Round 26
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2008
Kick Off: 5:30pm (local time)
Referee: David Munro
Venue: Toyota Stadium, Woolooware, NSW, Australia

Cronulla Sharks (42)   North Queensland Cowboys (16)
1 Ben ORCHER 1 Tom HUMBLE
2 Blake FERGUSON 2 Ben LANCINI
3 Nathan STAPLETON 3 Brandon BOOR
4 Stewart MILLS 4 Steven ELIOTT
5 Brad MARKS 5 Chippie KOROSTCHUK
6 Shane PUMIPI 6 Ray THOMPSON
7 Jarryd HOGAN (c) 7 Brady PAYNE
8 Tohi LEHA 8 Shaun MALONEY
9 Lancen JOUDO 9 Ryan CARR
10 John VIIGA 10 Ben SPINA
11 Blake WILLIAMSON 11 Jack COOPER
12 Jack BOSDEN 12 Chris FAUST
13 Jayson BUKUYA 13 Nick SLYNEY
14 Jake ANLEZARK 14 Joel LILLYMAN
15 James SHARKIE 15 Nathan BARRACLOUGH
16 Sebastian SWAIN 16 Tyson MARTIN
17 Nathan DONNELLY 17 Leo FAAGUTU
Coach Tony HERMAN Coach Grant BELL
Tries   Tries
Nathan STAPLETON (2) Jack COOPER
Jack BOSDEN Steven ELIOTT
Blake FERGUSON Nick SLYNEY
Jarryd HOGAN
Stewart MILLS
Ben ORCHER
Blake WILLIAMSON
Goals   Goals
Nathan STAPLETON (5/8) Nathan BARRACLOUGH (1/1)
Tom HUMBLE (1/2)

Match notes
This match was one of two 11-a-side games trialled at the end of the 2008 regular season.

The rules for the trial were as followed:

  • Only 11 players will be on the field at any one time.
  • Teams are permitted to have 6 players on the bench.
  • Interchange will be increased to 10 in each half of the match (20 in total).
  • If at any stage either coach feels the need to revert back to 13-a-side then the opposing coach must agree and the game will continue as per normal. Interchanges will return to the standard 10 for the remainder of the game, commencing from No.1 again as soon as the game reverts to 13-on-13.
  • The scrum will consist of 5 players with 6 players in the back line.