Storm roll Sharks to claim J.J. Giltinan Shield

v BYE

On the back of some outstanding scramble defence, the Melbourne Storm have beaten the Cronulla Sharks 26-6 in front of a 24135 strong AAMI Park crowd to lift the J.J. Giltinan Shield as minor premiers for 2016.

Following a big build-up throughout the week for the minor premiership showdown, both teams delivered up to the hype in the opening half with some enterprising play. 
Penalty goals to Sharks pivot James Maloney in the 11th and Storm captain Cameron Smith in the 14th minutes was the result of some strong defence and a mutual respect these teams have for each other at this stage of the season.

On the back of a couple of Sharks errors shortly after in attacking opportunities, Melbourne were able to gain some good field position and five-eight Blake Green took full advantage to send centre Cheyse Blair over for the opening four-pointer with a deft short ball 20 metres out from the line. 

Smith made no mistake with the conversion to send his team to an 8-2 lead after the opening quarter of play.

Another penalty goal to Smith in the 29th minute gave his side an eventual 10-2 halftime lead, but it was his team's scrambling defence in the final ten minutes of the opening half that really laid the foundation for victory. 

The Sharks spent most of the final ten minutes with the ball in hand, spreading the ball from sideline to sideline and looked certain to score a minute before the break with big numbers on their right, only for the Storm defence lead by winger Marika Koroibete to bundle his opposite Valentine Holmes into touch.

The home side were quick out of the blocks in the second stanza when fullback Cameron Munster swept onto a left side play to send Blair over for his double after just two minutes, again running a strong line against the grain to crash over.

Smith's successful conversion gave his team a handy 16-2 lead.

The Sharks looked like they got themselves back in the contest through winger Sosaia Feki ten minutes later after he crashed over in the corner, but video replays showed he failed to plant it down amidst the Storm cover defence.

It would again prove a case of so close but so far as the Storm extended their lead soon after with a try to Fijian winger Suliasi Vunivalu in the 58th minute. The rookie's 22nd try of the year came on the back of a cross-field kick from halfback Cooper Cronk and broke Israel Folau's record of most tries in a rookie season in the NRL era.

Smith missed his first kick of the night, but the Storm still had a commanding 20-2 lead heading into the final quarter.

The Sharks eventually found their way across the stripe with a try to centre Gerard Beale in the 69th minute, but it was Storm bookend Jesse Bromwich who put the icing on the cake with a try running off Smith close to the line in the 79th minute.

And that is the #NRL MINOR PREMIERSHIP for the @storm from @Melbourne Town! pic.twitter.com/Neknyl6ykz
— LeagueUnlimited NRL (@LeagueUnlimited) September 3, 2016

The Storm will celebrate their triumph tonight before quickly refocusing for a finals showdown back at home next week against defending premiers, the North Queensland Cowboys.

The Sharks will look to quickly dust off tonight's result and focus on their finals opponents, the Canberra Raiders who will be looking to secure a home ground advantage when they come up against the Wests Tigers tomorrow afternoon.