Sharks vs Sea Eagles NRL betting tips & same game multi | Round 7

The Cronulla Sharks have both the pleasure and dread of being involved in back-to-back games of the round, as they head back home to Shark Park on Thursday to take on the Manly Sea Eagle. Cronulla welcome back star back rower Briton Nikora along with their right winger Sione Katoa, whilst Manly have lost Josh Aloiai and Sean Keppie through injury. Cronulla are on the short back up from their loss to Melbourne, with Manly looking to win their fifth on the trot. A multitude of story lines will make for value to be had in what will be a brilliant battle of the beaches.

Cronulla has drifted slightly in head-to-head markets with the online bookies since teams have been announced, despite welcoming back some of their starters, moving from as short as $1.38 out to $1.45. The early money has been for Manly as they trim up from $3 to $2.75 with punters keen on the big price. Expect the support for Manly to continue since they have beaten Cronulla on 23 of 33 occasions. Factor in the return to 4 Pines Park, and the form of Manly’s stars, the Sea Eagles look the much smarter play to win paying $2.75.

Manly’s strength has been in their right-hand side attack as Haumole Olakau’atu has transitioned from possible superstar to State of Origin bolter for the NSW Blues. Whether he’s chasing down kicks or running hard lines, Olakau’atu is the foundation of Manly’s right edge attack, scoring four tries in six games this season. This second-row giant also has three-line breaks to his name, meaning the Sharks will have to be on their toes all night long. Olakau’atu is seriously good value to score a try at any time during the match paying $4 with Betfair.

Sydney has been lashed with rain in recent weeks, with predictions indicating wet weather will return to Brookvale on Thursday. Both NRL teams have showed an incredible ability to score points in the wet, but given Cronulla’s short back up from round six, and Manly missing key forwards through injury, points in this match could be hard to come by. Taking the ‘unders’ in total points markets looks a smart play considering all these factors.

KEY MATCH UP: Daly Cherry-Evans v Nicho Hynes

This mouth-watering match up will be important for multiple reasons on Thursday night. The kicking games of both halves have been first class for separate reasons so far this season. Incumbent Australian half DCE has been clinical in his kicking for field position so far this season, kicking a 40/20, forcing eleven opposition drop outs, averaging 470m kicking per game. Nicho Hynes on the other hand had averaged 390m kicking with three forced drop outs. But it’s his tactical kicking, most notably in Cronulla’s match against the Storm, that has provided the spark for Cronulla’s attack this season.

In the wet, the kicking game of both halves will go a long way to determining which side wins the battle of field position, which side attacks more in their opposition’s half, and ultimately who will win this game.

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