Eels vs Sharks Prediction
This is the game where I disagree with the bookies…

Canberra have to win this to keep their season alive, and against this Cronulla side that is the problem, not the reason to back them. Chasing a game is how a ten and a half point line turns into a bigger one. Team lists are out and my number has not moved.
$1.31
$1.90
$1.90
$5.92
Claim Tips at bet365 - Offer bet365
Odds correct at time of posting
Team lists are in. Cronulla go without Addin Fonua-Blake through suspension and Jesse Ramien through injury, and they get KL Iro back at centre with Siosifa Talakai on the bench. Both outs are already in my number, not something I worked out before the lists dropped, and it still clears the line.
The ladder is not the argument here. How Canberra lose is. When they have to chase they force it, they give up field position, and the game gets away from them in a hurry. That is the bet.
Canberra have been beaten 40-0 and 32-12 by this Sharks side at their own ground in recent seasons. This has not been a fixture that goes down to the wire. That is a big part of why I am happy backing the Sharks to cover rather than taking the points with the Raiders.
Cronulla went down to St George Illawarra last weekend, and laying a big line off the back of a loss is where punters get hurt. That is the genuine reason to leave this one alone. It is not enough to move me. The lists came out no worse than I had them and the matchup has not changed.
The Raiders pushed Newcastle to six points last weekend and they are not rolling over. They were also beaten 18-42 by the Panthers a fortnight ago. That is what happens to this side once the scoreboard forces them to play catch up, and Cronulla are set up to take advantage of it.
There is patchy rain around and a moderate breeze for the Saturday afternoon kick off in Sydney. It is not a washout, so I am not building the bet on it. It just leans a game I already have at forty seven points further away from the fifty two and a half the market wants.
I have the Sharks winning by fifteen on Saturday afternoon, comfortably more than the ten and a half the market is asking them to cover.
Canberra have to chase this from the first whistle and Cronulla are the side set up to punish that. Back the Sharks on the line at $1.90 and take the under with it.
Jed Stuart to score a try, $2.30. He was back over the line last start, and that’s a try in three of his last six for Canberra. At $2.30 you only need him to find the one.
Siosifa Talakai to score a try, $4.80. Crossed last start and the one before it, so he arrives with a try in two of his last five and the trend pointing up. If Cronulla win the way I expect, $4.80 is a big price for a bloke already scoring in back to back weeks.
Ronaldo Mulitalo to score a try, $1.64. A try in five of his last seven, a double among them, and I have Cronulla winning by fifteen so the chances keep coming his way. $1.64 is short because it is the steadiest leg on the page.
These prop odds are Sportsbet’s, correct at time of posting. Prices move, so check before you bet and take the best one going. Late team changes can knock out any leg.
| Match | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Canberra Raiders |
| Date | Saturday, August 15 |
| Kick-off | 3:00pm AEST |
| Venue | Ocean Protect Stadium |
| Round | NRL Round 24 |
| Status | Scheduled |
| Our Tip | Multi: Sharks -10.5, Under 52.5 points & Ronaldo Mulitalo Anytime Try @ $5.92 |
| Predicted Score | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 31 – Canberra Raiders 16 |
The Sharks, and I think comfortably. Canberra have been well beaten by this side in recent seasons and now have to chase a result to stay alive, which is how those margins happen.
My headline multi at $5.92 rolls the line and total in with a player prop, Ronaldo Mulitalo Anytime Try. On its own, Sharks -10.5 at $1.90 is the anchor.
Not as high as the market thinks. I have it at forty seven points with showers about and a breeze, so the under 52.5 at $1.90 is the play.
The Sharks play the Titans - at Cbus Super Stadium on Sunday 23 August in NRL Round 25.
The Raiders play the Broncos - at GIO Stadium on Friday 21 August in NRL Round 25.