Cronulla and the Roosters are considered heavy favourites in this weekend’s semi-finals.
Are they really?
The Sharks have won just one playoff match in their past 10 attempts after their 37-10 mauling in Melbourne and the Roosters are struggling with injuries and also coming off a heavy defeat.
North Queensland are in red-hot form after getting the better of Newcastle and they are full of confidence heading into Friday night’s fixture with Cronulla while Anthony Seibold’s Manly were ultra impressive in running down the Bulldogs last Sunday so the Roosters are no sure things in the second match at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
Our expert panel is split on these two games but the bookies have installed Cronulla as $1.60 favourites and the Roosters are paying $1.55.
Here’s how the experts see Finals Week 2 unfolding.
Stuart Thomas
Cowboys, Roosters
Another Sharks loss in finals will be a disaster for all involved, yet based on the momentum of the Cowboys and the lack of a real home ground advantage, I can see it happening. Nicho Hynes needs redemption, but opposite number Jake Clifford will have his measure and the Cowboys will rack up a score.
The Sea Eagles were not particularly good against the Dogs last week, but somehow managed the win. The Chooks are a different proposition and even considering the unsettled run the tr-colours have had into the finals, I can see them winning. If the Roosters big men up front handle the three units charging forward for the Sea Eagles, they win.
If they don’t, the visitors will have a sniff.
Cameron McInnes and Nicho Hynes look dejected. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Nick Wasiliev
Sharks, Roosters
Five matches and we’re done. Already getting wistful for the end of the season.
The Cowboys have really surprised in this finals run, but despite the one-sided score in Melbourne it should be a different affair in Sydney. Cronulla highs have been higher and more consistent this year than their northern counterparts, but when the Cowboys are on, they are ON! Going Sharks in a thriller.
The second match is a little less unpredictable. Sea Eagles should be really happy knocking off the Bulldogs last week, and maybe they can pull off another performance this week – but the Chooks sit in third for a reason, and logic dictates they should at least make it to next week. Throw in the Chooks seem pissed after the weekend loss and the fact the Sea Eagles have to back up again, and I back the hosts.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Sharks, Roosters
Cronulla absolutely have to get the job done this weekend. Unfortunately, there has been bad news swirling around the club this week, pressure on Nicho Hynes, focus on their poor record in finals football under Craig Fitzgibbon and a CEO who continues to double down on his embarrassing insistence that the game should be played at Shark Park. So perhaps this tip is more about willing them to win. The Cowboys can be up and down, but they have so many attacking weapons that can score points quickly. The key for the Sharks will be shutting down Scott Drinkwater and Jake Clifford and for the Cowboys, as awful as this sounds, to put plenty of pressure on Hynes and see if he can withstand it.
This game is so hard to tip. Both teams are playing a little bit busted with injuries to key players that have either kept them out of the game or will not doubt hamper them during it. I wonder whether for the Sea Eagles they played their Grand Final last weekend. The reality was that the Dogs lost that game through stupid errors in the dying moments. I’m not sure the Roosters will give Manly the same opportunities. The Roosters will also be raring to go after being embarrassed by the Panthers in the first 20 minutes last weekend. Tip to Trent Robinson, if the Roosters are getting dominated in the middle early again, perhaps bring Spencer Leniu on earlier because the key to beating Manly is going toe to toe with their impressive forward pack.
Paul Suttor
Cowboys, Sea Eagles
The Cowboys are on a roll, the Sharks are flaking out. North Qld by 4
It is a little-known fact that Luke Brooks has not lost a finals match since his debut more than a decade ago. Manly will eliminate the Roosters by 6
Valentine Holmes (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
AJ Mithen
Cowboys, Sea Eagles
Tipping for chaos this week because we’re at genuine risk of a bludging NRL finals series…
North Queensland will send the frauds from the shire back to their shipping container of a stadium after doing them over. I’m all in on the Cowboys and their desire to play attacking ball.
In the other game the likely outcome is a Rooster rout but I’m on the Manly miracle. They stick around in contests, have plenty of points in them and you need that against the chooks because they don’t like defending much either of you go after them. Manly in a 56-54 barn burner.
Mike Meehall Wood
Sharks, Roosters
It’d take a minor miracle to stop your incumbent tipping champ retaining his title into a second year, so I’ll not be doing anything crazy here.
That means it’s two home tips from me: the Sharkies at their home from home and the Roosters at their actual hutch.
The Sharks are bad at finals footy but my hunch remains that the Cowboys are bad at most footy, at least at this level, and we’re very lucky last week. I’ll take Cronulla to break their hoodoo, but in truth, I’d back either of the Chooks or Manly to beat both these sides and probably the Dogs from last week too.
My feeling prior to last week was that whoever won out of Manly and Canterbury would also win this week. I still think that (Turbo injury permitting) but as I shall be attending in full Sea Eagles regalia, I’ll manifest our victory by reverse psychology tipping Easts. Remember, Manly Hates You Too and I encourage any Roarers to come buy me a beer to celebrate our win and my victory in the tipping comp.
| Finals W1 | Stuart Thomas | Nick Wasiliev | Mary K |
Paul Suttor | AJ Mithen | Mike Meehall Wood | The Crowd |
| CSS v NQC | Cowboys | Sharks | Sharks | Cowboys | Cowboys | Sharks | ? |
| SYD v MSE | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Sea Eagles | Sea Eagles | Roosters | ? |
| Last Round | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| 2024 tally | 131 | 134 | 120 | 130 | 109 | 138 | 128 |