Cronulla Sharks vs Canberra Raiders
26th September 0830hrs
Rugby League – Australia – NRL
Pick Sharks +12 Handicap
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: 11/10 odds taken 0112 GMT, Wednesday 23rd September
The Cornulla Sharks know what fate awaits them in the first round of the finals when they come around in October.
They will be away from home for their elimination match. So they are simply in limbo now waiting for that.
In their penultimate game of the season, they play host to another team that is heading to the Finals, the Raiders and that could be their opponents in that elimination match.
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Cronulla Sharks Preview – Sharks look for a lift ahead of the finals
The Cronulla Sharks lost 18-34 last weekend against the Roosters, which is no disgrace, but it was against an understrength Roosters side.
That is a W2 L3 record that the Sharks have collected in their last five league games now and they can’t go up the ladder enough with a win to get a home draw in the finals.
The form of Cronulla has certainly been patchy over the course of their last eight league fixtures.
They have alternated between a win and a loss in that sequence of games.
Each of the last three wins that Cronulla have taken in the NRL this season have been from home fixtures.
But the Cronulla Sharks are the 3/1 underdogs in the match outright for Saturday’s game* (odds taken 0112 GMT, Wednesday 23rd September).
So they are in a position of not really having anything at stake in this final fixture of the regular season.
It is a W10 L9 record that they recorded this season and the one stand-out statistic about them is that they have the worst defensive record of the top eighth.
So that is a huge disadvantage for them going forward. Even in this match as well, because there is little between themselves and the Raiders in terms of scoring.
But the Sharks have conceded an average of 23 points per game this season in the campaign, while the Raiders have shipped only an average of 15 per game.
Canberra Raiders Preview – Raiders looking in good shape
A win for the Canberra Raiders could see them sneak into a top-four finish at the expense of the Parramatta Eels, but it would require the latter to lose their final game as well.
So it looks a little more plausible that the Raiders will be meeting the Cronulla Sharks in the first round of the finals when they come along.
The difference there would be that it would be a home advantage for the Raiders in that elimination match-up.
The Raiders collected a solid enough 26-14 win over the New Zealand Warriors last weekend leaving them with back to back successes.
It has been a superb W6 L2 record that the Raiders have taken in their last eight, dropping only one of their last six.
The Canberra Raiders are on a W13 L6 record for the season and their away record of W7 L2 record is better than what they have produced in their designated home games.
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So while that shot at a top four finish is still open for them, the Canberra Raiders have to try and keep their foot on the gas.
The average winning margin produced by the Raiders this season is 13 points, and a Raiders -12 handicap in this one is at 10/11 and looks just a shade risky*(odds taken 0112 GMT, Wednesday 23rd September).
So for our NRL betting we would probably swing with the positive line for the home side instead.
The last three meetings between the two teams have been tight, none of them being settled by a margin of more than four points (Sharks W2 L1).
In the last meeting, which was in September last year, the Raiders got themselves a golden point in overtime following a draw in regulation.
The Raiders are now W3 L4 in their last seven fixtures against the Cronulla Sharks.
Cronulla Sharks vs Canberra Raiders Betting Advice
We can see the Raiders going harder at this than the Cronulla Sharks, so the visitors have to be fancied for a win.
Another key component for this game is that the Cronulla Sharks have lost their key playmaker Shaun Johnson through injury.
He’ll be out for the postseason as well, so that’s a huge blow to the Sharks and a problem for them to sort out.
Key Facts – Cronulla Sharks vs Canberra Raiders Betting Tip
- Cronulla Sharks are W4 L4 in their last eight NRL games
- Cronulla Sharks have won their last three league home fixtures
- Canberra Raiders need to win to take a top-four finish
Canberra do have that small shot at a top four finish open to them and while that may not quite pan out that way, they look value for the win.
But we would expect the Sharks to handle a +12 handicap for 11/10 odds remembering that recent meetings between these have been tight* (odds taken 0112 GMT, Wednesday 23rd September).
For our NRL betting, we would also look at the Raiders 1-12 Winning margin at 2/1* (odds taken 0112 GMT, Wednesday 23rd September).
The best betting odds for Cronulla Sharks vs Canberra Raiders
Cronulla Sharks to win: 3/1 at Bet365
Draw: 22/1 at Bet365
Canberra Raiders to win: 1/4 at Bet365
