The Tigers play their first game of the 2025 season at their spiritual home of Leichhardt Oval, as they take on the hot Cronulla Sharks to finish off Round 8. The Tigers were horrible last week, in an emotionally charged game against the Eels, where they lost 38-22. The energy should be more positive this week, although it won’t be any easier, with the Sharks looking ominous over the past fortnight. Should be a cracking Sunday arvo at Leichhardt.
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Wests Tigers vs Cronulla Sharks
Location: Leichhardt Oval – Sydney
Date: Sunday, 20th April
Time: 4:05pm AEST
Odds: Tigers ($2.80) vs Sharks ($1.45)
Line: Sharks -6.5
Points: 46.5
Odds and lines provided with thanks to Ladbrokes. Note that odds and lines can fluctuate throughout the week and are correct at the time of writing.
Match Preview
The Tigers come in off a tough loss last week to the Eels, after taking their home game to Parramatta for some unknown reason. The game was all over the place, with sinbins and horrible penalties being blown all over the shop, but it can’t be denied that the Tigers were horribly ill-disciplined and will need a much more professional showing this week against the Sharks to have any chance at a win.
Speaking of the Sharks, they were dominant last week over a Knights outfit that could be considered the worst team in the competition right now. With nine players running for over 100 metres, it’s easy to see where the Sharks won the game. The Sharks are completing at a high clip (53%) and averaging more metres per game than any team besides the table topping Bulldogs. If the Tigers are going to win this game, they must slow this Sharks metre eating down.
These teams met twice last season, and the two results could not have been more polar opposite. The Tigers hosted the Sharks at Leichhardt in round 3, with the Sharks closing 11.5-point road favourites, with the total set at 43.5. After scoring the first try in the 13th minute, the Sharks didn’t trouble the scorers again, as the Tigers ran in five unanswered tries to win 32-6. In round 19, the Sharks hosted the Tigers looking for revenge, going off as 12.5-point home favourites with a total of 48.5. This time, both teams scored a try apiece inside 10 minutes, before the Sharks turned on the afterburners, running in nine unanswered tries to easily win 58-6.
For this clash, the Sharks were listed as 7.5-point favourites on the lookahead, before re-opening the same number. The number has stayed there or thereabouts all week, and is currently 6.5/7.5 depending on where you bet. I make the spread 5.5, so see decent value on the Tigers on the other side of the key number of 6. Tigers to cover for me is the bet to make, they should be much improved and will have confidence after their win here last year against the same team.
Looking towards the total, and it opened 47.5, which is exactly where we sit at the time of writing. Again, I make a fair total well lower (43.5), however on a Sunday afternoon at Leichhardt Oval, you won’t see me taking an under.
Tigers +7.5
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
Same Game Multi
Throughout the 2025 NRL season we’ll be putting together a fun same game multi for every match at BoomBet using their BetShare feature.
To follow our multi, just click on the BoomBet BetShare button below and our same game multi selections will be added straight into your bet slip on BoomBet. You can then enter how much you wish to wager, and with a single click, your bet has been placed!
Leg 1: R Mulitalo (1+ try) – The Tigers left edge has conceded almost half of the teams’ tries this season. Mulitalo is a man who can find the line and scored a hattrick in the Sharks’ massive round 13-win last season.
Leg 2: S Stonestreet (1+ try) – Stonestreet has 14 tries in 12 games for the Sharks across his first two seasons in the league. Knows how to get to the line. Rinse and repeat.
Leg 3: J Bula (1+ try) – I love watching Bula in full flight, he just looks so smooth on his feet. Two tries to start the year and I like another one here.
SGM Odds: $7.50 at BoomBet
