Expert
The Cronulla Sharks have claimed the 2016 NRL Premiership, defeating the Melbourne Storm by two points on Sunday night.
All the wash-up from the NRL grand final:
» LORD: Gallen leads Sharks into history books
» PRICHARD: 13 extra seconds, but the Sharks did it
» Five talking points
» Ten best tweets from the match
» Sharks player ratings
» Storm player ratings
» Match report: Sharks’ wait over
Final score
Melbourne Storm 12
Cronulla Sharks 14
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Minor premiers the Melbourne Storm look to do the double and take out the Provan-Summons trophy against the Cronulla Sharks, who are trying to overcome the biggest drought in premiership history.
The Storm haven’t been to the grand final since 2012, but that doesn’t stop the experience and talent on display in the side.
Cronulla, meanwhile, haven’t been to a grand final since the Super League war, and before that you have to go all the way back to 1978.
Melbourne’s form leading into the finals was a little bit shaky, but they got back into form during the last round of the season against the Sharks to win the minor premiership and simply haven’t looked back.
In the first week of the finals, they controlled the game brilliantly against the Cowboys for a six-point win, before returning from a week off to beat the Canberra Raiders by two points in a very physical, but excellent, performance.
The Sharks also entered the finals on the back of some form that was less than certain, and that was only exacerbated when they lost to the Storm in Round 26.
However, after a less than ideal start against the Raiders in the first week of the finals, they bounced back to win a thriller by two, before thumping a tired North Queensland Cowboys side last week.
The key battle of this match is certainly between the forward packs, and how they can give field position to creative players – namely Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith, Michael Ennis and James Maloney.
Whichever forward pack gives those guys more time to perfect their craft will have a much better chance at putting up the necessary points to win.
The Storm are the king of wrestle and physical play though, meaning the Sharks backs, particularly Valentine Holmes and Jack Bird, must get involved through the middle of the field.
In team news, there isn’t much to report. Melbourne have gone with a nine-man bench, adding Felise Kafusi, Matt White, Ryan Morgan, Slade Griffin and Young Tonumaipea, while the Sharks have six, adding Sam Tagatese and Joseph Paulo to the pine.
The history between the sides makes for grim reading for Sharks fans, as they have only been able to win ten of the 31 matches, and only one of the last four, with all losses being blowouts. The clubs, however, have never met in finals.
Prediction
The Storm are just too clinical. There won’t be much in it, but Melbourne to win the premiership.
Storm by 4.
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Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde