall

7. Nicho Hynes

8. Addin Fonua-Blake

9. Blayke Brailey

10. Oregon Kaufusi

11. Briton Nikora

12. Teig Wilton

13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange

14. Daniel Atkinson

15. Siosifa Talakai

16. Braden Hamlin-Uele

17. Thomas Hazelton

Reserves

18. Tuku Hau Tapuha

19. Mawene Hiroti

20. Billy Burns

21. Jayden Berrell

22. Hohepa Puru

Verdict

North Queensland Cowboys v Cronulla Sharks

The Sharks are backed to continue their strong recent record against the Cowboys, who struggled in attack last week in their heavy defeat to Manly.

Briton Nikora is tipped to be a threat on the edges against a shaky Cows' defence.

Sharks -8.5

Line

$1.90 - 3 Units

The Betting Brand

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Cowboys Under 21.5

Team Total

$1.88 - 2 Units

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Briton Nikora

Anytime Tryscorer

$3.30 - 1 Unit

Take it to the Neds Level