An entertaining matchup on Super Saturday pits the suddenly in-form Cowboys up against the slumping Sharks in Townsville. With both teams jockeying for top 8 seedings, there’s plenty on the line in this clash that has been dominated by the Sharks of late. Below, we bring you our full betting preview for the game!
2024 NRL Round 21 Preview & Betting Tips
North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Saturday 27th July, 5:30pm (AEST)
Last Week
The Cowboys are coming off a tight win over the Bulldogs in round 20, which could prove crucial when top 8 positions are set in 7 weeks. In a back-and-forth game of football, the difference proved to be the goal-kicking, with Val Holmes slotting 4/4 of his shots, whilst Matt Burton went 3/5. Other than that, the stats were tight, in a game that we predicted to be tight, and so it proved. Todd Payten will need his team to work on their discipline, after the Cowboys made 14 errors to keep the Bulldogs in the game. Heilum Luki was massive for the Cowboys, scoring two tries, whilst making 117 metres and 30 tackles.
The Sharks are coming into this clash off the bye, which couldn’t have come at a worse time, after the Sharks finally got back into something resembling good form in round 19, destroying the Tigers 58-6 at PointsBet Stadium. The Sharks were dominant, making 800 metres more than the Tigers, whilst generating 13 line-breaks and missing only 16 tackles. Ronaldo Mulitalo was massive for the Sharks, scoring three tries, whilst breaking the line four times. Braydon Trindall was also massive, proving a more than adequate replacement for Nicho Hynes as he set up three tries and scored one himself.
Match Preview
This has been one of the most lopsided rivalries of late, with the Sharks winning the past 11 regular season games between these two teams. Remarkably, the only win for the Cowboys in the past six years over the Sharks came in a Finals game in 2022, winning a Golden Point thriller at PointsBet Stadium 32-30.
The most recent clash was in round 7 this season at PointsBet Stadium, with the Sharks dominant in a 42-6 victory. The Sharks closed 3.5-point favourites for that matchup, indicating the market saw these teams as extremely similar in ability. The total closed 46.5, with the over sneaking home after a 74th minute Ronaldo Mulitalo try was converted by Hynes.
This week, the Cowboys opened 1.5-point favourites over the Sharks. Some money has come in on the Cowboys, to where they now sit as 2.5-point favourites. I make the game close to a pick em’, so there is slight value on the Sharks based on my numbers, but not enough to make a bet right now.
The total opened 49.5 where it has stayed all week. This is smack bang on my total; however, I see value to the over here. These teams are two of the five most potent attacks in the NRL, and with perfect conditions expected in Townsville, I expect both these teams to leave it all out on the field. Both teams have been conceding very little over the past month, which puts me off betting big on this one, but I trust both attacks to be humming in this game enough to make a bet.
Over 49.5 Points
$1.91 (1.5 Units)
Same Game Multi
R Mulitalo (1+ try) – Mulitalo came back with a bang last week, scoring four tries in an amazing performance. He has a good record against the Cowboys and should have every chance at a try here.
V Holmes (1+ try) – Holmes on the wing means good things for his try scoring chances, and with a high scoring game anticipated, a Holmes try would not surprise.
Either team to win by margin (1-12) – I can’t split these teams talent wise, and given the high stakes of this game, it should be tight.
SGM Odds: $5.67 at Neds
