Sharks v Knight betting tips & same-game multi | NRL – Round 4

In what looms to be the perfect curtain raiser for Friday Night Football, the Newcastle Knights travel to PointsBet Stadium in Cronulla to take on the Cronulla Sharks. The Cronulla Sharks have gotten off to a flying start for 2022, since their trip to Canberra to take on the Raiders, the Sharks have beaten the Parramatta Eels and St George Dragons by a total of 26 points. The Newcastle Knights have shocked many punters to start the season as they beat the Sydney Roosters first up, before belting the Wests Tigers at home, and going down to the Penrith Panthers. The fall out of the Knights match against the Panthers has seen them blow out from $1.94 to a top fluc of $3.05. Meanwhile, the Sharks have been red hot favourites for good reason, opening at $1.80 and getting as short as $1.38 with bet365.

Despite the inclusion of star fullback and club captain Kalyn Ponga, it’s a combination of the loss of back rower Mitch Barnett to suspension and the trip to Shark Park that see’s the Knights completely unwanted with online bookies. For the home side, the additions of young gun winger Ronaldo Mulitalo and up-and-coming gun back rower Teig Wilton bolsters an already flying Sharks squad with William Kennedy and recruit halfback Nicho Hynes at the peak of their powers. With the line currently set at -6.5, and three of the last five encounters for these two sides favouring those backing the favourite to cover the line, a -6.5 line looks safe as this match up stands.

Newcastle Knights has the wood over Cronulla as history shows the Knights have been victorious 24 times in 42 encounters. Despite the last two matches ending in favour of Newcastle, the Sharks looks well and truly set to buck this trend as betting suggests. As valiant as the Knights were in defence against the Panthers, having only missed 16 tackles while one man down, it’s hard to imagine the Knights continuing this trend. The Cronulla -6.5 point line looks a great start in this match. Combine this with inclement weather predicted for Cronulla on Friday evening, it’s hard to see this a high scoring game, as taking under 38.5 total points looks the best play.

Against the Penrtih Panthers last weekend, the Knights right hand defence allowed five of the seven tries the Panthers scored in the game. Expect that defensive issue to be atop the Sharks tips sheet as Nicho Hynes should swing to an edge with Matt Moylan, Siosifa Talakai and Ronaldo Mulitalo. Talakai was particularly impressive last week against the Dragons, with a tackle break, line break and try in the full 80 minutes, and represents great value at $3.10 for an anytime try scorer.

KEY MATCH UP: DALE FINUCANE V KURT MANN

Neither of these sides would have two wins on the board without the work of their tough lock forwards. Both punch out roughly 60 minutes of high-quality work each week, with slightly varying styles. As the smaller man, Kurt Mann’s ball playing ability and late footwork at the line will be an advantage, but in the wet weather, Dale Finucane will roll his sleeves up and punch holes in the Newcastle defence, allowing his playmakers to create points off the back of his hard work.

Cronulla Sharks vs Newcastle Knight betting tips

The Sharks will get the job done Friday evening, covering the 6.5 point line, while staying under the total 38.5 match points for the game. Siosifa Talakai represents great value as an ATS, giving the punters a brilliant same-game multi price of $14.61 with Ladbrokes.

Sharks vs Knights same-game multi

More NRL betting tips