Eels vs Sharks NRL Round 3 betting tips – Saturday, March 27

The Cronulla Sharks must face the dreaded ‘team in the top eight’ when they take on the Parramatta Eels at Bankwest Stadium this Saturday night in the third week of the 2021 NRL season.

While on paper the result appears to be a fait accompli, it could be a wild ride given these two teams both love to throw the footy around. Cronulla have a batch of exciting kids who have performed well under coach John Morris, but the overall class and physicality of Parramatta will prove too much to handle – especially at Bankwest, where the Eels seldom lose to anyone. Maika Sivo has more tries scored than games played at the venue, so the right edge of Cronulla is in for a torrid night.

The punters and online bookmakers feel extremely strong about the Eels’ chances at the $1.36 price, and there is nothing in the form line of these two clubs that suggests the apple cart will be upset.

Key matchup: Junior Paulo vs Aaron Woods

Junior Paulo might be the most complete prop in the game. He is damaging with every carry and tests the middle third for every moment he is on the field, as he showed with an immense display against a Melbourne Storm side who pride themselves on dominating in that area. Just imagine what he can do to a Cronulla side that contains Aaron Woods, who is a horrible defender and puts in several lazy efforts in every game he plays. The Sharks have to stand up in the middle or else it will be a painful trip to the golden west of Sydney.

Parramatta Eels betting info

As stated earlier, Maika Sivo is just automatic when he plays at Bankwest. Don’t even look at the odds – just get him in your multis and even double down by backing him to score first. Clint Gutherson and Reed Mahoney are good options for value to score at any time this week, as they should have a field day in the middle on the back of Junior Paulo. The 13+ margin at $2.60 is the way punters should be leaning with dryer weather in the forecast after flooding in much of New South Wales in the past 10 days. Don’t even think about taking the unders at the 39.5 points line either; with Cronulla’s love for getting into shootouts, there is an easy $1.90 return to be had on the overs.

Parramatta Eels

1. Clint Gutherson
2. Maika Sivo
3. Tom Opacic
4. Marata Niukore
5. Blake Ferguson
6. Dylan Brown
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Junior Paulo
11. Shaun Lane
12. Isaiah Papali’i
13. Nathan Brown
14. Oregon Kaufusi
15. Keegan Hipgrave
16. Will Smith
17. Ray Stone

Cronulla Sharks betting info

The dreaded ‘top eight’ curse is hanging around the Cronulla Sharks like a bad smell, and it just feels like they are a long way from winning against the Eels. They would have got over the line against Canberra had Chad Townsend bought his kicking boots, but the +7.5 line even feels in danger for this game. Cronulla will score some points despite the Eels showing excellent resolve against the Storm in defence, and we think the two wingers in Sione Katoa and Ronaldo Mulitalo are a good place to start. Wade Graham might be a good value pick this week as the Eels reshuffle their right edge to accommodate the expected loss of Ryan Matterson – for if anyone in the Cronulla squad can pull apart a vulnerable edge, it’s the wily veteran.

Cronulla Sharks

1. William Kennedy
2. Sione Katoa
3. Josh Dugan
4. Connor Tracey
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo
6. Matt Moylan
7. Chad Townsend
8. Braden Hamlin-Uele
9. Blayke Brailey
10. Aaron Woods
11. Briton Nikora
12. Wade Graham
13. Toby Rudolf
14. Teig Wilton
15. Aiden Tolman
16. Jack Williams
17. Billy Magoulias

Eels vs Sharks betting prediction

We think the Eels will win this by 13 or more points in a high-scoring affair, and Junior Paulo might just get another three Dally M Medal votes.

Eels vs Sharks same game multi

Maika Sivo to score two or more tries in a Parramatta 13+ win feels like the best way to end Super Saturday. Put those two bets together in a same-game multi for a $6.25 return at Sportsbet.