Here is the betting and stats preview for the knockout finals clash between Canberra Raiders and Cronulla Sharks.
Reproduced with permission from TheGurgler.com.
CANBERRA RAIDERS Vs CRONULLA SHARKS
Resting players worked for Canberra last week against this very opponent and should be ready to go to hand some finals payback to the Sharks from 2016. You almost have to be reminded that the Sharks are in the finals series given they went under the radar a little in the second half of the season. Although did the Sharks trick the Raiders by losing to their second string side on purpose and are waiting to surprise them this weekend?
QUICK MATCH FACTS
- Canberra’s results are currently following a pattern, one that may not be popular with Green Machine fans – (most recent result first ) WWWLWWWLWWWL
- Canberra may have won the last clash between these sides in Canberra, but their overall record is poor. Four wins in 16 games going back to 2005. It is just one in five of those games on a Saturday.
- Cronulla have lost their last three away games, and conceded 34, 38, 38 in those games. They have also lost four of their five away games to Sydney based sides in 2020.
- Canberra have won nine of their 13 games on a Saturday this season, the four losses were all to top four sides (1 each but did beat Melbourne in May).
- Cronulla have won just one of seven games on a Saturday against teams not from Queensland.
BETTING FACTS
- The last five games fall under the 13.5 start offered to the Sharks.
- The total points market is very interesting at 42.5. The total points between these sides are hit and miss and are the recent result for each club. Perhaps taking on board that it is finals football and probably tighter than usual and go under the 42.5.
- Both sides score more points in the second half than the first this season. Both have also won more second halves.
TRY SCORING
- Canberra scored the first try last weekend for the first time since Round 11, and the Raiders only managed it three times after Round 3.
- The Sharks have scored the first try in 50% of their games this season, and did it twice in the last three rounds.
- Forward Braden Hamlin-Uele leads the way for the Sharks with three first tries. Canberra have conceded the first try to second rowers twice this season. But the leading position to score first against Cronulla has been wingers, which have done so on six of 14 occasions. Go with Sione Katoa then.
- Canberra have scored the last try in 75% of their games this season, just under twice as many times as the Sharks. Canberra’s tally of 15 is the competition’s best, and two ahead of the next best Penrith.
- Forwards have scored five of the 12 last tries against Cronulla, so maybe that opens the door for a Josh Papalii to add value to the last try scorer.
THE FINAL SAY SAME GAME MULTI
Sharks +13.5 start
Sione Katoa – Score First Try
2nd Half – Over 22.5 points
Josh Papalii – Last Try Scorer for Canberra
@ $651
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https://nothingbutleague.com/2020/09/29/finals-round-1-preview-canberra-raiders-vs-cronulla-sutherland-sharks/
