Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has praised his Sharks after defeating and banishing the 2014 defending premiers South Sydney on Sunday at Allianz Stadium.

The Sharks now face North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday night.

“I thought we were really gritty at different stages,” Flanagan said.

“They started really fast and were probably a little bit better than us in the first 20 minutes.

“I thought their contact and their leg speed was a little bit better than ours.”

Meanwhile Flanagan has said that his team holds no fear of Johnathan Thurston or the Cowboys.

“We’ve beaten them twice but that doesn’t give us any head start,” he said.

“So we need to concentrate on recovering from this game and preparing for a super team up there.

“Offensively they can score some points, so we need to just sit back and enjoy tonight but prepare for a really, really good football team in my books, the Cowboys.

“But we’re a chance, we’re in there.”