NRL round 16: Roosters v Sharks betting tips
The Sydney Roosters-Cronulla Sharks match completes NRL round 16 and it is a clear match of the round. It should tell us plenty about the chances of the Sharks bursting into premiership calculations, as we have believed they will.
A weakened Cronulla scored a gritty 10-8 win against the Warriors across the ditch last weekend and another win here against the title third favourites would announce them as genuine contenders for a top four spot at least.
The Roosters were missing seven players for Origin in their last-round loss to the Dolphins but are basically putting out their top side here, as are Cronulla, so this will be a fantastic spectacle as both sides boast powerful, relentless packs and dazzlin back lines.
Sam Walker was the hero for Queensland in their Origin blitz and it will be interesting to see if he can bring that form back to clubland. Backing up with big performances after Origin has often been cited as the mark of truly great players.
Australian betting sites have sided with the Roosters on home turf and they are around $1.60 to win in outright markets.
Roosters v Sharks team news
The Origin cavalry has arrived for both teams, though it’s fair to say the Roosters were in greater need after their weakened line-up was lapped by the rampant Dolphins in the previous round.
NSW quartet James Tedesco, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Reece Robson and Victor Radley are back alongside the triumphant Maroons trio of Rob Toia, Lindsay Collins and Sam Walker. The Roosters seem unlikely to have that many players in the deciding Origin as Tedesco, Robson and Radley may struggle to retain their places. The Roosters also have put Egan Butcher in the starting line-up for Angus Crichton. Hugo Savala and Reece Foley are both out after suffering head knocks last weekend.
The Sharks regain NSW prop Addin Fonua-Blake and Maroons back-rower Briton Nikora and the former should be fresh and angry after playing limited minutes on Wednesday night. Cronulla also regain Origin hooker Blayke Brailey from a broken arm, and gun halfback Nicho Hynes (calf injury) so they are near to full strength.
Read on for our Roosters v Sharks tips and winner prediction for their round-16 NRL clash.
Roosters v Sharks match information
- Kick-off: 6.15pm AEDT, Sunday, June 21
- Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
- Head to head odds: Roosters $1.60, Sharks $2.35
- Line betting: Roosters (-3.5 points) $1.90, Sharks (+3.5 points) $1.90
- Match total: 49.5 points: over $1.90, under $1.90
2026 NRL premiership betting
$2.40 Penrith Panthers
$8 New Zealand Warriors
$8.50 Sydney Roosters
$13 Redcliffe Dolphins, Manly Sea Eagles
$17 South Sydney Rabbitohs
$21 Cronulla Sharks, Melbourne Storm
$23 Newcastle Knights
$26 Brisbane Broncos
$41 North Queensland Cowboys,
$67 Wests Tigers, Canberra Raiders
$81 Canterbury Bulldogs
$301 Parramatta Eels
$751 Gold Coast Titans
$2501 St George Illawarra Dragons
Roosters v Sharks betting tips
The Sharks are shooting for a fourth straight win and they have a decent overall record against the Roosters, winning three of the past five clashes, although the Roosters won comfortably when they met earlier this 2026 NRL season.
We feel as though they are finally at full strength and this is something of a line-in-the-sand game where they can announce themselves as genuine contenders. It won’t be easy as the Roosters are always well drilled and disciplined. But we are tipping the upset here.
Sharks by 8 points.
- Cronulla to win/match total under 49.5 points at $4 with Australian betting sites.
- Addin Fonua-Blake to score a try at around $7. The Sharks big man will be carrying more than the usual anger and we can see him crashing over.
NRL round 16, 2026
- Friday, June 19: Knights v Dragons, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle | 8pm
- Saturday, June 20: Wests Tigers v Dolphins, Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney | 3pm
Titans v Panthers, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast | 5.30pm
Bulldogs v Sea Eagles, Accor Stadium, Sydney | 7.35pm - Sunday, June 21: Warriors v Cowboys, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch | 2pm
Storm v Raiders, AAMI Park, Melbourne | 4.05pm
Roosters v Sharks, Allianz Stadium, Sydney | 6.15pm
* Broncos, Eels, Rabbitohs have the bye
