Match Centre

FULLTIME & Melbourne claim the J.J. Giltinan Shield as minor premiers in 2016. Thanks for the company tonight folks! Stay tuned for the match report to come soon

Melbourne Storm 26-6

BUNKER possible Melbourne try...

Melbourne Storm 20-6

Cronulla are bundled into touch & Melbourne have the scrum 25 out from their line

Melbourne Storm 20-6

He's all good & play is back underway

Melbourne Storm 20-6

Play is stopped with Paul Gallen on the turf clutching at his head

Melbourne Storm 20-6

Michael Ennis attempts to grubber through on tackle 3 but the ball is trapped & cleaned up by his adversary Cameron Smith

Melbourne Storm 20-6

6 more Sharks 40 out from Melbourne line

Melbourne Storm 20-6

6 more after Michael Ennis finds a Storm touch off his grubber

Melbourne Storm 20-2

Wade Graham rolls a grubber in-goal & Cameron Munster bats it dead...The Sharks are still pressing but the Storm defence remains staunch

Melbourne Storm 20-2

Cooper Cronk kicks to the corner of Sosaia Feki again, but the Sharks winger takes the catch this time for a 20m restart

Melbourne Storm 20-2

Chad Townsend is put through the line on the last & fired a ball out to Jack Bird who couldn't hang onto it...Marika Koroibete raced away but was rounded up by Sharks chasers lead by Ben Barba

Melbourne Storm 20-2

Cameron Smith takes control to roll the kick into touch 10 out from the Sharks line

Melbourne Storm 20-2

BUNKER possible Storm try...

Melbourne Storm 16-2

Penalty Storm...Sharks holding down too long & they take the tap...

Melbourne Storm 16-2

Will Chambers pokes a grubber through but Sosaia Feki grits his teeth to get the ball back in play

Melbourne Storm 16-2

NO TRY as Sosaia Feki loses the ball trying to plant it down amidst the Storm scramble defence yet again

Melbourne Storm 16-2

BUNKER possible Sharks try...

Melbourne Storm 16-2

Marika Koroibete is streaking away after scooping up the loose ball but play is called back as Cheyse Blair got a hand to it...Sharks feed

Melbourne Storm 16-2

Penalty for Sharks, but we have Andrew Fifita in trouble for throwing the ball after a decision. The referee stops play and warns both captains to cut the rubbish.

Melbourne Storm 16-2

Sharks finally get a chance to pressure the line after a classy break by Valentine Holmes.

Melbourne Storm 16-2

Sharks finding it really hard early on - Melbourne muscling up in defence, pinning the Sharks deep in their own half.

Melbourne Storm 16-2

We're back underway with the Storm getting first use.

Melbourne Storm 10-2

Jack Bird is wrapped up & that will be oranges & some well earned ones at that. The minor premiership battle is living up to all the hype. The Storm have been clinical as always & have come up with the lone try of the night so far to take a lead into the sheds...The Sharks have thrown plenty at them throughout the opening stanza (particularly down their right side), but have been unable to land the knockout blow on the Storm's scrambling defence... The game has been played at a cracking pace, both these teams are the real deal folks so stay tuned for should be a scintillating 2nd half!

Melbourne Storm 10-2

Blake Green rolls a ball into touch, but the Sharks have packed the scrum & will get one last play before the break

Melbourne Storm 10-2

OUTSTANDING scramble defence from the Storm after Ben Barba almost scored before offloading for Chad Townsend who rifled a ball out to his right. The Sharks had the numbers, but the Storm take Valentine Holmes into touch

Melbourne Storm 10-2

Repeat set coming up for the Sharks after a sweeping left side play eventually sees Gerard Beale roll it into the in-goal

Melbourne Storm 10-2

Melbourne turn it over & the Sharks dive on the loose ball 20 out from their line

Melbourne Storm 10-2

Joseph Paulo sends James Maloney through the line but his draw & pass is intercepted by Marika Koroibete to save the day

Melbourne Storm 10-2

Chad Townsend bombs to the corner for Valentine Holmes to catch & pass on the inside for Luke Lewis who is wrapped up by the Storm's scrambling defence

Melbourne Storm 10-2

Penalty Sharks for a Blake Green high shot on Ben Barba

Melbourne Storm 10-2

Enterprising play from the Sharks going from sideline to sideline, but Melbourne clean up the kick on the last & work their way back up field

Melbourne Storm 10-2

Play has halted with Chris Heighington down after a nasty head knock from a barnstorming run from Jordan McLean

Melbourne Storm 10-2

Penalty Storm for the Sharks being inside the 10 & Melbourne will shoot for an 8 point advantage

Melbourne Storm 8-2

Blake Green forces a repeat seat with Valentine Holmes taking the grubber dead

Melbourne Storm 8-2

Chad Townsend bomb is charged onto by Jack Bird but his pass goes to ground & the Storm have a penalty & will have the ball on the halfway line

Melbourne Storm 8-2

Play has settled for the time being with both teams settling into the grind

Melbourne Storm 8-2

An early grubber through from Cooper Cronk almost comes up in the clutches of Kevin Proctor, but he knocked it on amidst a heavy collision with Sosaia Feki who is leaving the field

2 all

Cooper Cronk goes high on the last again & Ben Barba takes it only to be thumped by a Marika Koroibete bell-ringer!

2 all

6 more for Melbourne after Valentine Holmes spills the bomb from Cooper Cronk & the Storm have a penalty now & a chance to level up

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2-0

Chad Townsend kicks is fielded & brought back to the 40m line by Suliasi Vunivalu

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2-0

He stays on & play has resumed

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2-0

Play has halted with Andrew Fifita clutching at his left leg

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2-0

Penalty Sharks..Tim Glasby held on too long in the ruck & the Sharks will shoot for an early lead

0 all

The Sharks are making big metres through their right side attack tonight & James Maloney off the back of that forces a repeat set

0 all

Cooper Cronk bombs to the corner, but Valentine Holmes takes it safely...& a Penalty to the Sharks

0 all

Cameron Munster bursts through, Storm on the attack..

0 all

Sharks make big ground before Wade Graham tries to toe one into the in-goal...Suliasi Vunivalu kept the ball in play though

0 all

Cooper Cronk kicks from inside his 40 but Sosaia Feki gets to the ball before it rolls out to save a 40/20

0 all

Cooper Cronk returns serve with a bomb of his own & Ben Barba fields it & brings back to his 20

0 all

The Sharks make 45 in their first set before James Maloney kicks high and deep for Suliasi Vunivalu to field it on his own 20

0 all

We're underway in the battle for the minor premiership with the Sharks getting first use of the steeden

0 all

Players are entering the paddock with Tohu Harris leading the Storm out in his 100th NRL game

Some intriguing head to head battles loom tonight including the battle of gun fullbacks Cameron Munster v Ben Barba, the speed & power on the flank of Marika Koroibete v Valentine Holmes, arguably the game’s best prop Jesse Bromwich v one of the most destructive on his day Andrew Fifita, champion rakes Cameron Smith v Michael Ennis and the hard running Kevin Proctor v the all-round skill-set of Wade Graham on the edge.

None appear more important than experienced halves Cooper Cronk v James Maloney steering the ships for their teams though. While they wear different numbers, both will play the key hand in what could prove a grinding affair and who pulls the strings in attack best will likely see their team come out on top. They also play on the same side of the park and there’s no doubt Maloney will be chirping at the bit to try and put Cronk off his game too.

LATE MAIL STORM - A big IN for the home team with Kiwi International Kevin Proctor returning from injury in the back-row. Kenneath Bromwich will slip back to the bench in place of Felise Kaufusi who drops out of the 17. In the centres, Cheyse Blair has earned a recall in place of Ryan Morgan who misses out tonight.

The SHARKS will line up 1-17 as named earlier in the week.

Welcome to AAMI Park, Melbourne for a minor premiership showdown between the Melbourne Storm and the Cronulla Sharks. It all comes down to the penultimate round of the regular season to decide who will raise the J.J. Giltinan Shield for season 2016.

Leading the race for much of the season on the back of a 15 match winning streak, the Sharks were recently brought back to earth with a tough month of football in which they endured a draw and three losses on the trot before regaining some form with a win against the Roosters last week. They will have to overcome the off-field distractions surrounding big man Andrew Fifita over the past few days and a poor record at tonight’s venue where they have never tasted success to take the Shield back to the Shire.

Amidst the Sharks late season slump, the Storm have needed little invitation to take over as top dog, professionally going about their business to take their place at the top of the ladder. Their form has been a little patchy of late though after suffering losses to the Raiders and Broncos in the last three weeks to leave the door ajar for the Sharks to reclaim top spot.

With the smell of Finals Footy in the air and the minor premiership on the line, both teams should be primed for a cracking contest!