The Sydney Roosters suffered defeat at the Penrith Panthers last week and Trent Robinson’s side will be looking for a response when they face off against the Cronulla Sharks in the playoff semi-finals on Saturday.
Going down 19-12 at the Panthers, the Roosters will have taken plenty of positives from that encounter as they prepare to welcome the Sharks to Allianz Stadium.
The Sharks dispatched the North Queensland Cowboys in their qualifying final and now face a big test against the Roosters on their own patch.
Sydney Roosters v Cronulla Sharks Tips Summary
Best Bet - Sydney Roosters -7.5 handicap @ 1.86
Alternative Bet - Billy Smith anytime tryscorer @ 3.25
Bet Builder - Sydney Roosters to win, Mark Nawaqanitawase to score 2+ tries & Sione Katoa anytime tryscorer @ 7.50
Sydney Roosters v Cronulla Sharks Prediction
Best Bet: Sydney Roosters -7.5 handicap @ 1.86
The Roosters might have struggled for wins of late but they have an impressive home record when it comes to games against the Sharks.
Coming out on top in all of their last five home games against the Sharks, with eight points being the smallest winning margin in those matches, backing the Roosters with the -7.5 handicap appeals here.
Alternative Bet: Billy Smith anytime tryscorer @ 3.25
A player who has been impressing in the centres, despite the Roosters currently being on a four-game losing streak, is Billy Smith.
Smith has certainly been productive, especially when it comes to home games, having scored seven tries in his last six games at Allianz Stadium.
In that sort of form, Smith jumps off the page at 3.25 in the anytime tryscorer markets, especially considering he also scored a try in the 27-8 win for the Roosters the last time these sides met in June.
Sydney Roosters v Cronulla Sharks Bet Builder Tip
Sydney Roosters to win
Mark Nawaqanitawase to score 2+ tries
Sione Katoa anytime tryscorer
Pays 7.50
With the Roosters tipped for the win, Mark Nawaqanitawase is also fancied to score two or more tries in this knockout clash on Saturday morning.
Nawaqanitawase bagged a brace of tries when these sides last crossed paths and the former rugby union star is tipped to add at least two more tries to his 16 for the season so far.
Completing this three-fold, Sione Katoa is backed to score at least one try this weekend.
Katoa is in red-hot form for the Sharks and, having scored seven tries in his last four games, he’s a prime candidate in the anytime tryscorer market here.
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Key Match Stats
The Sydney Roosters have won their last two meetings with the Cronulla Sharks
The Roosters have won all of their last five home games against the Sharks, with eight points being the smallest winning margin in those matches
The Sharks have lost two of their last three away games
The Roosters have won seven of their last 10 home matches in the NRL
The Roosters are currently on a four-game losing streak
Read more rugby league betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
