Parramatta Eels vs Cronulla Sharks Prediction, Tips & Odds

Cronulla is striving to keep its top-four hopes afloat via a win over a Parramatta side that is meandering its way to the end of the season.  

FORM: The Sharks responded to consecutive losses to the Dragons and Raiders – and the loss of star five-eighth Braydon Trindall – with a hard-earned 30-22 win on the Gold Coast after trailing by eight at halftime.  

The Eels suffered their biggest loss since mid-May last Friday, going down 34-16 to the Dolphins.  

INS AND OUTS: Parramatta’s bench includes debutant Ryda Talagi and the returning Dylan Walker and Bailey Simonsson. Cronulla’s only change sees Braden Uele come onto the six-man bench for Sam Stonestreet.  

KEY MATCH-UP: Mitch Moses and Nicho Hynes unsurprisingly hold the key to their respective teams’ fortunes.   

HISTORY: The Sharks have won nine of the teams’ last 13 encounters, including a 28-18 results in their most recent clash – at Magic Round last year.  

KEY STAT: The Eels have won four of their last six at CommBank Stadium. The Sharks have lost their last two in Sydney.  

VERDICT: The Sharks aren’t quite out of their mini-slump – they weren’t overly convincing in coming from behind against the Titans, while Trindall is a massive loss – but a top-four finish is very much within their reach still, provided Nicho Hynes continues to stand up.  

All of the Eels’ wins this season have come against teams currently sitting eighth or lower. The Sharks’ engine-room power and strike out wide should extend that underwhelming record. 

Prediction: Back the Sharks to Cover the Line (-6.5) @ $1.96 

SGM: SHARKS WIN / UNDER 52.5 TOTAL POINTS / BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE 10+ POINTS / BRITON NIKORA ANYTIME TRYSCORER / NICHO HYNES ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $36.98