The only game on Monday for NRL round 11 is between Cronulla Sharks and South Sydney Rabbitohs. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:00pm with the game to be played at Sharks Stadium. The favourite for the match is away team South Sydney Rabbitohs. View our preview and teams for the game between Cronulla Sharks and South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Sharks Stadium

Monday 7.00pm

Featured Bookmakers:

Cronulla Sharks $3.30 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs $1.35 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Cronulla Sharks $3.25 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs $1.36 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:

Cronulla Sharks	3.30	3.30	3.25	3.30	3.30	3.30
South Sydney Rabbitohs	1.35	1.35	1.36	1.35	1.35	1.35

Preview:

The final match of round 11 sees the Sharks, who are coming off three successive wins, host the competition front-runners in South Sydney.

The Sharks enhanced their record when playing at Shark Stadium to 3-1 with a good win last week over the Raiders (30-20). It came on the back off much needed wins over the Knights and Tigers in rounds 8 and 9 respectively.

As is this case when the Sharks are playing well, influential five-eight Todd Carney has displayed good form over the pass month and will be keen to produce his best against quality opposition on the verge of the Origin series.

The two sides have taken it in turns of winning the five matches played between the two since 2011 with the Rabbitohs having won the most recent 14-12 in round 3 this year. This was the third time in that period that the total match points failed to exceed 30.

Since that game, Souths have only tasted defeat once (Melbourne in round 6, 17-10) and in recent weeks they have dominated the Cowboys (28-10) and Tigers (54-10).

Whilst they’ve been able to display their attacking ability recently, this week they’ll need to muscle up in the forward but, given they did so with success against Manly and Brisbane, would expect them to do so again here.

Teams:

Cronulla Sharks:
Michael Gordon, Sosaia Feki, Ben Pomeroy, Jonathan Wright, Beau Ryan, Todd Carney, Jeff Robson, Andrew Fifita, John Morris, Ben Ross, Luke Lewis, Wade Graham, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Chris Heighington, Jayson Bukuya, Isaac De Gois, Anthony Tupou, Tyrone Peachey, Sam Tagatese

South Sydney Rabbitohs:
Greg Inglis, Nathan Merritt, Beau Champion, Dylan Walker, Bryson Goodwin, John Sutton, Adam Reynolds, George Burgess, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi, Chris McQueen, Ben Te’o, Sam Burgess. Interchange: Nathan Peats, Jason Clark, Ben Lowe, Jeff Lima, Dave Tyrrell

Souths look to follow Sharks’ lead

South Sydney say they admire the way Cronulla have dealt with the distraction of the ASADA investigation, as the Rabbitohs seek to put their own controversy aside and continue their premiership charge when the two sides meet on Monday night.

The assault allegations against Ben Te’o are the only blight on a stellar Rabbitohs season so far and as the club seeks to put those aside to focus on football they could learn from Sharks who’ve managed to turn around a slow start to the season.

Considered premiership possibles at the start of the season, the ongoing ASADA investigation had the potential to completely derail the Sharks’ year.

But they have turned things around impressively in recent weeks to secure three successive wins and force their way into the top eight.

And Souths have taken note.

“They have gone through a bit of adversity, the team – especially the players – and through that they have combined together and worked together, because they’re going through it together,” Souths back-rower Ben Lowe said.

“Obviously they’ve had a bit going on but they’re still playing football and they’re turning up each week and getting the job done.

“We’ll be giving them a lot of respect come Monday night, because I think they deserve it. They’ve been playing well and it’ll be a great test for us I think.”

Sharks playmaker Todd Carney is likely to have his own individual source of motivation for the clash at Sharks Stadium after missing out on selection in NSW coach Laurie Daley’s team for the State of Origin opener on June 5.

Carney’s form has improved markedly in the last few weeks and Sharks skipper Paul Gallen said the incumbent five-eighth could consider himself unlucky to miss out on selection.

Souths’ winger Nathan Merritt also falls into that category after again missing out on a spot in the NSW team with Daley opting to go for Blake Ferguson and Josh Morris on the wings despite the Rabbitoh’s undoubted tryscoring ability.

Gallen is no certainty to play as he continues to struggle to overcome a knee injury suffered against Newcastle on May 5.

The NSW skipper was hopeful of playing against Souths but could be a late exclusion.

“Realistically I’m a maybe,” Gallen said.

“I wouldn’t mind getting a game under my belt before the Origin game but in saying that if I don’t I will be really fresh and really itching to go so go so I don’t think it will hurt me either way.”