- 1 Sharks vs Dragons : Illawarra have finally won!
- 2 The Sharks keep moving, but they are shorn of weapons
- 3 The Dragons finally have something to smile about
- 4 NRL Prediction Sharks vs Dragons
- 5 Before anything else, a word on our predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information can change
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Sharks vs Dragons : Illawarra have finally won! 
Sunday afternoon hands us another fiery derby between the Sharks and the Dragons, this time for the Monty Porter Cup.
On the table, the gap between these two looks wide. But this one could be far tighter than the odds suggest.
Cronulla are still the home favourites, though a stack of key absences makes life awkward. The Dragons, meanwhile, arrive with a shot of confidence they have not felt for a long time.
In a derby like this, mindset often matters just as much as raw talent.
The Sharks keep moving, but they are shorn of weapons 
Last week, Cronulla landed an important win over the Sea Eagles.
The 28-22 victory at home showed Craig Fitzgibbon’s side can still hang with the best in the competition, even if their season has been up and down.
It also underlined their knack of showing up when it matters.
But this week brings a very different test.
The absence of Nicho Hynes continues to hang over this side.
Beyond his individual quality, Hynes is the Sharks’ main attacking organiser. He lifts the tempo, opens space and turns forward momentum into real try-scoring chances.
Without him, more of the load falls on Braydon Trindall and Daniel Atkinson Puru.
They’ve got ability, no question, but the attack loses some of its flow.
Blayke Brailey’s injury is another major blow.
His work around the ruck is often overlooked, yet it is central to Cronulla’s balance.
Jayden Berrell brings energy, but not the same level of influence.
As if that weren’t enough, KL Iro will also miss out in the back line.
That robs the Sharks of a useful threat who can eat up metres and create danger out wide.
Even with those losses, the Sharks still have plenty going for them.
Addin Fonua-Blake can still bully sides up front, Cameron McInnes brings his usual leadership, and second-row runners like Briton Nikora and Teig Wilton remain a constant threat close to the line.
Still, they look less likely than usual to blow this game apart.
The Dragons finally have something to smile about 
After months of frustration, the Dragons have finally been rewarded for their effort.
The 30-26 win over the Broncos ended a long losing streak and gave Dean Young his biggest result of the season.
More importantly, it gave the squad back a bit of belief that had seemed to have vanished.
The Dragons flew out of the blocks, leading 14-2 at the break before holding off Brisbane’s late charge.
Valentine Holmes was at his classy best once again, with a superb 60-metre-plus intercept try.
Clint Gutherson keeps bringing experience and leadership, while Damien Cook remains one of the main engines of the attack.
Moses Suli’s return in the centres also adds more power and a real edge out wide.
It is not all fixed, of course.
Brisbane still crossed for three tries in the closing stages, and the Dragons remain a side that has had plenty of trouble this season.
But winning changes the mood in a dressing room.
The atmosphere shifts, belief creeps back in, and players walk into this one with far more certainty.
In a derby, that psychological edge can matter a lot.
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NRL Prediction Sharks vs Dragons
Dragons to win or lose by 15 points or less
The Dragons found something last week, even if the State of Origin period gave the match a strange backdrop.
Still, beating the reigning champions on their own turf is no small thing.
The Sharks have shown this season that they can be brilliant one week and a mess the next, and with their injury list getting longer, the Dragons look good value to keep this one close.
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Information can change
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