- Sharks were gunned down by Cowboys in high-scoring thriller
The North Queensland Cowboys and Cronulla Sharks turned on a tryfest in Townsville on Friday night, but footy fans were quick to notice an important detail about the Sydney team’s jersey.
While the Cowboys ran out in a striking army green and black strip to commemorate the ANZACs and all servicemen and women that have made the ultimate sacrifice, it was business as usual for the Sharks.
Cronulla ran out in their normal blue and black away strip at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, leading many footy fans to question why.
‘Great Cowboys jumpers, where is the Anzac theme on the Sharks jumpers?’ one fan asked.
Another sarcastically posted: ‘Sharks went all out on their ANZAC strip’.
‘Lest we forget that the mighty Cronulla Sharks don’t do ANZAC jerseys,’ posted another.
The Cronulla Sharks defence let them down in their loss to the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville on Friday
Fans were quick to question why the Sharks did not wear a commemorative ANZAC jersey for the match, held in a garrison city
The Cowboys adopted a striking green and black ANZAC jersey to honour the occasion
The reason the Sharks opted not to have an Anzac jersey this season is based on limitations set by the NRL.
The NRL has a formal policy intended to limit jersey designs, with clubs only allowed five alternate strips per season.
That means they have to choose which of the major rounds to commemorate and celebrate, including Women in League Round, Indigenous Round, Heritage Round and Multicultural Round.
There are often individual club jerseys as well, to honour milestones and other social and historic themes.
When it came to the match, Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater shook off rumours surrounding his future with North Queensland, powering the Cowboys to a 46-34 try-fest victory.
There had been speculation the fullback could move to St George Illawarra at the conclusion of the season, despite being contracted until the end of 2027.
But the 28-year-old looked intent on delivering for the Cowboys, registering a try, three try assists, a crucial 40/20, and seven tackle busts at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Friday.
His efforts helped North Queensland bounce back from a 38-6 thumping by Manly last Thursday in what coach Todd Payten described as a flat performance.
Co-captain Reuben Cotter turned in a player-of-the-match performance to win the Paul Green Medal
The match also saw the return of Origin star Jeremiah Nanai, while Murray Taulagi showed Queensland coach Billy Slater he was ready for a recall with a hattrick of tries
‘I gave them a couple of extra days off, which goes against my natural instinct,’ Payten said after Friday’s win.
‘But I just saw the petrol tank low on fumes. The players responded, looked after themselves, and bounced into training.
‘To win five of the last six games and put us in a decent position moving forward is pleasing.’
The Sharks were boosted by the return of co-captain Cameron McInnes [ACL], but their leaky defence proved costly.
‘We need an attitude check to [understand] the importance of what it takes to knuckle down, play together and work hard together,’ coach Craig Fitzgibbon said.
‘I don’t really want to give the boys an excuse or make up some positives out of it.’
