There is just one NRL game on Friday night this week, with all attention pointed towards the south of Sydney as the Sharks host the Tigers. Both teams are experiencing their own challenges with the NRL Finals ahead. While the home team is better placed than their opponents to feature, it will not make things any easier in this match. The on-field action promises to be as exciting as ever and Before You Bet is here to provide a comprehensive breakdown of the contest ahead.
2024 NRL Round 19 Preview & Betting Tips
Cronulla Sharks vs Wests Tigers
PointsBet Stadium – Friday 12th July – 8pm (AEST)
Match Preview
The Sharks season continued to spiral out of control with a 20-16 defeat by the Titans. Holding an unbeaten record at the ground, there were hopes that the Sharks could regain some winning form. Instead, the loss means they have now won just 1 of their past 6 matches. While they are still 4th, they are plummeting down the NRL Power Rankings. They were ambushed by their opponents early, trailing 12-nil inside 13 minutes. That margin was held until HT, with the Sharks falling behind 20-nil with 25 minutes to go. They eventually opened their account, but it was a case of ‘too little, too late’ for them. The result was not surprising given how they performed statistically; with just 46% possession, they completed at just 70%, made 8.9m per carry, had fewer PCM’s, and missed 40 tackles. Their early season form has abandoned them, and they need a dramatic turnaround if they are to reverse their performance.
The Tigers were also unsuccessful against the Storm but can be far prouder of their efforts. Facing the competition leaders, they managed to score 28 points, but conceding 40 destined them to a loss. They were in with a chance of victory though, and a 16-12 HT deficit gave them hope. Unfortunately, they were outplayed in the second half, with their frail defensive line continually tested and penetrated. Even with a larger share of possession (54%), they were ill disciplined with the ball, completing at just 68%. They also made fewer metres per carry, while allowing 10 line breaks and missing 34 tackles. They are a much-improved team on last season and can be proud of how they are performing. They would just prefer competition points as a reward for it rather than moral improvements.
Match Prediction
It feels premature to say this but if the Sharks cannot win this contest, they do not deserve to be playing Finals in 2024. Aside from wanting to atone for their Round 3 32-6 defeat by the Tigers, they need to stop a recent run of poor form. Despite losing halfback Hynes to injury early in the week, they have been left untouched by Origin selection. While the Tigers have also, they cannot match the quality with their opponents have across the field.
The season averages suggest that the Sharks are well above their opponents, with the main difference being defensively. The Sharks average 24ppg in attack compared with the Tigers 17ppg, but on the other side of the ball they allow an average of 19ppg while the Tigers concede 27ppg. That is far too high for any team, and it was their downfall last week. There will be no shortage of attacking opportunities, it is just a matter of the Sharks taking them.
If you need any more convincing that this game is the Sharks to lose, they have won 4 out of the past 5 games against the Tigers at home (overall record of 57% vs Tigers 50%). Not only should they be able to cover the line, once they find enough momentum, they could win by a comfortable margin.
Sharks -7.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
Prop Bet
The past 5 matches between these two sides have been decided by a 13+ margin. With the Sharks expected to regain confidence in their attack and tighten up their defence, the same could occur.
TIP: Sharks 13+ ($2.40 at Dabble) – 1 Unit
