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Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles NRL Round 13 Tryscorer Tips - Underdogs to Get up at Shark Park

ryan-tucker
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Last updated: Wed 27 May 2026 11:07

The Manly Sea Eagles are predicted to edge out the Cronulla Sharks in a tight Round 13 clash at Shark Park. Manly’s superior stability, high completion rate (81%), and recent form under Kieran Foran give them an advantage, especially with the Sharks potentially missing key Origin players and Nicho Hynes due to injury. Road underdogs are performing strongly this season, making Manly +1.5 a value bet. Lehi Hopoate, in red-hot try-scoring form, is favored for Anytime and First Tryscorer. Consider a sprinkle on the draw in case of a close finish.

Ryan Tucker 1 hour ago
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  • Manly favored due to squad stability and 81% completion rate.
  • Sharks may be without key Origin players and Nicho Hynes.
  • Lehi Hopoate is a top try-scorer pick; value bet on Manly +1.5.
  • Kick off is at 8:00 PM (AEST) on Friday, 29th May at Ocean Protect Stadium
Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles
Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles

Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles, Round 13 2026 - Expert Prediction


Manly are tipped to win outright in a tight clash at Shark Park thanks to their more stable lineup and superior completion rate.

Add to that, Road Underdogs are covering at a 54.8% rate in the NRL this season and winning at a 40% rate compared to just a 31% win rate on all games played since the start of 2019.

The Sea Eagles have found a new lease on life under Kieran Foran and are playing more open, freely and most importantly repeatable footy. They rank 4th in the league in total points scored (6th in avg.) while ranking 2nd in the league in completion rate at 81% just behind the Warriors. 

Cronulla have named all 3 Origin representatives to back up but nothing can be guaranteed. Nicho Hynes is also out injured which could mean a massive difference in personnel if one or none of the players from Origin are able to back up on 2 days rest. In any case they won’t be at full fitness for the entire game which opens opportunities for the visitors.

Manly don’t have a great recent record against Cronulla but watching what the Sharks have dished up this year against opponents that create scoreboard pressure leads me to believe they will struggle to keep pace with the Sea Eagles if they are able to get out in front on the scoreboard.

Take Manly to cover as 1.5 underdogs, its a better value play than the moneyline if the number is under $2. Sprinkle a little on the Draw after 80mins, just in case. Lehi Hopoate is the top pick for Anytime and First Tryscorer. 

  • Road Underdogs are covering at a 54.8% rate this season and winning outright at a 40% rate compared to a 31% rate over the past 7 seasons.
  • There have been 5 Golden Point games so far this season, the most over the first 11 rounds since 2023. 
  • Lehi Hopoate has scored 9 tries across 10 games this season and has scored in 7 straight games.
  • The Sharks have conceded the majority of opposition tries down their edges this season and are allowing an average of 36 pts per game to opponents in losses. 

Head to Head 


Cronulla have won 7 of the last 10 regular season matchups between these teams including 3 in a row and 6 of the last 7. Interestingly the only loss in that period came at Shark Park. 

Both games last season and 4 of the last 6 have gone Under the Game Total while winning margins have been split between tight contests and blowouts.

Cronulla Sharks Form Analysis 


The Sharks enjoyed their second bye of the season last weekend and went 2-2 since their first bye. Their most recent outing was a 38-16 victory over the Bulldogs. 

Cronulla have been scoring well this season. They have scored 30+ pts in 6 of 10 games but like the Cronulla we have grown to love over the past few years, they have struggled to win and put points on the board when they are pressured by the opposition and need to come from behind.

Both Blayke Brailey, Briton Nikora and Addin Fonua-Blake have been named to back up from Origin on a 2 day turnaround so keep an eye on late mail as any outs can dramatically affect outcomes.

Manly Sea Eagles Form Analysis 


Manly extended their win streak to 3 last weekend with a tight 12-10 victory over the Titans. It was the first game where they have failed to cover during the Fozball era and the expectation pre-game was that they would put a cricket score on the Titans.

They still completed at 86% and had the majority of possession with 38 tackles in the Gold Coast 20m zone but failed to convert in a scrappy contest. 

It might not be worth reading too much into the performance of a team that has been riding a wave of momentum and needed to come back down to earth sometime. The real test will be this weekend against a Sharks team possibly missing key players.

Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles Team List & Team News


Team News and Lists are in our dedicated Round 13 Team List Article.

Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles NRL 2026 Round 13 FAQ’s

How to livestream Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles NRL 2026 Round 13?

You can livestream the Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles NRL 2026 Round 13 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside of Australia the WatchNRL app is the perfect solution.

How to buy tickets to Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles NRL 2026 Round 13?

To buy tickets to the Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles NRL 2026 Round 13 game check the NRL website or the official Cronulla Sharks site.

Verdict

Take Manly to cover as 1.5 underdogs, its a better value play than the moneyline if the number is under $2. Sprinkle a little on the Draw after 80mins, just in case. Lehi Hopoate is the top pick for Anytime and First Tryscorer.
Best Bet1: Manly +1.5 Line $1.85 at OnlyBets - 3 Units
Best Bet2: Draw After 80 mins $26.00 at Ladbrokes Australia - 1 Unit
Best Bet3: L Hopoate First Tryscorer $8.50 at Neds - 1 Unit
Best Bet4: L Hopoate Anytime Tryscorer $2.05 at dabble - 1 Unit
Manly +1.5
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