LIVE NRL FINALS: Trindall stuns in Sharks statement as Cowboys begin comeback

Braydon Trindall put on a first-half masterclass but the Cowboys have clawed their way back into the clash off the back of a Valentine Holmes double.

The game started in dramatic fashion when Trindall was awarded a penalty try in the 13th minute — and it’s been all black, white and blue since then.

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MATCH CENTRE: Sharks v Cowboys scores, stats, video

Trindall put in a five-eighth for himself but was unable to run after it due to Reuben Cotter tackling him without the ball.

Referee Ashley Klein sent it up to the Bunker with the opinion that Trindall would’ve made it to the ball first had he not been tackled — which senior review official Wyatt Raymond agreed with.

The Sharks backed it up two minutes later when Cameron McInnes went over after some impressive lead-up work. It all started with a Nicho Hynes bomb, which was batted back by Ronaldo Mulitalo. Trindall caught the ball and got a flick pass away to McInnes, who was in the right place at the right time to reach out and score.

Trindall got his second try of the night when he crossed in the corner to finish off a play that begun with his cross-field kick and he then had a hand in the following try scored by Ronaldo Mulitalo.

Fox League’s Michael Ennis called it a “statement” first half from Trindall, while Greg Alexander said the silky five-eighth had been “remarkable.”

Meanwhile, Corey Parker summed up the Cowboys’ first half best by saying they were completely “shell-shocked.”

The Cowboys desperately needed to strike first on the other side of the break and that’s exactly what they did with Valentine Holmes skipping around a couple of defenders to score.

They were gifted a try when a Sione Katoa knock-on opened the door for Tom Dearden to send Reuben Cotter over untouched.

And then Holmes crossed for his second of the night — off a Dearden ball — to keep the Cowboys’ slim hopes alive.

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TEAMS

Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 22. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 3. Siosifa Talakai 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 17. Thomas Hazelton. 18th man: 14. Daniel Atkinson

Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Griffin Neame. 18th man: 18. Jaxon Purdue

MATCH PREVIEW

Cowboys coach Todd Payten has taken a shot at the Sharks’ poor finals record in recent years ahead of North Queensland’s semi-final clash against Cronulla at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.

The two sides share a deep and wacky finals history and will meet for the sixth time in the postseason since 2013, with the Cowboys leading the head-to-head count 3-2.

Recently, Cronulla have struggled beyond the regular season, having lost their past seven finals games.

That jarring stat hasn’t escaped the attention of Payten.

“They are a chance of going out in straight sets again,” he told The Courier Mail.

“It’s got to be playing on their mind.

“I know it would be on my mind. They are only human.”

While there was plenty of heat on Nicho Hynes following Cronulla’s heavy qualifying final loss to the Storm, the Sharks’ forwards weren’t up to scratch.

The Cowboys coach believes the Sharks pack will be keen to make amends.

“Their forwards have copped a bit in the press so we expect them to start fast and physical and play through the middle.

“The start is really important and both teams have to play on the back foot and that’s what we did last week.

“That’s what finals footy is about, hanging in there when it’s not going great, and finding a way to come over the top.”

The Sharks’ backline was boosted an hour before kick-off with Ramien confirmed to return from an ankle injury. That does mean, however, Siosifa Talakai drops back to the bench and Daniel Atkinson is dropped to 18th man.

While the Cowboys have the wood on the Sharks in the finals arena, Cronulla have an outstanding recent record over the Townsville-based team, winning 11 of their past 13 meetings between the two sides.