Penrith Panthers v Cronulla Sharks: NRL Sunday Preview

Penrith Panthers will begin their mission to win a fifth straight NRL premiership when they go head-to-head with Cronulla Sharks on Sunday.

The Panthers have dominated the NRL in the last four campaigns, and they are showing no signs of slowing down under the leadership of Ivan Cleary.

Cronulla Sharks are one of the sides hoping to knock the Panthers off their perch, and they are also hoping for a big year.

Both the Sharks and Panthers are also in Las Vegas and will take to the field once the Raiders and Warriors have played the opening game of the double-header.

Penrith are known for peaking at the pointy end of the season, but they will be keen to get their season off to a winning start.

With such a massive audience watching in the US, the Sharks will also be desperate to put on a good show in Vegas.

Penrith Panthers v Cronulla Sharks betting preview

All change for Panthers

Not for the first time, the Panthers will begin the new NRL season with a new look about them after a number of big players moved on.

Jarome Luai, James Fisher-Harris and Sunia Turuva have left, but Penrith usually have no issues replacing top talent.

There is always someone ready to step in and step up, and 2025 looks like being no different.

With the likes of Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and Dylan Edwards in the side, Penrith are good to go.

The match against the Sharks is a repeat of last season’s preliminary final which the Panthers won 26-6.

They do have a good record against the Sharks, winning eight of the last nine games against them, and will be out to keep that run going.

Not only that, in the last three meetings, the Panthers have scored a combined 96 points and conceded just six.

They are priced at 3.50 to win this latest clash by 13+ points.

Sharks out to cause upset

Cronulla do not normally start the season well. Indeed they have won just two of the last 11 Round 1 matches.

They will be desperate to put that right and there is no better place than Las Vegas against the Panthers.

This year they are boosted by the addition of star recruit Addin Fonua-Blake.

The powerful forward has the potential to take the Sharks to another level and he will be out to make an immediate impact.

The Sharks also have a tryscoring machine in the form of Ronaldo Mulitalo. The winger scored eight tries in the last seven games of 2024.

He will be hoping to carry on where he left off, and is priced at 2.40 to score a try at anytime.

Read more rugby league previews on site.

Penrith Panthers v Cronulla Sharks odds

Penrith Panthers - 1.68
Cronulla Sharks - 2.20

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.