The Sharks look to get back into the winner’s circle, as they take on the Sea Eagles at PointsBet Stadium on Sunday afternoon. With the Sea Eagles quickly losing pace with the top 8, a Sharks win here will probably all but consign the Manly side to missing the top 8 for the second year in a row.
Below, we will dissect the matchup, supply our Best Bet, and suggest a Same Game Multi via Picklebet. Be sure to check out our NRL Tips page regularly, as we preview every single game all season long, for free!
NRL Round 21 Preview & Betting Tips
Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles
PointsBet Stadium, Sunday 23rd July, 4:05pm (AEST)
The Sharks were destroyed last week by fellow top 8 side the Warriors, in another display of the Sharks losing to a top 8 side. The Warriors ran out 44-12 winners, running for 300 more metres and 5 more line-breaks than the Sharks. The Sharks need to be a hell of a lot better, and have finally made a couple of changes to their side, with Matt Moylan dropped and Siosifa Talakai benched.
The Sea Eagles, meanwhile, fought hard against the Cowboys at home last week, but ultimately went down 19-8 at home. Manly are now 1-3 since Tom Trbojevic went down with injury during State of Origin 3, and their attack has looked very pedestrian without their superstar fullback. They need a spark from elsewhere, or they could be on the end of a hiding by the desperate Sharks this weekend.
The Sharks opened up 7.5-point favourites for this round 21 clash, with punters getting in early to support the Sharks who have moved out to 9.5-point favourites. This is smack bang on my number, so if you got in early on the 7.5, you’ve done well. Unfortunately, I don’t see a tonne of value in the spread in this game.
These teams met back in round 11 at 4 Pines Park, with the Sharks coming away 20-14 winners. Interestingly, the Sharks were 4.5-point favourites in this clash, a matchup that included Tom Trbojevic. This shows that perhaps there is some slight value on the Sharks, as these two spreads are essentially the same if you flip home field advantage. Something to keep in mind.
As for the total, it opened 45.5, and stays 45.5. My number is bang on 45.5, and the previous encounter in round 11 closed at 45.5. So, not much value here, and I don’t expect a tonne of movement, unless there is some form of weather event, or an attacking player is a late withdrawal.
Whilst I don’t see value in the spread or total, I get the sense the Sharks have a point to prove this weekend. The addition of Braydon Trindall at five eighth is a positive in my opinion, and I get the feeling the Sharks may put on a bit of a show against the Sea Eagles, who are hanging by a thread onto their finals’ hopes this season. The Sharks have the ability or running away with games, and I’ll take them to win by 13+ against the Sea Eagles here.
Cronulla Sharks 13+
$2.25 (2 Units)
Same Game Multi
Popular bookmaker Picklebet have launched their Same Game Multis for both the AFL and NRL. There are plenty of markets to choose from an excellent odds on offer, so make sure to check them out!
Sharks (-5.5) – See above, I have the Sharks by 13+.
Sione Katoa (2+ try) – The Sea Eagles left edge defence gives up half the teams’ tries, and is one of the worst edges in the competition. Katoa has a knack for scoring multiple tries in games, and this really bumps the price of the multi up. If you want to be a little more conservative, 1+ try for Katoa drops the price of the multi back to $13.
Jason Saab (1+ try) – Saab only has 6 tries in 12 games this season, however, will be attacking the weaker edge of the Sharks’ defence. I like the lanky winger to get across the line here.
Briton Nikora (1+ try) – Nikora has 8 tries this season, and is always dangerous running off the brilliant ball playing of Nicho Hynes. He will be targeting Kelma Tuilagi this week, and his defensive reads have been sketchy all season.
SGM Odds: $29 at Picklebet
