NRL finals live updates: Cronulla Sharks vs North Queensland ...

14' PENALTY TRY: Sharks are the first to score

4 minutes agoFri 20 Sep 2024 at 10:06am

Kick-off at the Sydney Football Stadium

18 minutes agoFri 20 Sep 2024 at 9:52am

Ashley Klein brings up 400 NRL matches as a referee

25 minutes agoFri 20 Sep 2024 at 9:45am

Key Event

4m agoFri 20 Sep 2024 at 10:06am

There is drama early.

Braydon Trindall has been awarded a penalty try for the Cronulla Sharks.

Cronulla elected to run the ball on the last tackle, and there were about three offloads as the Sharks tried to keep the play alive.

Trindall gets the ball and puts in a grubber kick for the in-goal.

TACKLED BY REUBEN COTTER.

Referee Ashley Klein has gone to the bunker to confirm his belief it should be a penalty try.

If it's not, it will be a sin-bin to Cotter.

But the opinion of the referee and the bunker is that Trindall would have got to the ball before the Cowboys cover defence.

Sharks look nervous Michael and so am I.

- KB

Howdy Mr Doyle - C'mon Cowboys - ride it home

- Leroy

We have played eight minutes and it is fast and free-flowing.

There have been two errors, and both have involved Jesse Ramien.

The Sharks centre forced a Cowboy knock-on deep in North Queensland territory. That set of six was the best chance of either side for a score, but the Cowboys' defence held firm.

The Raimen dropped the footy while trying to play the ball.

North Queensland had their best chance with a full set of six inside the Cronulla 30-metre line.

But the Sharks held firm.

This is shaping to be a tough, tight and thrilling semifinal.

Key Event

18m agoFri 20 Sep 2024 at 9:52am

We are underway.

Tonight, one team moves onto the preliminary final and the loser has their premiership dream dashed.

The Sharks kick-off and they will be running to the left of your screen.

Let me know your thoughts on the footy in the comment section.

"Perfect for good rugby league."

This is how ABC Sport sideline eye John Gibbs has described conditions at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The best way to enhance your blogging experience is to listen to the ABC Sport live call, online or on the ABC Listen app.

Listen in and let us know your thoughts on all things footy in the comment section of the live blog.

Key Event

25m agoFri 20 Sep 2024 at 9:45am

A massive congratulations to tonight's whistle-blower — Ashley Klein.

He will be officiating his 400th NRL match tonight.

The cost of flights from Townsville to Sydney has more than doubled, leaving die-hard Cowboys fans devastated they will miss out on tonight's semifinal.

Hello Natty.

Thank you for joining me on the ABC Sport live blog.

We are 15 minutes away from kick-off in the semifinal between Cronulla and North Queensland.

Like Natty, you can join the blog through the comment section.

I am ready for this match.

Hello Mike.

Thank you for joining me on the ABC Sport live blog.

There are just six teams left this season, which means 11 fan bases are barracking for the lesser of evils.

Bulldogs fans cheering for Melbourne.

Tigers fans cheering for the Roosters.

No-one cheering for Manly.

It's a special time of year.

The Sharks and the Cowboys produced one of the great matches in recent years, during the 2022 finals series.

It was North Queensland's Valentine Holmes — a Cronulla premiership winning in 2016 — who produced a two-point field goal to win the game for the Cowboys.

Key Event

1h agoFri 20 Sep 2024 at 9:07am

The team lists are in — and the Sharks have made changes.

Jesse Ramien returns to the side and will play in the centres. He will wear number 22 this evening.

Siosifa Talakai, wearing number 3, has moved back to the bench. 

That forces number 14 Daniel Atkinson to be 18th man.

That is an interesting decision. Atkinson has been very handy for the Sharks in 2024 and is a versatile player.

The Cowboys are as advertised.

Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden will take the club to a semi-final in their first premiership campaign as co-captains of the Cowboys.

It is an opportunity the pair, still in their early twenties, dreamed of as teenagers not too long ago.

But the pair do not want the story to end tonight.

Nicho Hynes has conceded he may forever be known as a player who has failed to win big games, but his teammates have come to his defence ahead of tonight's semifinal.

Key Event

1h agoFri 20 Sep 2024 at 8:40am

The winner of tonight's semifinal will face the Penrith Panthers next week in the preliminary final.

The Melbourne Storm will host either the Sydney Roosters or Manly Sea Eagles in the other preliminary final.

Key Event

1h agoFri 20 Sep 2024 at 8:28am

Good evening Australia.

There are no more second chances in 2024.

Win, and you are one step closer to being crowned premiers.

Lose, and the season ends.

The first NRL semifinal is on tonight as the Cronulla Sharks are hosting the North Queensland Cowboys.

Join the blog and give your thoughts on all things footy in the comment section above.