29 Jun 2023 / admin

Cronulla Sharks vs Illawarra Dragons Predictions and Betting Tips

🏈 NRL Round 18 Match Preview

⏰ 29 June 2023 - 19:50 AEST

🏟 Stadium - PointsBet Stadium

The Sharks are determined to bolster their position within the top four as they prepare to host the struggling Dragons on Thursday evening at PointsBet Stadium. Cronulla is in a favourable position to secure a top-four finish, as Craig Fitzgibbon's team will only face one team ranked higher than them in the remaining matches of the season.

Coming off a week of rest, the Sharks announced an unchanged lineup of 17 players who dominated the Bulldogs with a remarkable 48-10 victory in the previous week. On the other hand, the Dragons endured a disastrous 48-18 home defeat against the Warriors, conceding the highest number of tries in a match since 2000.

Home Win	Away Win	Take Action
@ 1.11	@ 6.50	BET NOW
@ 1.11	@ 6.50	BET NOW
@ 1.07	@ 8.40	BET NOW

The Dragons have been enduring prolonged turmoil as a club, and the chaos has persisted throughout the season, exemplified by Ben Hunt's denied request for a release. Given the current state of the Dragons, they might very well be aiming to score fifty points or more in this encounter, especially after their earlier 40-point triumph over their rivals. It is undoubtedly an unfavourable sign when your best player expresses the desire to leave, and the overall morale within the club must be at an all-time low.

Cronulla Sharks Performance

In the year 2023, the Sharks' performance against the top 8 teams have been rather lacklustre. However, their record against the bottom 8 teams has been nearly flawless, as they have emerged victorious in seven out of eight matches.

During their seven triumphs against the bottom 8 teams at the respective times of those matches, the Cronulla Sharks have showcased their dominance by securing an average winning margin of 20 points. Impressively, they have achieved victory by a margin of 18 points or more in four of those encounters.

After suffering consecutive defeats against the top 4 teams, namely Melbourne and Brisbane, the Cronulla Sharks managed to regain their composure in round 16 with a commanding and emphatic 48-10 triumph over the Canterbury Bulldogs.

St. George Illawarra Dragons Performance

Throughout the year, the topic of discussion has consistently revolved around the status of Anthony Griffin, followed by the ongoing saga involving Ben Hunt. This continuous turmoil within the St George Illawarra Dragons has undoubtedly impacted their performance, reflecting a lack of cohesion and unity among the team members. With ten more rounds remaining before they can reset under the guidance of new coach Shane Flanagan during the summer, it appears to be a challenging and arduous journey for the Dragons.

Having achieved only four victories throughout the season, the Dragons find themselves sharing the bottom of the table with the Tigers, both accumulating 12 competition points. The prevailing turmoil within the Dragons' front office casts a shadow over the team's on-field performance, making it difficult to envision a positive outlook for the club.

📋 Players to watch:

Ronaldo Mulitalo has demonstrated exceptional scoring prowess at PointsBet Stadium, having managed to score an impressive 20 tries in 20 games at the venue.
Sione Katoa, on the other hand, has been consistently finding the try line in his recent encounters against the Dragons. In four out of his last five games against them, he has successfully crossed over for a try.
Similarly, Tautau Moga has showcased his try-scoring ability in six out of his last seven games, demonstrating a remarkable level of consistency in finding the opposition's try line.

⚡ Match Facts:

In their most recent match, the Sharks displayed an impressive performance at home, securing a dominant 48-10 victory over the Bulldogs.
On the other hand, the Dragons have endured a challenging period, conceding 44 or more points in five out of their last six games. Furthermore, they were subjected to a total of 66 points in their previous two matches.
When it comes to head-to-head encounters, the Sharks have been in a commanding position, triumphing in the last six meetings between the two teams. The Dragons, on the other hand, have struggled to secure a victory at PointsBet Stadium since 2018.
The Sharks have been consistently potent in their attacking prowess, having witnessed a total of 44 or more points in 10 out of their last 14 games.
It is worth noting that the Sharks emerged victorious over the Dragons with a convincing 40-8 scoreline earlier this season.

💡 Match Prediction:

The Dragons are poised to experience a further decline, as they are set to endure another comprehensive defeat for the second consecutive week. It is anticipated that the Sharks will emerge victorious by three converted tries, scoring a total of six tries themselves. Considering the scoring trends, it would be wise to consider a wager on the over 44.5 points. The Sharks have displayed an impressive offensive performance, surpassing the 44-point mark in 10 out of their last 14 games. Similarly, the Dragons have exceeded this total in five of their last six matches, including a total of 66 points in their previous two outings. In fact, it wouldn't be surprising if the Sharks alone surpassed this scoring threshold. Jesse Ramien, who has already proven to be a formidable force against the Dragons this season, is expected to trouble them once again by scoring at least one try.