
Fremantle v Geelong tips, prediction and odds update; AFL Rd 18 Preview
Welcome to our Fremantle v Geelong betting tips, predictions and odds update for their AFL…
Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks square off on Saturday night, April 16, at AAMI Park in what is the most inviting match of the round. Read on for our match preview, prediction and odds update.
Boom Sharks recruit Nicho Hynes faces his old club for the first time, and he has been outstanding in his new role at No.7, after being used mainly as a fill-in fullback for the powerful Storm.
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Cronulla have used smart recruiting to try to tap into some of the Storm mystique, with the former Melbourne favourite Dale Finucane now driving the Sharks pack to greater heights, along with Hynes steering the back line.
The Sharks have won their past four matches and beat Parramatta in round two to add some substance, while the Storm are doing what they do, winning matches at will. This match should be revealing about where these teams stand, as Melbourne have won four of their five matches but have also had some easy kills against the stragglers.
The Storm have won five of their past six clashes with the Sharks, including in their two meetings in 2021. Craig Bellamy’s team won 40-14 in round eight, then repeated the dose with a 28-16 win in round 25.
But this is clearly a more focused and dangerous Sharks side under new coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
The Storm have added promising utility back Tyran Wishart, son of Steelers great Rod, to the bench for his third NRL match, with young Kiwi lock Alec MacDonald making way.
Cronulla regain veteran prop Aiden Tolman after COVID-19, and he starts on the bench, with Royce Hunt making way.
Kick-off: 7.35pm local time
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Head to head odds: Melbourne $1.40, Cronulla $3
Line: Melbourne (-6.5 points) $1.90, Cronulla (+6.5 points) $1.90
Match total: 37.5 points: over $1.90, under $1.90
Our NRL betting expert has highlighted his free tips for Saturday night’s game.
Neither of these teams have had trouble crossing the stripe this season, and with clear weather forecast we like the overs. The Storm’s home-ground advantage should give them the edge.
The former Brisbane Broncos flyer is a rare talent and has already notched three tries in his first four games for his new club. He is on the verge of producing something special and it could be this week. A big, powerful runner who is near impossible to stop close to the line.
This should be one of the best games of the season to date as we see how the revamped Sharks fare in one of the toughest assignments in rugby league: tackling the Storm on their home turf. We are sure they will not be disgraced but this task is a step up on anything they have achieved so far, with the Storm’s big guns all in great form in recent matches. The Storm a little too strong this time, but hopefully the Sharks push them all the way. Our Storm v Sharks prediction: Storm by 10 points.
Fox League and KAYO will telecast the game.
All of the top International betting sites will offer markets on the NRL.
The match kicks off at 7.35pm AEDT