Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks: NRL live scores, blog

Roar Guru

12th August, 2018

Kickoff: 4:10pm (AEST)
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
TV: Live, Nine Network and Fox League
Last meeting: Sharks defeated Storm 14-4 (Round 4, 2018)
Head-to-head: 35 played – Storm 22, Sharks 13

Melbourne Storm
1. Billy Slater, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Will Chambers, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 13. Dale Finucane
Interchange: 14. Kenneath Bromwich, 15. Tim Glasby, 16. Christian Welch, 17. Joe Stimson
Reserves: 18. Tui Kamikamica, 19. Brandon Smith, 20. Cheyse Blair, 21. Brodie Croft

Cronulla Sharks
1. Valentine Holmes, 2. Josh Dugan, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. Ricky Leutele, 5. Sione Katoa, 6. Matt Moylan, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Andrew Fifita, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Matt Prior, 11. Luke Lewis, 12. Wade Graham, 13. Paul Gallen
Interchange: 14. Scott Sorensen, 15. James Segeyaro, 16. Aaron Woods, 17. Jayson Bukuya
Reserves: 18. Joseph Paulo, 19. Ava Seumanufagai, 20. Sosaia Feki, 21. Kyle Flanagan

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Billy Slater. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Riley Pettigrew

Roar Guru

12th August, 2018

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Match result:

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has questioned his team’s hunger to defend their NRL title in a stinging assessment of their performance in their 17-14 loss to Cronulla.

» Click here to read the full match report

Final score
Melbourne Storm 14
Cronulla Sharks 17

Match preview:

The Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks are both looking to consolidate their position within the top eight as the finals draw near. Join The Roar from 4:10pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage of the match.

The Storm are one win away from first place after losing to South Sydney last week.

Craig Bellamy has made only one change to the side that went down 30-20 to the Rabbitohs, with Suliasi Vunivalu returning on the wing for Cheyse Blair.

While Melbourne have speed to burn in the backline and plenty of go-forward through the middle, their spine will determine the match’s outcome.

Cameron Smith must take a more proactive role in steering the team around, while Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes need to set up some structure in the halves.

Cronulla are unchanged from last week’s 33-32 loss to the Sea Eagles and will be hellbent on a win to kickstart some form going into the finals.

James Segeyaro will be the key to exploit fatigue through the middle, using his speed from acting half. Similarly, Matt Moylan needs to inject some attacking brilliance.

The Storm and Sharks have played in 35 games, with Melbourne winning 22, although Cronulla were successful in their most recent outing, securing a 14-4 win in Round 4.

That said, AAMI Park has not been a happy hunting ground for the away side – winning just once in eight games.

Prediction
The Storm will stay in touch with the JJ Giltinan Shield, producing a big win over the 2016 premiers.

Storm by 12.

Join The Roar from 4:10pm (AEST) for score updates and debate in our live blog.

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