Cowboys

Gallen, who is set to fight Sonny Bill Williams in the boxing ring, accused the Cowboys of "crying poor" in the leadup to the match over their hefty injury toll - which included co-captains and Australian test stars Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott.

But the Cowboys had the last laugh when halfback Michael Morgan slotted over a 15-metre field goal in extra time, to end the Sharks' premiership defence.

And Taumalolo, who looks up to Gallen and his longevity in the game, didn't hesitate to hit back with some tongue in cheek when reminded of the barbs after the match.

Despite brave efforts the Cowboys have lost their past three games and have dropped to eighth on the ladder, needing at least one win over the final three weeks of the regular season to qualify for the finals.

Starting with the Sharks at 1300SMILES Stadium on Saturday night, the Cowboys face the Wests Tigers (away) and the Broncos (home) to round out their season and Taumalolo told NRL.com that the courage they have displayed in recent weeks can carry them into September.

Second rower Bunty Afoa scored his first try of the season to get the Warriors on the board, thanks to some quick hand work from Kieran Foran and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

Issac Luke's conversion put the Warriors in an early 6-0 lead, but twenty minutes in the Cowboys were even it out.

The visitors looked set to leave the first half 6-6 but The Cowboys took advantage of their errors, scored and converted another try.

The Warriors have long been keen to lure Taumalolo back to his homeland.

In 2015, they offered him a $2 million contract only for the 24-year-old lock to re-sign with North Queensland for less money, that ultimately paid off for Taumalolo as the Cowboys won their maiden premiership that season.

Earlier this year, the Warriors again came calling with another hugely tempting offer which, combined with the chance to be around family, almost had Taumalolo packing his bags.

Thurston confirmed at the Cowboys' mid-year dinner in Townsville on Friday night that he would play on in the 2018 season after this year's representative swan-song.

But the jury is still out on whether Thurston will launch his 2017 representative farewell in May 31's Origin opener as he battles a shoulder injury suffered in the trans-Tasman Test.

Queensland coach Kevin Walters is set to give Thurston until May 28 to prove his fitness - just days before Origin I in Brisbane.

Both were charged over hits in the Cowboys' golden point win over Brisbane, with Taumalolo risking a two-match ban if found guilty at the judiciary.

Scott is facing a one-match ban but is also sidelined indefinitely after suffering an ACL injury during the match.

Meanwhile Warriors prop Charlie Gubb and Raiders forward Iosia Soliola have pleaded guilty to charges but will escape suspensions.

Troubled by an achilles tendinitis injury that he picked up at the Downer NRL Auckland Nines, Marshall trained strongly at Brisbane's captain's run on Thursday morning but has not been able to force his way into Brisbane's best 17.

Alex Glenn has one more appointment with the doctor before he is cleared from the concussion he suffered against the Sharks last week but Broncos officials are very confident that he will be passed fit to meet the Cowboys. 

Kostjasyn, who grew up on the Central Coast before a stint in Melbourne, returns to the club he played 32-games for after his debut in 2010. 

“I’m looking forward to getting to the club and seeing all of the young guys tear in and improve on what they’ve built this year,” Kostjasyn said in a statement released by the Knights.

“It’s an exciting time and there’s going to be some hard work.

“It’s been seven years since I’ve lived close to family and friends, so I’m looking forward to coming back.”

Long-suffering Shire fans will see their team contest a decider in a united competition for just the third time – and the first since 1978 – following the convincing 32-20 win in front of a huge crowd of 36,717 almost entirely home fans at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.

 book themselves into a Grand Final 20 years after their last decider.

Some would say it was the football gods, others would say it was the football god.

North Queensland 'deity' Johnathan Thurston came up with the biggest moment of the 2016 competition, splitting a Broncos line – which was out on its feet – in the 85th minute, flicking a ball inside for Michael Morgan's game-winning try.

At 20-18 down, the Cowboys' back-to-back dream looked decimated before experienced Bronco Matt Gillett committed the ultimate brain explosion, tripping Thurston who tried to step inside the second-rower in a last-gasp effort to get back ahead.