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Cronulla Sharks vs Dolphins NRL Round 3 Tips & Prediction - Sharks feast on Phins

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Thu 19 Mar 2026 12:52

Andrew Hendrie 19 Mar 2026

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Cronulla Sharks vs Dolphins predictions for Saturday's NRL Round 3 game
Sharks to continue dominant home record & record ninth straight win at Ocean Protect
Dolphins bring horror record to Sydney, struggled last week vs Titans
The game is scheduled for kick off at 5.30pm AEDT on Saturday March 21

Cronulla Sharks vs Dolphins NRL Round 3 Tips & Prediction

The Sharks are tipped to continue their dominant home form and feast on a Dolphins side that have failed to fire to open the season.

Cronulla Sharks vs Dolphins NRL Round 3 Tips & Prediction
Sharks vs Dolphins Stats & Trends
Sharks vs Dolphins Head To Head
Cronulla Sharks Form Analysis
Cronulla Shark Team News
Dolphins Form Analysis
Dolphins Team News

Just a perfect spot for Cronulla here - they get to play a bottom half team at home who struggle considerably down in Sydney. Enter the flat track bullies!

After being predictably outclassed by the Panthers last week, the Sharks return to Ocean Protect Stadium, where they are on an eight-game winning streak. The Dolphins meanwhile are a measly 3-8 when playing in Sydney and could barely get over the line at home against the Titans last week. The Phins conceded 40 points to the Bunnies the week before. The stage is set for Cronulla to comfortably cover their -6.5 line and restrict this Dolphins side to Under 24.5 team points.

The Dolphins didn't score a single point until the 66th minute when these two teams played at this venue last year. Combine that with their inability to trouble the Titans' defence last week and Cronulla's supreme home form and I can't see them exceeding that total. Jesse Ramien looks primed to take advantage of the Phins' weak left edge defence and cross for a meat pie.

Sharks vs Dolphins Stats & Trends

Sharks have won their last eight games at Ocean Protect Stadium
Sharks have covered a -6.5 line in all eight of those wins
Sharks have kept their opponents to Under 24.5 points in all eight of those wins
Dolphins have won just three of their 11 games in Sydney
Dolphins only scored 18 points vs Titans last week, registering first point in 53rd minute
Dolphins only scored 12 points vs Sharks at this venue last year, registering first point in 66th minute
Dolphins have conceded 1+ try to the opposition right centre in six of their last seven games (Jesse Ramien)
Jessie Ramien scored vs Dolphins at home last season & crossed for a double at this ground vs Titans in R1

Sharks vs Dolphins Head To Head

Dolphins lead 2-1, but Cronulla won the lone meeting by 12 points in the Shire last season.

Year	Winner	Score	Venue
2025	Cronulla Sharks	24–12	Sharks Stadium
2024	Dolphins	30–28	Sharks Stadium
2023	Dolphins	36–16	Suncorp Stadium

Cronulla Sharks Form Analysis

Pretty predictable start to the season for the Sharkies.

Craig Fitzgibbon's side dropped 50 points on the hapless Titans at home, with Nicho Hynes, Braydon Trindall and Jesse Ramien scoring doubles.

However, the Sharks were absolutely no match for the Panthers in Bathurst last week, suffering a one-sided 26-6 defeat and struggling to trouble Penrith's rock-solid defence.

Cronulla made just two line breaks and 13 errors - that's not going to get it done against a side that has made four of the last five Grand Finals.

“At the end of the day, I don’t think we built enough pressure on Penrith,” Trindall said post-match.

“If you try to get your plays on without actually working the defence over (you’ll struggle), so I think that played a massive part in our game.

“This week, that’s what we’re going to look to get better at to break their defence down a bit more before we try to attack them.

Cronulla Shark Team News

No changes to the Sharks side that went down to Penrith last week.

Cronulla Sharks Team List

1. William Kennedy

2. Sione Katoa

3. Jesse Ramien

4. KL Iro

5. Samuel Stonestreet

6. Braydon Trindall

7. Nicho Hynes

8. Addin Fonua-Blake

9. Blayke Brailey

10. Thomas Hazelton

11. Briton Nikora

12. Billy Burns

13. Jesse Colquhoun

Interchange

14. Siosifa Talakai

15. Toby Rudolf

16. Oregon Kaufusi

17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves

18. Hohepa Puru

19. Chris Veaila

20. Jayden Berrell

21. Mawene Hiroti

22. Teig Wilton

Dolphins Form Analysis

Lots of punters have this Dolphins side comfortably making the top eight this season, but I'm not so sure.

Yes, they've got one of the best young talents in the game at halfback and lots of key forwards have returned from injury, but their opening two games have been far from convincing.

Of course teams sometimes need a few weeks to get going, but after leaking 40 points to the Rabbitohs in Round 1, the Phins were barely able to survive the lowly Titans, trailing for most of the game before edging out a 18-14 victory.

Defence remains the main issue for the Dolphins. They're lucky the Hammer stepped up with some individual brilliance to save their bacon last week.

Dolphins Team News

No changes either for the Phins, who stick solid with the same side that overcame Gold Coast.

Dolphins Team List

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

2. Jamayne Isaako

3. Jake Averillo

4. Herbie Farnworth

5. Selwyn Cobbo

6. Kodi Nikorima

7. Isaiya Katoa

8. Tom Gilbert

9. Max Plath

10. Thomas Flegler

11. Connelly Lemuelu

12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

13. Morgan Knowles

Interchange

14. Brad Schneider

15. Oryn Keeley

16. Felise Kaufusi

17. Ray Stone

Reserves

18. Trai Fuller

19. Sebastian Su’a

20. Lewis Symonds

21. Tevita Naufahu

22. Brian Pouniu

Verdict

Cronulla Sharks v Dolphins

Sharks at home vs a bottom half team who struggles on the road? Take Cronulla to cover and the Phins to go Under 24.5 team points. Jesse Ramien will be a threat on Cronulla's right edge.

Sharks -6.5

Line

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Jesse Ramien

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