The second game on a reduced NRL Super Saturday heads north to Brisbane as the Broncos host the Sharks. Both teams carrying losing form courtesy of the Roosters into this contest, with the boys from the shire given a week off to think through their poor performance. Having an opportunity to bounce back to winning form is vital to the chances of both teams moving forward and each will want to capitalise on this. Before You Bet is here to preview what is ahead in this exciting contest.
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Broncos vs Sharks Predictions & Tips: NRL Round 18 2026
Same old (poor) Broncos
Given they are the reigning Premiers, it is surprising to see how they are performing. Then again, such efforts as the 24-18 home loss to the Roosters has become normal for this team in 2026. Holding a 16-12 HT lead, hopes were high that they could go on with it and capture victory. Unfortunately, they failed to add to their try tally, with the opponent’s defence resisting their attacking movements. Even with the excuses of absent players, a better performance from the Broncos should be expected. They tried hard to build pressure with an 84% completion rate but only 49% possession limited their effectiveness. They could only manage 8.4m per carry and 2 line breaks. Their defence was poor also, missing 36 tackles and allowing 602 PCM’s.
(They need to) Forget their last performance
It was a woeful display of rugby league for the Sharks as they were comprehensively defeated 27-8 on the road by the Roosters. Outplayed in every area, they were void of answers to stop the momentum of their opponents. With just 47% possession, they tried hard to compete by completing at 84% but could manage little by making just 7.9m per carry. They also struggled to bring the ball out of trouble, and this limited their effectiveness at the end of attacking sets. It is best that they forget that performance and begin planning to improve. If not, they risk dropping out of the Top 8 altogether.
Stats that matter
- The Broncos are a tough team to defeat at home. They have a 58% strike rate here while the Sharks struggle, winning just 39% of matches at this ground; they have won just 11 of 28 matches here.
- Close games have become a regular occurrence between these two sides. Of the past 5 matches between them, the highest margin of victory has been 10 points, with an average of 8.2 points. The total points in the same number of matches is also low, with an average of 38.2 points.
- The Sharks are the superior team on both sides of the ball in 2026. They average 26ppg in attack compared to the Broncos 19ppg. In defence, the visitors know that they need to improve upon, leaking 23ppg. The Broncos are far worse, conceding 27ppg for the season.
Forget about the Broncos
It is a new-look Broncos team with a host of key players missing from this contest. That compounds the issues they are experiencing and a large reason why they have been listed as outsider. Put simply, the Broncos form hasn’t been good enough to compete with teams that have lower quality than the Sharks. Minor losses for the Sharks tests are suitably covered by their depth. They are strong enough to overcome it, but it will impact their chances somewhat. There is a lot of quality elsewhere on the field which makes them a formidable team to play against. Given this, they should be capable enough of winning. The average win margin of 20 points (coupled with the Broncos 16.7 average loss margin), the Sharks should comfortably cover the line.
Sharks -6.5
$1.90 (2 units)
Broncos vs Sharks Same Game Multi
Leg 1 = Under 49.5 – see above for justification.
Leg 2 = Either team by 12 points or less – see above for justification.
Leg 3 = Talakai to score – coming off the bench increases his prices significantly but he has form considering he has 3 tries from his past 3 matches against the Broncos. It has been a while since he has cross though so be wary that this is a hard leg to land.
Broncos vs Sharks Betting Odds & Match Info
Date: Saturday 4th July
Location: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Time: 7:35pm (AEST)
Odds: Broncos $2.70 vs Sharks $1.47
Line: +6.5
Points: 49.5
Where to Watch Broncos vs Sharks
Watch the Broncos vs Sharks match live and ad free on Kayo Sports.
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