View the preview of tonights Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks NRL 2016 match in what will decide the minor premiership.
Where and When: Melbourne v Cronulla | Saturday, September 3, 7.30pm (AEDT), AAMI Park
The minor premiership is up for grabs when these two clubs lock horns on Saturday night, although it’s probably the Sharks who have more at stake with Melbourne already assured of a home final.
The Storm were uncharacteristically slow out of the blocks against Brisbane and will surely place greater emphasis on a strong opening stanza here.
The club were given a boost during the week with five members of their squad, including the underrated Kenny Bromwich, signing new deals.
Tellingly, Blake Green wasn’t among the list of names read out.
The Sharks roared to life after the break to pile on 24 points without reply and will put everything into this with Canberra nipping at their heels.
As expected, Paul Gallen led from the front with a powerful display and the Sharks looked a more complete side as a result.
The Sharks inflicted Melbourne’s first defeat of the season but they haven’t won south of the border since 2008 which is cause for concern, as is the fact that the Storm haven’t dropped consecutive games all season.
Unibet Odds:
Last time they met: Rd 4 – Cronulla 14-6 Melbourne
Line tip: Melbourne -6.5
Teams:
Storm: 1 Cameron Munster 2 Suliasi Vunivalu 3 William Chambers 4 Ryan Morgan 5 Marika Koroibete 6 Blake Green 7 Cooper Cronk 8 Jesse Bromwich 9 Cameron Smith 10 Tim Glasby 11 Kenneth Bromwich 12 Tohu Harris 13 Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14 Felise Kaufusi 15 Christian Welch 16 Jordan McLean 17 Ben Hampton 21 Matthew White.
Sharks: 1 Ben Barba 2 Sosaia Feki 3 Jack Bird 4 Gerard Beale 5 Valentine Holmes 6 James Maloney 7 Chad Townsend 8 Andrew Fifita 9 Michael Ennis 10 Matt Prior 11 Luke Lewis 12 Wade Graham 13 Paul Gallen (c) Interchange: 14 Joseph Paulo 15 Chris Heighington 16 Jesse Sene-Lefao 17 Jayson Bukuya.