Two sides with contrasting fortunes in recent weeks meet in an elimination final on Saturday night at Lottoland. The Sea Eagles are ailing after losing two in a row, while the Sharks came through a must-win game against the Tigers in a hostile environment at Leichhardt to sneak into the finals.

Manly are $2.53 outsiders to progress to the second round of finals, with the Sharks 4.5-point favourites and $1.52 at the moneyline.

Factored into the Sea Eagles’ big price is the loss of Marty Taupau to suspension, with reserve prop Taniela Paseka also out with a knee injury. Their absence has brought former Sea Eagles Tony ‘T-Rex’ Williams back from the NRL wilderness, having last played first grade in round 8 last season. Curtis Sironen is another who misses in the back row, while second-gamer Sean Keppie will don the number 10 jersey and has a monumental task ahead of him with the likes of veterans Aaron Woods, Matt Prior and Andrew Fifita opposite.

In just one change for Cronulla, winger Ronaldo Mulitalo is replaced by Aaron Gray.

The Sharks have been poor on the road in 2019, covering just four from 12 games, while the Sea Eagles are joint best at covering home games at 8-4. They have also won both of their previous finals at Lottoland in 2008 and 2009 by 20+ points. The vocal home support will do them plenty of favours and they have enough potency in attack to challenge the Sharks.

Cronulla are known to be hot and cold when it comes to completions and errors and while they were stellar last week, they are still leading the league with 12.3 errors per game. The Wolf is keen to take the Sea Eagles and the points in what is expected to be a fiery encounter.

ERL Prediction

Cronulla Sharks for the win

Line: Cronulla Sharks (-5.5)

Value: Cronulla Sharks 13+