Cronulla Sharks vs Canterbury Bulldogs Prediction: Sharks are expected to rally to a win

The Cronulla Sharks and Canterbury Bulldogs are set to face off in a pre-season National Rugby League match at PointsBet Stadium. Historically, the Sharks have consistently come out on top in these fixtures. Will they maintain their dominance or can the Bulldogs manage to reverse the trend in this upcoming encounter?

The Cronulla Sharks had a challenging start to the preseason, facing a dominant performance from the Newcastle Knights in a 44-18 encounter last weekend. At halftime, the Sharks struggled, trailing 24-12. Unfortunately, their performance didn't improve in the second half, as they managed to score only 6 points while conceding 20.

It's worth noting that the Sharks were considered underdogs in this match, marking their second consecutive defeat. Prior to the preseason losses, the Sharks concluded their previous season with a defeat against the Sydney Roosters in the round of 16 finals. These early preseason struggles indicate a need for improvement as they prepare for the upcoming challenges in the new season.

The Canterbury Bulldogs delivered a noteworthy upset with a 24-12 victory over the Melbourne Storm in their initial preseason encounter last week. At halftime, the Bulldogs trailed, with the Melbourne Storm holding a 12-10 lead. However, a commendable second-half performance saw the Bulldogs scoring 14 points while keeping the Melbourne Storm from adding any points.

It's worth noting that preceding this triumph, the Canterbury Bulldogs had faced a series of defeats in their prior matches, falling to the Newcastle Knights, Canberra Raiders, Manly Sea Eagles, and Gold Coast Titans. The recent win against the Melbourne Storm marked a positive turn for the Bulldogs in their preseason campaign.

After securing an impressive victory over the Melbourne Storm last weekend, the Canterbury Bulldogs enter this match with high motivation. Although preseason matches are inherently challenging to predict, the Cronulla Sharks, having started with a defeat last weekend, are likely to be inspired to deliver an improved performance, especially against a team they have historically dominated. Given the close winning odds, I anticipate a defensively oriented contest, with the Cronulla Sharks ultimately securing a victory by the end of the match.