Sydney Roosters vs Cronulla Sharks NRL Finals Tips & Prediction - Roosters to advance into preliminary final
The upcoming NRL semi-final between the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks heavily favors the Roosters, who have outclassed their opponents in both meetings this season, covering a -7.5 point line each time. Despite both teams entering the finals with shaky form, the Roosters' resilience against top teams like Penrith and their consistent fast starts give them the edge. Key players like Robert Toia and Sione Katoa are favored as anytime tryscorers, with the expectation that the Roosters will continue their recent strong performances and book a spot in the preliminary finals.
- Sydney Roosters vs Cronulla Sharks predictions for Saturday's NRL semi-final
- Roosters have two wins covering a -7.5 line vs Sharks this season; tipped for another
- Robert Toia & Sione Katoa in prolific tryscoring form over the last month
- The game is scheduled for kick off at 7.50pm AEST on Saturday September 19 at Allianz Stadium
Sydney Roosters vs Cronulla Sharks NRL Finals Tips & Prediction
The Roosters are a class above the Sharks and tipped to cover a -7.5 line in Saturday's semi-final at Allianz Stadium, along with continuing their impressive recent record of scoring the first try. Robert Toia and Sione Katoa are the in-form outside backs tipped as anytime tryscorers.
The Roosters should be confident of registering their third win over Cronulla this season and booking their spot in the preliminary finals.
There was a very noticeable difference in quality in the respective finals matches involving these two teams last week. The Roosters went blow for blow with the mighty Panthers in a brutal game that could have gone either way. It was classic 'finals footy' between two genuine premiership heavyweights.
Then there was the Sharks vs Cowboys. Honestly, it just seemed like a random Round 12 game. Cronulla had all the ball in the first half, but struggled to penetrate the leaky Cowboys' defence. Nicho Hynes has yet to really deliver in a meaningful game as the marquee $1 million man, while Braydon Trindall is playing with one shoulder.
Ultimately the Sharks got the job done as the Cowboys' resistance wavered in the second half, but it was hardly a statement performance that has me believing this Cronulla team has what it takes to match it with the big boys.
The Roosters have covered a -7.5 line against Cronulla in their two meetings this season and even with the absence of Sam Walker, should extend that record here.
The Chooks have been fast starters in recent times and can continue that trend, while Robert Toia and Sione Katoa have been scoring tries for fun and should threaten again out wide.
Roosters vs Sharks Stats & Trends
- Roosters have won both 2026 meetings between the teams
- Roosters have covered a -7.5 line vs Sharks in both 2026 wins
- Roosters have won three of their four finals games vs Sharks
- Sharks have failed to cover a +7.5 line in eight of their 10 defeats this season
- Roosters have scored the first try in nine of their last 11 games - only misses were when they fielded a reserve team vs Rabbitohs & last week vs Penrith
- Roosters have scored the first try in their last 10 games when starting as the pre-match favourite
- Robert Toia scored a try vs Sharks in R16 & has crossed in his last three games
- Sione Katoa has scored seven tries in his last four games & has 1+ try in his last seven away games
Roosters vs Sharks Head To Head
The Roosters were 34-22 winners over the Sharks in Round 6 and then doubled down with a dominant 27-8 victory in Round 16.
The Roosters have won three of their four finals meetings with the Sharks, but it was Cronulla who emerged 20-10 winners in last season's elimination final.
Roosters vs Sharks Last 5 Meetings
| Year | Winner | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sydney Roosters | 27–8 | Allianz Stadium |
| 2026 | Sydney Roosters | 34–22 | Optus Stadium |
| 2025 | Cronulla Sharks | 20–10 | Sharks Stadium |
| 2025 | Cronulla Sharks | 31–18 | Sharks Stadium |
| 2025 | Sydney Roosters | 42–16 | Industree Group Stadium |
Sydney Roosters Form Analysis
Not an ideal form line for the Roosters heading into sudden-death footy.
Trent Robinson's side have lost four games on the bounce, but it's not a big cause for concern in my eyes.
Obviously the 25-24 defeat to the Tigers was shocking, while the 26-12 loss to the in-form Dolphins wasn't their best performance. But the Chooks fielded a second-string side in the final round of the regular season against Souths and then stepped up in an impressive showing in last week's qualifying final against minor premiers Penrith.
It was easily the highest qualify game of the weekend, with the Panthers only pulling away in the final 10 minutes with a Nathan Cleary field goal and Brian To'o try. James Tedesco was immense with seven tackle breaks, one try assist, three line break assists and 156 metres off 20 runs.
Cronulla Sharks Form Analysis
The Sharks also entered the finals with poor form, losing four of their last five games - all to teams in the bottom half of the table.
Cronulla looked lost in attack without Braydon Trindall, but they got their star five-eighth back for their finals opener last week.
Trindall's inclusion provided the spark needed for Cronulla to get back to winning ways, even if he was clearly playing busted.
Siosifa Talakai was arguably the best on ground, coming off the bench with a destructive performance that included scoring Cronulla's first try and registering seven tackles breaks, along with 74 post-contact metres.
Roosters vs Sharks Team News
Angus Crichton returns for the Roosters from a foot injury, while Salesi Foketi starts in place of Egan Butcher, who is out with concussion.
Trindall will again start in the halves for the Sharks as he continues to nurse that injured shoulder.
Just the one change from Craig Fitzgibbon, with Jayden Berrell joining the bench in place of Niwhai Puru, who drops to the reserves.
| Roosters | Position | Sharks |
|---|---|---|
| James Tedesco | 1 | William Kennedy |
| Daniel Tupou | 2 | Sione Katoa |
| Billy Smith | 3 | Riley Jones |
| Robert Toia | 4 | KL Iro |
| Mark Nawaqanitawase | 5 | Ronaldo Mulitalo |
| Hugo Savala | 6 | Braydon Trindall |
| Daly Cherry-Evans | 7 | Nicho Hynes |
| Naufahu Whyte | 8 | Addin Fonua-Blake |
| Reece Robson | 9 | Blayke Brailey |
| Lindsay Collins | 10 | Jesse Colquhoun |
| Salesi Foketi | 11 | Briton Nikora |
| Siua Wong | 12 | Teig Wilton |
| Victor Radley | 13 | Cameron McInnes |
| Connor Watson | 14 | Siosifa Talakai |
| Spencer Leniu | 15 | Billy Burns |
| Nat Butcher | 16 | Oregon Kaufusi |
| Angus Crichton | 17 | Thomas Hazelton |
| Cody Ramsey | 18 | Jayden Berrell |
| Tommy Talau | 19 | Toby Rudolf |
Verdict
The Roosters are tipped to score the first try & cover a -7.5 line, with Toia & Katoa the anytime tryscorer props.
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