NRL Friday: Panthers v Sharks betting tips, prediction & odds, round 15, 2020

Welcome to our Penrith v Cronulla Sutherland match preview, prediction and odds update for their NRL clash at Panthers Stadium on Friday, August 21.

This promises to be a real treat for fans of running rugby league, with the Panthers and Sharks two of the most exciting attacking teams in the NRL.

We chose this Penrith-Cronulla match to preview in preference to the later match on Friday between the Brisbane Broncos and St George Illawarra Dragons from Suncorp Stadium at 7.55pm.

When Cronulla and Penrith met in round nine at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, the Panthers ran in 10 tries in a 56-24 romp, but the Sharks have certainly struck much better form than that of late.

It’s fair to say there has been little between these two teams in attacking prowess this season, but the Panthers have been streets head in defence; of course, Penrith have lost just one match all season and are sitting at the top of the NRL ladder with the final looming.

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Both these teams are in pretty good shape heading into the final quarter of the season.

Penrith have retained the same 17 who only struggled in an 18-12 win in the wet, but that was their ninth successive win.

Cronulla are also unchanged from their 30-18 win over the Titans but they have some doubt over halfback Shaun Johnson (groin) and centre Josh Dugan (knee). Regular halfback Chad Townsend (calf) and star prop Andrew Fifita (finger) are both due back in the next few weeks.

Read on for our Panthers v Sharks tips and winner prediction for their NRL clash on Friday, August 21.

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Panthers v Sharks odds

Kick-off: 6pm local time
Venue: Panthers Stadium, Penrith
Head to head odds: Penrith $1.30, Cronulla $3.50
Line betting: Penrith (-9.5 points) $1.87, Cronulla (+9.5 points) $1.93
Match total: 43.5 points: over $1.85, under $1.95

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Panthers v Sharks free betting tips

Below our NRL betting expert has highlighted his free Penrith v Cronulla betting tips.

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Penrith Panthers v Cronulla Sharks prediction

This Panthers v Sharks clash is really one that should not be missed. Both teams average 25 points per match but the real difference is in defence where the Sharks concede an average about 21 points a game and the miserly Panthers only 13. That is why the Panthers are top of the table and the Sharks only seventh. But as mentioned earlier we expect Cronulla to muscle up and make it far harder this time out for Penrith. While the Panthers have won the past two meetings between the teams in great style, the Sharks won the previous seven clashes, so they know how the Panthers operate. We expect this to be much closer than what the bookies believe. Our Panthers v Sharks prediction: Panthers by two points.

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Panthers v Sharks lowdown

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