With just seven matches to go ahead of the finals, the Penrith Panthers are bearing down on clinching the top spot in the ladder. Check the Panthers vs Sharks Betting Analysis below.
At 16-1, the Panthers’ nearest competition is 12-5 North Queensland, so Penrith has been the premier team in the league this season.
The Cronulla Sharks also sit at 12-5 on the year, eight points back from Penrith. The Sharks have rattled off five wins in a row heading into round 19 rugby betting picks but have also dropped four of the last five against the Panthers.
Check out our Panthers vs. Sharks betting analysis and stay tuned for more rugby betting picks and previews!
NRL Score Records
Both teams had impressive wins last week, but for different reasons. Penrith was able to squeeze out an 18-16 victory against Wests Tigers, a closer game than it should have been against the last place Wests but not bad considering Penrith rested their seven Origin players.
Cronulla, on the other hand, toppled North Queensland 26-12, a huge win against the team they are tied with at 12-5.
The Sharks have their work cut out for them in round 19 rugby betting picks against a refreshed Penrith squad, but this situation is not unique.
Last Season Records
Last season Cronulla was able to get a 19-18 victory to snap Penrith’s 12-match win streak, although, in that game, the Panthers rested a lot of players as well.
The other 2021 meeting with Penrith did not go so well for the Sharks, who were thumped 48-0. After a stretch of winning 10 of 11 against the Panthers, Cronulla has now dropped four of the last five in the head-to-head series.
Penrith vs. Cronulla Betting Analysis
Oddsmakers have made their adjustments with Penrith back to full strength, setting them as -12.5 favorites in Saturday’s rugby betting odds.
That number doesn’t look too bad, considering they beat the Sharks 48-0 last year, and their last three wins against Cronulla have all been by at least 26 points.
Top-Four Contentions
Cronulla has played pretty well lately, though, taking out North Queensland and Melbourne in consecutive matches. Those are two teams fighting for top-four contentions.
The total in this round 19 game is 40.5, and aside from last year’s 18-16 Cronulla upset over a depleted Penrith squad, there are usually some points scored when these two teams meet up. In fact, there’s been at least 41 total points scored in six of the last seven.
Penrith Getting Numbers Back
The win over Wests Tigers may have been ugly, but it’s a win nonetheless to put Penrith’s streak of victories to eight. Penrith will be getting seven players back from their Origin rest.
Nathan Cleary did not play in the NRL last week, but he was part of New South Wales’ loss to Queensland in the Origin decider.
Expect Penrith’s leading scorer to come out with a vengeance in round 19 rugby betting predictions.
Regardless of the Sharks playing better as of late, a refreshed Penrith team is a dangerous one. The Panthers lead the NRL in points scored with 500, are tops in goals with 80, and rank second in tries.
Can Cronulla Complete the Big Three?
The Sharks have looked great with wins over top four teams Melbourne and North Queensland in their last two matches, but will that tough gauntlet catch up to them in Saturday’s meeting with the top team in the NRL?
While Penrith gets many reinforcements back for this match, Siosifa Talakai is back for Cronulla after being a late scratch against the Cowboys.
His return really does pale in comparison to what Penrith is getting back in their lineup this weekend, however.
Panthers vs. Sharks Betting Preview
If you take last year’s 19-18 Sharks win when Penrith was missing a majority of their team – and still barely lost – this has been a pretty lopsided series.
The -12.5 points look like a lot on the rugby betting odds between a #1 vs. #3 matchup, but the Panthers have been that good this season.
Penrith vs. Cronulla Betting Prediction
The Panthers are always potential victims of a slip-up game as they have such a hefty lead in the table, but expect their best effort here.
It was a tough loss for Cleary and company in the Origin decider, and they’ll be anxious to get back to their winning ways.
NRL Pick: Penrith -12.5
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