NRL finals week 2: Roosters v Sharks betting tips
The Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks square off in the week two NRL qualifying final on Saturday night, with the winner booking a preliminary final showdown with the red-hot Dolphins in a week’s time.
Of course, the tempation with this game is to look at the results of the opening weekend of finals – Sharks defeated the Cowboys 26-16, while the Roosters lost to the Panthers 19-12 – and conclude the Sharks are the form team.
But it’s not quite that simple here. The Roosters, trying to regroup after losing star halfback Sam Walker to injury, were impressive even in defeat and their pack is powerful and their back-line full of quality.
The Sharks rolled the dice with star playmaker Braydon Trindall returning from a dislocated shoulder and he was clearly hampered in the win over the Cowboys. You can be sure the Roosters’ big men will test out his shoulder in this clash.
Aside from last week’s results, the Sharks only staggered into the finals, dropping four of their final five matches as Trindall was sidelined.
The Roosters and Sharks have clashed twice previously this year, with the Roosters winning decisively both times: 34-22 in round six in Perth and then 27-8 in round 16. In last year’s finals, however, the Sharks prevailed 20-10 at Shark Park, so the Roosters will be keen to exact some measure of revenge here.
Cronulla have made preliminary finals the past two seasons and won’t want to fall short again, but they will need to up their performance to have any hope here against a wounded but seasoned opposition. The brutal collisions up front between the Sharks’ powerhouse Addin Fonua-Blake and Roosters’ leviathan Naufahu Whyte will be something to behold.
Roosters v Sharks team news
Roosters: Trent Robinson’s side should finally regain veteran second-rower Angus Crichton (foot), who has not played since round 15, and it is timely as second-rower Egan Butcher has been ruled out of this match with concussion. Back-rower Salesi Foketi also suffered a head knock against the Panthers but has been given the all-clear.
Sharks: Craig Fitzgibbon has kept faith with the players who edged past the Cowboys last weekend, with just one change on the bench. Hooker Jayden Berrell is named on the pine for his first match since round 18, while Niwhai Peru is back among the reserves. Star five-eighth Braydon Trindall got through his return from a shoulder injury and has been named to play.
Panthers, Dolphins top NRL title betting
No surprises that the two teams sitting back smoking a pipe while the other teams bash each other are sitting atop the NRL title betting markets.
Penrith remain as hot favourites where they have been for much of the season, while the Dolphins surged in from $5.50 to $3.10 after their epic win against the NZ Warriors in the opening week of the finals.
Meanwhile, the Wahs blew out from $3.6 to $7 after the loss, and the Roosters all the way out $10 after their reversal.
Bookies still don’t rate the Sharks or the Knights but they are only two upset wins away from a grand final berth.
Read on for our Roosters v Sharks tips and winner prediction for their NRL qualifying final clash.
Roosters v Sharks match information
- Kick-off: 7.50pm AEDT, Saturday, September 19
- Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
- Head to head odds: Roosters $1.46, Sharks $2.75
- Line betting: Roosters (-7.5 points) $1.90, Sharks (+7.5 points) $1.90
- Match total: 45.5 points: over $1.90, under $1.90
2026 NRL premiership betting
$2.40 Penrith Panthers
$3.10 Redcliffe Dolphins
$7 New Zealand Warriors
$10 Sydney Roosters
$21 Cronulla Sharks
$31 Newcastle Knights
Roosters v Sharks betting tips
The early weather forecast is clear, though we still expect points will be hard to come by in this one, with the Roosters’ attacking flair somewhat curtailed with the loss of Sam Walker.
Cronulla likewise had been struggling for points without Trindall, who is their king of try assists and does most of their attacking kicking.
We expect both teams will play conservative early through a forwards-based game. Just as intriguing as the battle up front will be the battles of the high-leaping wingers from both sides, as both teams have several aerial threats. It might well take a perfectly placed kick to break through.
We see this game going down to the wire, so we to lean to the Sharks as the better value with bookmakers.
Sharks by 2 points.
- Cronulla Sharks +7.5 / match total under 45.5 at $3.35 with Australian bookies.
- Mark Nawaqanitawase to score the opening try at around $8 in what could the Roosters star’s final NRL game as he returns to rugby at the end of the season.
NRL finals week 2, 2026
- Saturday, September 19: Roosters v Sharks, Allianz Stadium, Sydney | 7.50pm
(winner to play Dolphins in preliminary final) - Sunday, September 20: Warriors v Knights, Eden Park, Auckland | 4.05pm
(winner to play Panthers in preliminary final)
