PointsBet Stadium will play host to Sunday's Round 9 NRL game between Cronulla Sharks and St. George Illawarra Dragons. The game kicks off at 4:05 pm with Cronulla Sharks heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Cronulla Sharks vs. St. George Illawarra Dragons game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday May 5, 2024 at 4:05 pm

Where: PointsBet Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Cronulla Sharks vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Odds

Cronulla Sharks vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Preview

Ladder-leading Cronulla is aiming to continue its derby domination against a St George Illawarra side reeling from a 10-try thrashing on Anzac Day.

The Sharks have enjoyed an incredibly soft draw to date, but you can only play the teams put in front of you – and Craig Fitzgibbon’s 6-1 outfit have been dominant aside from a blip against the Titans.

Nicho Hynes, Will Kennedy and a dynamic three-quarter line have feasted on the Cowboys (42-6) and Raiders (40-0) in the past fortnight, while Thomas Hazelton has emerged as one of the NRL’s form front-rowers in an underrated pack.

Consistency remains the improved 4-4 Dragons’ chief drawback.

After chalking up back-to-back wins for the first time since 2022 via their best performance in years, a 30-12 drubbing of the Warriors, the Saints were hammered 60-18 by the Roosters in an Anzac Day clash where they shaped as a genuine upset chance.

All four of their losses this season have come by margins of 20-plus.

Toby Rudolf is back at the expense of Tuku Hau Tapuha in the Sharks’ only change. Mosese Suli (concussion) is replaced in the Dragons’ centres by Zac Lomax, with Mikaele Ravalawa returning on the wing from a knee injury.

The Sharks have won their last seven against the Dragons – culminating in beatdowns at Kogarah (40-8) and in the Shire (52-16) last season, with Ronaldo Mulitalo bagging a pair of doubles, and Jesse Ramien and Will Kennedy also crossing in both games.

The Saints’ last victory at Shark Park was in 2018, while Cronulla have won seven of their last eight regular-season matches at the venue by 14-plus points.

Which version of the Dragons turns up is anyone guess, but this Sharks side has scored 34-plus in its last four and look likely to rack up another big tally based on some of the their Red V’s defensive performances so far.

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Cronulla Sharks vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Tip

Cronulla Sharks vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Teams

Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Samuel Stonestreet 21. Royce Hunt 22. Billy Burns

Dragons team: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Jack Bird 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Hame Sele 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth 14. Fa’amanu Brown 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Jack de Belin 17. Ben Murdoch-Masila 18. Michael Molo 19. Mathew Feagai 20. Toby Couchman 21. Luciano Leilua 22. Jesse Marschke