NRL Betting Tips: Canberra Raiders worth a bet on the Handicap at Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Recommended Bet:
Canberra Raiders (+6.5 points) at 1.91 with Centrebet

This is the match of the round in the NRL Telstra Premiership. Top of the table Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks playing host to third-placed Canberra Raiders at the Southern Cross Group Stadium (Shark Park).

An 18-18 draw at Gold Coast Titans on Monday night ended the Sharks remarkable 15-match winning streak.  It was far more straightforward for the Raiders in their last outing, with a comprehensive 54-4 win at South Sydney Rabbitohs on Sunday in which the Raiders went over for 10 tries.  Canberra are in fine form themselves, having won eight of their last nine matches.

The respective efforts of the teams’ last time out could be an issue here, with the Sharks having had a severe test on the Gold Coast whilst the Raiders strolled to victory a day earlier. The Raiders could benefit from having had a less physically exhausting challenge.

With regards to team news, although James Maloney and Andrew Fifita have both been named for Cronulla, neither is expected to feature.  Maloney is expected to miss through suspension, whilst injury is likely to account for Fifita.  Fa’amunu Brown and Jesse Sene-Lefano are likely to come in as replacements.  For the Raiders, Edrick Lee is out with Brenko Lee coming in to replace him.

The Sharks have a narrow edge historically, having won 35 of the last 65 meetings between the two teams with the Raiders winning the remaining 30.  The Sharks were also victorious when the teams met in Round 7 this term, winning 40-16 in Canberra.  The Raiders can take comfort from having won on both of their last visits to Shark Park though.

The table-topping Sharks are already looking comfortable in the top two, whereas the Raiders need to maintain their current fine form to cement their place in the top three ahead of the chasing pack.  

With their long winning over, the Sharks might just be a little lacking when it matters here.  Cronulla’s last four matches against Top 8 opposition have all been decided by 3 points or less, so backing Canberra with + 6.5 points on the Handicap here looks a reasonable punt.