Five things we learned from Cowboys’ 42-16 loss to Sharks

It wasn’t enough to overcome a resilient Cronulla but there were still positives for North Queensland coach Paul Green and his new look backline and spine. What else did we take from the match?

Jake Clifford eventually settled into his stride. Image: Zak Simmonds

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1. The Cowboys’ forward pack was challenged to step it up in the absence of Jason Taumalolo this week and they certainly tried their best. It was always going to be difficult to replicate Taumalolo’s freakish ability but Josh McGuire (184m from 23 carries) and John Asiata (86m from seven) showed there is still life in their forward pack without him. Vice-captain Jordan McLean was also strong down the middle and was rewarded with a try.

Jake Clifford eventually settled into his stride. Image: Zak Simmonds

2. Jake Clifford had a nervy return in Cowboys colours but did enough in the No.6 jersey to help his side where it was needed. Halfback Michael Morgan was able to take the reins of his Cowboys side while Jake Clifford and fullback Te Maire Martin added an extra attacking dimension. Clifford also took on the line on five occasions to add some valuable metres to the Cowboys attack.

3. Coach Paul Green would have been pleased with his new look backline and spine. Martin was shifted from five-eighth to fullback, Jordan Kahu moved to centre and Clifford brought into the halves. The Cowboys attack in the first half showed glimpses of perfection but couldn’t carry that through in the second half.

Jordan McLean tried to lead by example. Image: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

4. The Sharks will be sweating on the health of their most capped player Paul Gallen after he went off with a minor rib injury after just 20 minutes. The front rower made 59m from just eight carries and had a hand in setting up Cronulla’s first try.

5. Whatever Sharks coach John Morris said to his players at half-time seemed to work as the boys from the Shire piled on five tries within the first 20 minutes of the second stanza and a sixth try right on full-time. Their halves put on a masterclass which was topped off with a Chad Townsend double.