Sunday afternoon NRL kicks off in the Shire, as the Knights head to Cronulla to take on the surging Sharks side. With the home side fresh off the bye, and the Knights having nothing to play for but pride, this looks like a seriously lopsided game of football. Let’s find some value to make it worth watching.
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Sharks vs Knights Prediction & Tips: 2025 NRL Round 26
Sharks to Once Again Raise the Bat with Another Half Century?
The Sharks come in off the bye, with their last start being a massive win at home over the Gold Coast Titans, winning 54-22 in round 24. They currently occupy 6th place on the ladder, and a win here will push them inside the top 5 and give them a real chance at a top 4 finish.
Two weeks ago, when they took on the Titans, the Sharks were clinical, scoring 10 tries with just the seven line breaks The Titans actually had the early lead, up 10-6 after 21 minutes, before the Sharks took over in a hurry, scoring four tries in 17 minutes to take a commanding 28-10 lead into the break. They had contributors across the park, with boom centre Mawene Hiroti setting up three tries, breaking the line twice, busting 6 tackles and running for 213 metres, whilst both wingers crossed for two tries apiece.
A win here for the Sharks confirms either a top 4 finish, or a home semi-final in week 1 of the finals, as they will be out of reach of the Panthers. They have plenty to play for and could put on another cricket score against a lowly opponent.
Knights With Their Bags Already Packed, Not Those Bags…
The Knights come into round 26 as obviously the worst team in the competition right now. Books have struggled to downgrade this team quickly enough, with their past four games being losses where they have an average margin of loss as 32.5 points. You can’t possibly make a number big enough for this team right now, and they appear to be an auto-fade at this time of the season.
Last week, the Knights welcomed the Broncos to town for Old Boys’ Day, in what was the final home game of the season for the Knights. After conceding two early tries, the Knights steadied the ship, alternating tries with the Broncos over the next 50 minutes to have the margin just 8 points and the Knights seemingly right in the contest. It was a terrible final 20 minutes though, as the Knights conceded five unanswered tries to go down 46-12.
Dane Gagai was once again a bright spot for the Knights in attack, running for 164 metres, setting up a line break, popped two offloads and busted 12 tackles, whilst Bradman Best looked dangerous scoring a try, setting up a line break, busting 6 tackles and running for 159 metres. Not a lot to write home about for a team that clearly just wants the season to end. With the confirmation that Head Coach Adam O’Brien is on the way out, will that have the Knights players up for this one, or will they roll over as they have for the past month?
Sharks vs Knights Recent History
The Sharks have won five of the past six matchups between these teams, and the Knights haven’t managed a win at this venue since the 2014 season. With the way the Knights have been playing lately, it’s hard to see anything but another win for the Sharks.
The last time they met was back in round 7 this season, where the Sharks travelled the Hunter as 9.5-point road favourites, with a low total of 42.5. It was a quick start for the Sharks, scoring three unanswered tries inside the opening 22 minutes to lead 16-0, before the Knights finally got on the board at the half hour mark. Two more quick tries after halftime to the Sharks put the game beyond reach, as they eventually ran out 34-14 winners on the road.
The Knights discipline was lacking throughout the game, making 16 errors, missing 41 tackles, and giving away 7 penalties to 5. Despite the loss, Greg Marzhew was huge for the Knights, running for 264 metres, scoring a try, breaking the line twice, setting up a try, and busting a massive 15 tackles. Both prop forwards for the Sharks scored tries, outlining the soft belly of the Knights’ defence, whilst Will Kennedy was huge, running for 200 metres, scoring a try and busting 8 tackles.
Sharks by 50 a Distinct Possibility
The Sharks opened massive 14.5-point home favourites on the look ahead, and despite the big point spread, it didn’t seem enough. Money quickly came in on the Sharks after re-opening at 16.5, pushing them to 17.5 where they currently sit 24 hours before kick-off. I wouldn’t be surprised if this pushes out past three converted tries here. It’s hard to make a number big enough here, but I have the Sharks as 18.5-point favourites and see value in the under three converted tries margin. The Knight have shown nothing over the past month that equates to first grade football, and with the Sharks well rested after the bye, they should come out on Sunday afternoon at home and pile on the points here.
Looking to the total, and it opened 50.5 and has been bet down slightly to 49.5. My numbers say the under is the play, but they said that last week against the Broncos too. The defensive resilience we saw from the Knights earlier in the season is all but gone, and the Sharks could go over this total by themselves. No play on the total.
Sharks -17.5
$1.91 (2.5 Units)
Sharks vs Knights Player Prop Bets
Katoa to Double Up
The Knights’ defensive edges have struggled all season, with their left edge defence faring worse than the right. So, that’s where we will attack this week. Katoa has only scored five tries this season, but I can see that total going up by at least two this week.
Sione Katoa (2+ tries)
$3.80 (1 unit)
Same Game Multi: Sharks vs Knights
Leg 1: Sharks (-17.5) – See best bet.
Leg 2: S Katoa (1+ try) – See Best Prop Bet.
Leg 3: A Fonua-Blake (1+ try) – The big man knows how to get across the line and did so last time these teams met. Another great chance if the Sharks can put 50 on.
SGM Odds: $6.50 at Dabble
Sharks vs Knights Betting Odds & Match Info
Date: Saturday 31st August
Location: Sharks Stadium, Cronulla
Time: 2:00pm AEST
Weather: Fine, 17 degrees.
Odds: Sharks ($1.14) vs Knights ($5.75)
Line: Sharks -17.5
Points: 49.5
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