Saturday second NRL Round 19 match is between Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks with the opening kick to commence at 7:30pm local time. The game is to be played at Allianz Stadium with the home team Sydney Roosters hold favouritism in the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks.

Allianz Stadium

Saturday, 7.30pm

Sydney Roosters $1.28 vs Cronulla Sharks $3.60 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Sydney Roosters $1.29 vs Cronulla Sharks $3.75 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:

Sydney Roosters	1.28	1.35	1.29	1.35	1.28	1.30
Cronulla Sharks	3.60	3.20	3.75	3.20	3.60	3.65

Preview:

Backing up in this match from Wednesday night’s Origin decider (injury permitting) are Pearce, Maloney, Cordner, Jennings (Roosters) and Lewis and Fifita (Sharks).

Also missing for the Sharks through injury are regular Captain Paul Gallen and winger, Beau Ryan.

Sydney registered their third successive win when thumping a disappointing St. George in round 17, 36 – 0.

The win, and Melbourne’s recent loss to Canterbury, sees the Sydney side sit second on the competition ladder.

A lot will ride on how well their halves, Pearce and Maloney are able to back up from Origin but that said, their replacements during the Origin period, Sonny Bill Williams and Daniel Mortimer have been performing well and will be more than capable should one or both of the starting halves, be unable to take their place.

Off the back of a strong performance – and his field goal, five-eighth Todd Carney helped the Sharks escaped with a 19 – 18 win over a gallant Broncos side in their latest match.

It was the Shark’s third win in the past month and meant they kept their spot inside the eight (6th) but only one win in front of a group of four teams.

There’s no doubting the Sharks poor record without Gallen and, with two other forwards, Lewis and Fifita backing up from Origin, it may leave the Sharks a bit vulnerable up front against the big Roosters pack.

The Roosters forwards have laid a solid foundation all year for their backs to work off and would think they’ll be able to get the better of the Sharks easily enough in this match.

Roosters should produce too many points for the Sharks to counter.

Teams:

Sydney Roosters:

Anthony Minichiello (capt), Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend, Luke O’Donnell, Boyd Cordner, Sonny Bill Williams, Frank-Paul Nuuausala. Interchange: Daniel Mortimer, Mitchell Aubusson, Aidan Guerra, Sam Moa, Isaac Liu (one to be omitted).

Cronulla Sharks:

Michael Gordon, Sosaia Feki, Stewart Mills, Jonathan Wright, Nathan Stapleton, Todd Carney, Chad Townsend, Andrew Fifita, John Morris, Bryce Gibbs, Jayson Bukuya, Luke Lewis, Chris Heighington. Interchange: Isaac De Gois, Tyrone Peachey, Sam Tagataese, Ben Ross, Ben Pomeroy, Mark Taufua.

Referees: Matt Cecchin, Henry Perenara.

Gallen injury gut-wrenching: Sharks coach

Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan says his heart goes out to Paul Gallen after the forward was ruled out of next week’s State of Origin decider.

The Sharks kept up their hunt for an NRL top four spot with a gutsy 19-18 win over Brisbane on Friday night, just hours after Gallen was officially ruled out of the Blues team.

Saying it was unlikely the Sharks skipper would be fit to play in next weekend’s clash with the Sydney Roosters, Flanagan said there was no doubt Gallen would be devastated.

“You don’t get too many opportunities … to lead your state in an Origin decider at home,” Flanagan said.

“The pain that he’s going through at the moment, I don’t think he’s even worried about his foot to tell you the truth.

“It’s a terrible blow for him, the whole club feels really sorry for him.”

The Sharks are also set to be without stand-in skipper Wade Graham for the Roosters clash after he injured his shoulder against the Broncos.

But Flanagan is confident Mark Taufua will have no case to answer after being reported for a shoulder charge on Broncos halfback Peter Wallace.

“Mate, I was surprised it was even a penalty, seriously,” he said.