PointsBet Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 26 NRL game between Cronulla Sharks and New Zealand Warriors. The game kicks off at 7:35 pm with Cronulla Sharks heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Cronulla Sharks vs. New Zealand Warriors game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Saturday August 31, 2024 at 7:35 pm
Where: PointsBet Stadium
Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE
Cronulla Sharks vs New Zealand Warriors Odds
Cronulla Sharks vs New Zealand Warriors Preview
Cronulla is hitting form at the right time and will continue its consolidation of a top-four spot as well as pushing for a home qualifying final at home against an also-ran Warriors outfit wrapping up their season on Saturday night.
The Sharks have gone up a gear via a four-match winning streak, bookending their nervy golden point home win over the Knights with blistering road victories over the Titans (44-0) and Dragons (38-0).
Grinding out a halftime lead in Wollongong before powering away for arguably their best win of the season, the Sharks makeshift halves pairing and depleted back-five were dominant.
Nicho Hynes is a chance of returning from an eight-week layoff after being named in the reserves. Sione Katoa and Siosifa Talakai are definitely back, with the latter replacing suspended centre Jesse Ramien.
The emotion of Shaun Johnson and co.s farewell was enough to get the Warriors out to a familiar 12-0 lead at home last Friday, but they fell away to a 34-18 loss to Canterbury their eighth in 10 games.
Unimaginative attack in the face of a suffocating defence and frequent lapses without the ball wee the story of the night, as it has been for much of a deflating campaign.
Warriors centres Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Adam Pompey have been ruled out, replaced by Ali Leiataua and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, with Taine Tuaupiki coming in at fullback. Tom Ale is named on the bench and Chanel Harris-Tavita 18th man, but the pair swapped last week in a late change.
The Sharks have won 16 of their last 22 against the Warriors, responding to twin defeats in 2023 with a 16-12 comeback in Round 1 in Auckland this season. The Warriors have won just two of their last eight at Shark Park.
Backline tweaks and the departure of Johnson and Sharks-bound Addin Fonua-Blake offer some hope for the Warriors here, but anything like either sides recent form should see Cronulla coast to another important win.
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Cronulla Sharks vs New Zealand Warriors Tip
We're tipping Cronulla Sharks to win at $1.18 odds.
Cronulla Sharks vs New Zealand Warriors Teams
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Siosifa Talakai 4. Kayal Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Braydon Trindall 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Royce Hunt 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Chris Veaila 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Billy Burns 22. Nicho Hynes
Warriors team: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 4. Ali Leiataua 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Marata Niukore 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Dylan Walker 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Tom Ale 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Demitric Sifakula 18. Chanel Harris-Tavita 20. Leka Halasima 21. Edward Kosi 22. Paul Roache 23. Jacob Laban
