Melbourne Storm
18
Match Complete
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
25
| 75 |  | D. Atkinson | ||
| 74 |  | S. Talakai | ||
| 73 |  | D. Atkinson | ||
| N. Meaney | | 70 | ||
| T. Wishart | | 68 | ||
| 51 | | D. Atkinson | ||
| 50 | | J. Ramien | ||
| 37 | | D. Atkinson | ||
| 36 | | O. Kaufusi | ||
| N. Meaney | | 33 | ||
| R. Smith | | 31 | ||
| 24 | | D. Atkinson | ||
| 23 | | T. H. Tapuha | ||
| E. Katoa | | 17 | ||
| N. Meaney |  | 14 |
| 3 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 4 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 1 |
We’re set for an absolute cracker as Melbourne and Cronulla do battle for the right to sit alone at the top of the NRL ladder. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:35pm (AEST).
Game information
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 7:35pm (AEST)
TV: Fox League
Streaming: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Odds: Storm $1.90, Sharks $1.90 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Storm: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Nick Meaney 5. Grant Anderson 6. Tyran Wishart 7. Cameron Munster 8. Christian Welch 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Joe Chan 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Kane Bradley 19. Jack Howarth 20. Dean Ieremia 21. Chris Lewis 22. Tui Kamikamica
Fijian prop Tui Kamikamica (calf) is a chance to be back on deck and is listed in the reserves. The calf injury for Jahrome Hughes means Tyran Wishart comes in at five-eighth with Cameron Munster named in the No.7 jersey. Sua Fa’alogo gets a run at fullback after Ryan Papenhuyzen suffered a broken leg.
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Royce Hunt 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Samuel Stonestreet 21. Kade Dykes 22. Billy Burns
Craig Fitzgibbon has recalled Royce Hunt for Toby Rudolf in the only change from the team that beat the Dragons on Sunday.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
whoops I called it a dropout too :silly: :silly:
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Don't worry, we all knew what you meant :thumbup:
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I should have said short kicks, it wasn' t a dropout
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Unless you are a great kick and have someone who leaps like Xavier Coates, it's not worth it. Felt like a panic moment. Well done to Sharks to get the drop goal and put some heat on them though, I feel that it is a tactic which is under-used. Even the best make mistakes when under pressure
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I never planned on supporting a second team and the Dolphins are a distant second to Souths. . I was supporting the Redcliffe Dolphins BEFORE they joined the NRL, BECAUSE I lived in the local area (and still do) and while Souths were EXILED from the NRL. . If Souths had never been exiled from the NRL competition due to corporate greed and the desire to introduce two new revenue streams for the NRL and broadcasters, Melbourne and New Zealand, I wouldn’t be in this position.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
True, so probs now the gambler $$ man, PVL, will be up in arms...
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Not good for punters and tipsters mind you
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
smart clubs don't leak ...
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Good on you, so now you have two teams Souths and Dolphins, like I have the Storm and Bulldogs.
steveng
Roar Rookie
No, I knew that without Hughes and only Munster and Grant, they will stuff things up even if they had Wishart at #7, who played well and gave it everything. But Hughes is the Storms tactical SWAT leader kicking bombs to Coats and he would have also stopped a few of the tries that the Sharks scored, and he is their go to bomb catcher try scorer. That is what the Storm missed out on tonight against the Sharks.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
And the exile of 2000 - 2001. During that period I lived in Brisbane and turned my back on the NRL and started following the Redcliffe Dolphins. My first memories of Rugby League was of Souths winning the premiership in 1970 and 1971. I just assumed that would always be the natural order of things. Then the club went broke after their accountant embezzled the clubs money and fled to Argentina. Souths lost their best players to the Easts and Manly and the wheels fell off the premiership bus. I still went to all the training sessions and games at Redfern oval. Even when Souths were at the bottom of the ladder. They didn't have to che@t the system to win their premierships. Winning in 2014 was special because I could share that with my son who is also a passionate Rabbitohs supporter.
Snoopy
Roar Rookie
If he plays like an overrated player in this years series like he played in the last 10 minutes in game 1 SOO last year I will take that.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Sounds as though the Sharks knew Nicho wasn't playing earlier in the week and must have planned on how to cover for him. It sounded like he did something late today to force him out of the game. The bookies reacted as well blowing Cronulla's odds out from $1.95 to $2.85 just before the game. Surprised there wasn't some talk about him being injured somewhere in the media earlier in the week.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Might have blamed Atkins for the Grant 10 in the bin on reflection. But he got a few wrong. Didn't think much of his performance in the Manly/Raiders game the week before either. Far too many penalties and restarts in that game.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
How good was the Sharks bench? And who is Tapuha who scored the first try? He's an absolute monster. The Sharks seem to be the real deal -this year - strong all over the field - no real weaknesses.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Now the monkeys off the back .That was huge - now bring on the Chooks in Brisie I'm expecting a more expansive game and the Sharks will apply the blowtorch.Fitzy will be fired up to smash Robbo's .Huge confidence that they can win without Nicho -coming into SOO period.
steveng
Roar Rookie
:thumbup: spot on GB and very well said :laughing:
up in the north
Roar Rookie
I took storm and it's good cronulla are finally answering the perennial question of why can't they beat good teams. 3 or four hard ones coming their way, should be good.
steveng
Roar Rookie
:silly: we beat the Sharks also in R1 2023 and have a look at the Bunnies tonight, can't even beat a very ordinary Dragons side, just have to cop it
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
But yes, you're right. I did get the wrong end of the stirring stick there. Ha ha...