With Melbourne’s loss last weekend, the North Queensland Cowboys have climbed all the way to the #2 spot in the NRL ladder, although still three games back from Penrith. Check the Cowboys vs Sharks Betting Analysis below.
The Cowboys may find that now they have a target on their backs, especially with a visit from the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks on Friday.
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
The Sharks are on a run too, up to 11-5 and in a tie with the Storm for third place. Cronulla Sutherland is just a game back from North Queensland heading into round 18 play, so this is definitely one of the premier rugby betting picks of the weekend.
NRL Last Games Records
North Queensland continues to be the hottest team in the NRL outside of Penrith, upending Brisbane 40-26 on July 2nd for their 10th win in the last 11 matches.
The Cowboys started off 2-3 and looked destined for another miserable finish like their 7-17 record from a year ago, so you have to give Todd Payten credit for an impressive turnaround.
NRL Next Game Expectations
Now the 12-4 Cowboys have rested off a bye and looking to build some padding between themselves and 11-5 Cronulla Sutherland.
Seven matches remain for North Queensland after their first and only meeting with the Sharks in Friday’s rugby betting predictions.
Cronulla-Sutherland did not have a bye last weekend; instead, they were in action upending the Storm 28-6.
That’s an impressive defensive performance against the #2 scoring team in the NRL. There’s no rest for the Sharks, though, as North Queensland is third in the league in scoring.
North Queensland vs. Cronulla-Sutherland Betting Analysis
Cowboys Analysis
North Queensland is just a -1.5 favorite in the round 18 rugby betting odds as this is expected to be a very hotly contested matchup.
The Cowboys are going to be a popular play at that number, but the Sharks looked in top form last week against the Storm.
Sharks Analysis
Cronulla-Sutherland is +108 to win this match outright. The Sharks have value, too, after winning seven straight in the head-to-head series as well as 11 of the last 13 against North Queensland.
One thing this week’s rugby betting picks may see is a higher-scoring game (O/U 41.5). North Queensland is third in the NRL in points and has scored at least 28 in nine straight wins. Cronulla Sutherland averaged 37 ppg in their two wins over the Cowboys in 2021.
North Queensland Losing the Streak
The Cowboys only get one shot to try and break their seven-game losing streak to the Sharks during the 2022 regular season, and they get to do it in front of the home fans at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
While North Queensland will be at home, they’ll also be without NRL leading scorer Valentine Holmes as well as Jeremiah Nanai, who will be rested due to their Origin commitments.
Holmes has 149 points on the year as well as 62 goals, so his absence will most definitely be missed in round 18 betting predictions.
Sharks Injury Report
Both teams come into Friday’s game on the heels of a four-match win streak. The Sharks played arguably their best game of the season last weekend in the win over Melbourne, and they did it without Nicho Hynes and Toby Rudolf, who were in COVID protocols. That pair returns this week, making Cronulla Sutherland even more dangerous.
The Sharks have something to prove in this matchup, considering they haven’t beaten a current top-eight team on the road this year.
Combined with North Queensland going 6-2 at home in 2022, the chips seem slightly stacked against Cronulla Sutherland.
North Queensland vs. Cronulla-Sutherland Betting Preview
Between the Friday slotting (when this would have made a great primetime match) as well as Holmes and Nanai being out for North Queensland, this contest loses luster slightly.
That being said, those absences are why the point spread is so low, and this is still a top-four matchup in a game that will have huge implications as far as finals seedings go.
North Queensland vs. Cronulla-Sutherland Betting Prediction
The seven-game win streak from the Sharks in the head-to-head series is hard to overlook. North Queensland likely would have snapped that if Holmes and Nanai were in, but instead, Cronulla makes it two huge rugby betting picks upsets in a row.
As for our Cowboys vs. Sharks rugby betting analysis, bet on the Cronulla Sutherland +1.5.
NRL Pick: Cronulla-Sutherland +1.5
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