Rugby League
2017-04-22 - Cronulla Sharks vs Gold Coast Titans
A Sports Betting Pick by Stu
Rugby League : Australia : NRL
Saturday 22nd April 2017 - KO 1940 AEST
3rd plays 15th, should be easy right.. well with Jarrod Haynes possible return is it enough for the Titans to surprise the defending champs??
Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla are at home this week which is normally a good thing, but this year they have a 1-2 record at home with 4 away wins and no defeats. As much as that is unusual I think the Sharks have finally turned that corner and the form of 2016 which saw them win a maiden title appears to have returned.
Bird has had some big news through the week signing with the Brisbane Broncos from 2018 onwards, Wayne Bennett would have been a big factor in this decision and although the Sharks have let go one of their better players they still have him for the rest of the season, he will be out to impress. As a future Origin star Bird has some big shoes to fill in whatever position he ends up playing and I cannot wait to see him play each week.
Two weeks in a row now the Sharks have only conceded 2 points per game, that’s no tries in 160 minutes of football against the Storm and Panthers. Even more impressive is that both of these results were away from home so being Cronulla are back at home, look out Titans.
The same 17 will run out that beat the Panthers last week the same side who conceded just 2 points.
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast may welcome back Jarrod Hayne this week and boy do they need him, after a slightly improved start to the season albeit with one win and a few close losses the Titans were a side that were maybe not going to make the 8 but were good enough to trouble sides especially at home. Well with numerous injuries to key personnel that line of thinking quickly dissipated and to the point that the Titans may struggle to win against anyone except for the bottom few sides.
The one and only win this season was against the Eels at home 26-14, this at the time was a huge surprise but the Eels have gone off the boil big time since and maybe this win was not quite as good as it first looked.
With Hayne probably in the side, he is joined on the extended bench by Hurrell and Proctor, they really need all these guys to get on the field to have a chance here and it must be noted to make sure of the side that will actually take the field prior to investing here as they are definitely a stronger proposition with all 3 of these names on the team list.
The shining lights are the halves in Elgey and Taylor and Nathan Peats who is capable but hasn’t really hit the heights of the hype that surrounded his move last season. It is crucial that these players perform to the best of their ability to limit what the Sharks could put on them…
The Betting Verdict
The last time these 2 played it was an 18-18 draw but to me that seems a very unlikely result given the Gold Coast Titans have won only 3 times at this venue – 33% and have not won away at all this season from 3 attempts.
Current odds have the Sharks of course as warm favourites $1.29 - $3.80 and the line has been set at 10 points.
As much as the odds are not huge I believe taking the Sharks to lead at HT and FT $1.52 is easy money and the likely hood of the Titans getting up here is very low. So if you are being cautious take this route.
Look for Bird (Cronulla) to score a try as a further option as well $2.26
The Pick :
Sharks 28-10 Titans
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
Suggested bet :Take Cronulla to win by 13+ point margin at $2.15 with Ladbrokes
