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Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks NRL Round 21 Tips - Sharks To Cover At 4 Pines Park

jeremy-darke
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Last updated: Thu 23 Jul 2026 08:38

In Round 21 of the 2026 NRL, the Cronulla Sharks are strongly backed over the struggling Manly Sea Eagles. With Cronulla winning seven of their last eight games—and dominating Manly in recent matchups—experts recommend taking Cronulla -3.5 on the line. Manly’s scoring woes are expected to continue without Tom Trbojevic, staying under 20.5 points. Sione Katoa, on a prolific try-scoring run, is tipped to cross again. The Sharks’ robust defense and attacking edge make them clear favorites.

Jeremy Darke 3 hours ago
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  • Cronulla Sharks tipped to cover -3.5 against Manly.
  • Manly likely to score under 20.5 points due to poor form and injuries.
  • Sione Katoa expected to score anytime, extending his try streak.
  • Kick-off is at 4:05 PM (AEST) on Sunday, 26th July at 4 Pines Park, Sydney.
Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks NRL Round 21 Tips
Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks NRL Round 21 Tips

Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks, Round 21 2026 - Expert Prediction


Cronulla are backed to cover the line against a Manly side sliding out of finals contention, while Sione Katoa can extend his outstanding tryscoring run at 4 Pines Park.

The Sharks have established themselves as one of the NRL’s most reliable teams, winning seven of their last eight matches to move firmly into the top-four race. Manly are heading in the opposite direction. The Sea Eagles have lost four of their last five matches and have dropped from third to ninth on the ladder after defeats to Canterbury, Parramatta, North Queensland and Gold Coast.

The loss of Tom Trbojevic to another hamstring injury creates an additional problem for a team already struggling to close out games.

That makes Cronulla -3.5 the preferred result bet. The Sharks have won the last four meetings between the clubs, including victories by six, 16, six and 20 points. Cronulla have also won their last four visits to 4 Pines Park and look far more settled heading into this contest.

Manly Under 20.5 team points is the second selection. Cronulla have held their opponents to an average of 14 points across their last eight games, with six of those opponents finishing below 21. The Sharks have conceded just 26 combined points across their last three matches against Brisbane, the Dolphins and Newcastle.

Sione Katoa is the Anytime Tryscorer pick after crossing seven times in his last four appearances. The return of Jesse Ramien strengthens Cronulla’s right edge and should provide Katoa with further opportunities against a reshuffled Manly left-side combination.

  • Cronulla have won seven of their last eight matches.
  • The Sharks have won their last four games against Manly.
  • Cronulla’s opponents have averaged only 14 points across their last eight games.
  • Sione Katoa has scored seven tries in his last four matches.

Head to Head


Cronulla have taken control of this matchup by winning the last four meetings with Manly.

The Sharks won 28-22 when the teams met earlier this season, following victories of 30-14 and 24-18 in 2025. Cronulla also produced a convincing 40-20 win on their previous visit to 4 Pines Park in 2024.

Manly Sea Eagles Form Analysis


Manly have lost four of their last five matches, with their only win during that stretch coming in a dominant 30-4 performance against Melbourne.

The Sea Eagles have since suffered three consecutive defeats, losing to Parramatta, North Queensland and Gold Coast. They led the Titans 10-0 inside the opening seven minutes last weekend but conceded five first-half tries on the way to a 38-32 loss.

Manly have averaged 21.2 points across their last five games, although that figure was lifted considerably by the performances against Melbourne and Gold Coast. They scored 18 points or fewer in each of the other three matches.

Tom Trbojevic’s absence forces another backline reshuffle, with Hopoate moving to fullback, Tolu Koula shifting to the wing and Josh Feledy coming into the centres.

Cronulla Sharks Form Analysis


Cronulla have won four of their last five games and seven of their last eight, with their only defeat during that period coming against the Roosters.

Their recent victories have highlighted their ability to win in different ways. The Sharks defeated the Warriors 10-8 in a defensive contest, put 28 points on Brisbane, demolished the Dolphins 66-0 and then held off Newcastle 20-18 last weekend.

Across their last five matches, Cronulla have averaged 26.4 points while conceding only 13.8. Their halves continue to provide excellent control, with Trindall’s long kicking game complementing the creativity of Hynes.

Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks Team News & Team Lists


Team News and Lists are in our dedicated Round 21 Team List Article.

Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks NRL 2026 Round 21 FAQs

  • How to livestream Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks NRL 2026 Round 21?

    You can livestream the Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks NRL 2026 Round 21 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside Australia, the WatchNRL app is the perfect solution.

  • How to buy tickets to Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks NRL 2026 Round 21?

    To buy tickets to the Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks NRL 2026 Round 21 game, check the NRL website or the official Manly Sea Eagles site.

Verdict

Cronulla will cover as the favourite as Manly stay under their team total of 20.5 points. Sione Katoa will continue his try scoring run.
Best Bet1: Cronulla -3.5 Handicap/Line $1.91 at dabble - 3 Units
Best Bet2: Manly Under 20.5 Team Total $1.91 at Neds - 2 Units
Best Bet3: Sione Katoa Anytime Tryscorer $1.95 at OnlyBets - 2 Units
Best Bet4: Sione Katoa First Tryscorer $8.50 at dabble - 1 Unit
Cronulla -3.5
Handicap/Line
$1.91 - 3 Units
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Manly Under 20.5
Team Total
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Sione Katoa
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$1.95 - 2 Units
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Sione Katoa
First Tryscorer
$8.50 - 1 Unit
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