Round 25: Sharks v Storm preview
Everything to play for in finals prelude
The stakes could not be clearer for the Cronulla Sharks and the Melbourne Storm ahead of Friday night's final round encounter - win or rely on other results to achieve a piece of history.
With eighth position on the line for the Sharks and the Storm eyeing off the minor premiership, the implications of the latest meeting between the 2016 grand final combatants will have major ramifications on the make up of the finals series.
Locked in a three-way tussle for the last position in the top eight, the Cronulla Sharks can guarantee a finals berth with a win, while still getting over the line should the Raiders lose on Thursday night and the Titans fail to make up the points differential on Sunday afternoon.
Holding off a committed Broncos outfit with a 24-16 victory last Saturday, interim coach Josh Hannay will be hoping his side can improve upon a 33 per cent record on the Gold Coast following losses to the Raiders and Warriors in the weeks since the premiership was uprooted to Queensland.
Retaining the same squad that got the job done at Suncorp Stadium six days earlier, experienced playmaker Matt Moylan and young second-rower Teig Wilton will move into the starting side with Luke Metcalfe and Siosifa Talakai reverting to the bench.
Squandering an opportunity to record the most consecutive victories in premiership history, the Melbourne Storm will be out to make amends by securing another minor premiership title.
Remaining in first position despite failing to match the intensity of the Eels during a shock 22-10 loss last Saturday, victory will confirm the minor premiership for the reigning premiers, while a loss could see the side finish second should the Panthers defeat the Eels later on Friday night.
Getting the better of the Sharks in five of their past nine meetings since the 2016 decider, coach Craig Bellamy has prioritised lifting the Provan-Summons trophy on the first Sunday in October over finishing first by resting a host of stars ahead of finals football.
Electing to give Jesse Bromwich, Reimis Smith Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster, Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi, Kenny Bromwich and Tom Eisenhuth a week off in order to freshen up, a mix of fresh faces and returning stars will come into the side including Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Dale Finucane in his 150th match for the club
Last meeting: Round 8 2021 - Storm 40 Sharks 14
Who to watch: Continuing to enhance his reputation as one of the best young players in the game, Will Kennedy shapes as a pivotal figure in Cronulla's bid to feature in finals football. Cementing his place as a starting player over the past two seasons, the 24-year-old fullback has enjoyed an outstanding year with 14 tries, 13 try-assists and 15 line-breaks, while appearing in every match for the Sharks. Coming up against a Storm side that has lost back-to-back matches just once since the onset of COVID-19, a starring display from Kennedy could see the Sharks join a select group of teams to qualify for the finals with more losses than wins.
Celebrating a milestone match against the club he'll line up for next season, co-captain Dale Finucane will be out to harden the Storm's defence in his return from injury. Spending the past fortnight on the sidelines after sustaining a concussion in the opening minute against the Raiders, the Cronulla-bound forward will become the 15th player to appear in 150 first grade games for Melbourne. Averaging 22 tackles and 114 metres during a season cruelly interrupted by injury, Finucane will be hoping another minor premiership can act as an early present ahead of his 30th birthday next week.
The favourite: The undermanned Storm will be primed to bounce back after going down for only the third time this season.
My tip: The Sharks will need to avoid a blowout margin and other results to fall their way in order to qualify for the finals. Melbourne by 10.
