NRL Tips – Sharks v Cowboys – Elimination Final 2026

The Sharks and Cowboys enter their elimination final in dreadful form as the two teams meet in a finals match for the seventh time in the last 14 seasons.

Best Bet

Cowboys +6.5

Line

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$1.90

The No.5 team has an incredible record against the No.8 team in Week 1 of the NRL finals but given Cronulla’s dire recent form it would be a game bettor to side with the Sharks.

Cronulla have scored 20 or fewer in four of their last five while they have conceded 22-plus in five straight.

With a 3-6 cover record as a favourite away from Shark Park, they look a major lay team.

The Cowboys are hardly flying, conceding 50 to the Raiders last week, but teams off conceding 50-plus cover at 60% and the Cowboys are a strong rebound team. North Queensland have covered 14 of 19 off a loss of 20-plus while they are 21-12 against the spread off conceding 30-plus.

With North Queensland 13-8 against the spread as an underdog of at least six points, they look the bet in this battle of two bad teams.

Same Game Multi

Sione Katoa Try/Braidon Burns Try/Jaxon Purdue Try

Same Game Multi

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$13.00

Sione Katoa has 16 tries in 18 games this year with 14 of those coming in the last 11 games.

Braidon Burns is having his best tryscoring season with 15 tries in 20 games.

Jaxon Purdue is back to the centres where he has 21 tries in 34 games.

Value Bet

Jason Taumalolo

To Score A Try

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$9.50

Veteran middle Jason Taumalolo endured a long try drought that broke a month ago and he doubled his try tally last week against Canberra with a bullocking run. He now has two in his last four games and he is running with real intent. His eight tries in 25 games against Cronulla is three more than against any other team. Notably three of those tries have come in the six finals he has played against the Sharks including two of the last three.

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Editor in Chief

Frankie McDonald

Frankie has spent more than two decades working in the Australian wagering industry and is widely regarded for his expertise in AFL, NRL and horse racing tips.