Accor Stadium will play host to Saturday's NRL game between Penrith Panthers and Cronulla Sharks. The game kicks off at 7:50 pm with Penrith Panthers heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Penrith Panthers vs. Cronulla Sharks game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday September 28, 2024 at 7:50 pm

Where: Accor Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla Sharks Odds

Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla Sharks Preview

It’s tough to see Cronulla getting close to Penrith in this preliminary final. The line opened much lower than expected, with some experts believing Penrith should be favoured by at least 18.5 points. Historically, preliminary finals favor the rested home team with superior talent, which perfectly describes the Panthers in this match.

Penrith has dominated this matchup, covering the spread in six of their last eight games against the Sharks, with five of those wins coming by 27 or more points. The Sharks have also been held scoreless in three of their last five encounters with Penrith, making the uphill battle even steeper.

The Panthers tend to step up in big games, with a 20-11 record against top-four teams and having covered six of their last seven finals games. In contrast, Cronulla has struggled against top opposition, covering just three of their last 15 against top-four teams, and their recent finals record is dire.

Expect Penrith to control the game, with Luke Garner, in superb tryscoring form, likely to find the line. He has scored four tries in his last three matches and runs great lines on the left edge. Nathan Cleary also shines in finals, with four tries in his last six, including his last two prelims. This looks set to be a one-sided affair.