✅ TEAM LISTS CONFIRMED

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Gold Coast Titans Tips – Round 24

Sharks can consolidate a top-eight spot with a soft run home. Titans are fighting to avoid the spoon and need an upset to stay in touch. Ladder and for-and-against pressure heightens the stakes for both sides. • 2025-08-16 15:00 • Sharks Stadium

Same Game Multi
$6.50
Confidence 63%
  • Sharks -10.5 $2.00
  • Under 51.5 $1.91
  • Sione Katoa anytime $1.87

Why: Cronulla to control territory via McInnes and the middle, giving Hynes repeat good-ball sets. Titans’ left edge has leaked heavily, aligning with a Katoa finishing lane on Cronulla’s right. Defensive uplift from Tino’s return reins in a track-meet, keeping total under 51.5 while Sharks have enough class to clear -10.5.

Best Value Tryscorer

$1.87

Sione Katoa anytime try-scorer

Sharks’ right-side attack accounts for 25% of their tries (21). Titans’ left-edge defence has conceded 28 tries and 16 specifically to opposition right wingers. Hynes’ long shift to Katoa is a consistent pattern making $1.87 a fair price for the matchup.

Other props: Ronaldo Mulitalo anytime ($1.70), William Kennedy anytime ($2.30), Mawene Hiroti anytime ($2.05)

Match Preview

Tempo & Territory

Cronulla come off a flat derby loss but the profile stays strong at home. Their set-for-set discipline (80% completion) and tackle efficiency (88.5%) usually hand Hynes repeat good-ball in the Titans half. The Titans concede 28 points per game, and while Tino’s return lifts their middle, it is more likely to slow Cronulla’s margin from a blowout than flip territory. Sharks average 22 points scored and 21 conceded; Titans average 20 for and 28 against, pointing to Cronulla control without needing a track meet. The first-score tendencies also lean Sharks, especially versus bottom-nine teams where they open the scoring 77% of the time. Expect Cronulla to kick early, pin the Titans in corners, and turn possession into scoreboard pressure, which aligns with Sharks -10.5 and tempers the game total below a lofty 51.5.

Edge Lanes & Finishers

The cleanest matchup sits on Cronulla’s right. Sharks have 21 tries on the right (25% share), and the Titans’ left edge has been the softest channel, conceding 28 overall and 16 specifically to opposition right wingers. That squares Sione Katoa up against Tony Francis with Hynes and Trindall feeding shape. Katoa’s price at $1.87 is supported by lane data, and Hiroti’s inclusion outside Hynes keeps the passing threat live. On the other edge, Mulitalo remains lethal and his home record is absurd, but the clearest numerical advantage is still the Katoa side. Titans have threats of their own with AJ Brimson chiming in and Phillip Sami in form, but Cronulla’s edge integrity and scramble have generally held bottom-nine attacks to manageable totals at Shark Park.

Market & SGM Value

The market sits around Sharks -10.5 and 51.5 total. Our narrative projects Cronulla in control with middle ascendancy but not a full helter-skelter. A plausible script is Sharks 28-16 or 30-18, both clearing the line and sitting under 51.5. Tino, Fotuaika, and Verrills can stiffen the ruck, which helps the Under, while the Titans’ left-edge leaks persist and feed Katoa’s finishing lane. The Same-Game Multi ties these threads: Sharks -10.5 for class and territory, Under 51.5 because the Titans’ attack should be trimmed at Shark Park, and Sione Katoa anytime as the highest-probability finisher given the lane data. The combined price around $6.50 is realistic after correlation and matches the way this clash is most likely to unfold.

Team Lists & Changes

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Home

Ins

  • Chris Vea'ila, Jayden Berrell, Jesse Colquhoun, Mawene Hiroti, Niwhai Puru, Tuku Hau Tapuha

Outs

  • Briton Nikora, Jesse Ramien

Gold Coast Titans

Away

Ins

  • Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Moeaki Fotuaika, Phillip Sami, Tony Francis, Keano Kini, Tom Weaver, Allan Fitzgibbon

Outs

  • Brian Kelly
⚡

Why This Matters

Nikora is suspended with Billy Burns promoted on the right edge. Ramien is out so Mawene Hiroti starts in the centres. Titans regain Tino Sami and Fotuaika to restore middle punch and leadership.

Squad changes driving edge, totals and SGM angles.

Head to Head & Form

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks — Form Notes

Last few weeks
Sharks are 4-1 across the last five with wins over the Cowboys Rabbitohs Roosters and Dolphins. They score first 62% overall and 77% versus bottom-nine sides. Mulitalo has 40 tries in 40 at Shark Park underpinning home-edge potency.

Gold Coast Titans — Form Notes

Last few weeks
Titans are 1-4 across the last five with narrow losses to the Rabbitohs and Panthers. Attack is streaky around 20 points per game while defence concedes 28. Returns for Tino Sami and Fotuaika add starch but cohesion remains a question.

Recent History

H2H
Recent five meetings favour Cronulla 4-1 including a 44-0 at the Coast. Titans did pinch a 20-16 upset at Shark Park in 2024. Overall trend still leans Sharks particularly at home.

Key Matchups

Nicho Hynes vs Jayden Campbell in the halves. Sione Katoa vs Tony Francis on Cronulla’s right against the Titans’ left. Cameron McInnes and Toby Rudolf vs Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Moeaki Fotuaika through the middle.

X-Factors

Nicho Hynes AJ Brimson Phillip Sami Cameron McInnes

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