Storm have one final set.. they got close.. the Sharks kept coming and they did it! They broke the drought.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-12
Vunivalu kicks it dead! SEVEN tackle set.. Sharks are close.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-12
Maloney tries to get it away.. is caught on last.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-12
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM: Jesse Bromwich makes an unforced error.
Jesse Bromwich with an innocuous drop ball.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-12
Sharks let it bounce.. but Barba JUST recovers for a dropout.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-12
Maloney tries to waste time.. kicks it out on the full.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-12
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney from besides the posts, gives Cronulla the lead again.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-12
TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Scored by Andrew Fifita. Kick to come.
BUNKER TIME! Fifita combined with Ennis and spun across! Checking if he maintained possession.
12 all
PENALTY SHARKS! A high shot on Townsend.. while on the ground.
Melbourne Storm 12-8
PENALTY SHARKS! Jack Bird gets that with his energy.
Melbourne Storm 12-8
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM: Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Smith with the conversion to try and take it out to four.. he is back on the 20 metre line.. puts it over.
Melbourne Storm 12-8
TRY MELBOURNE STORM: Scored by Will Chambers. Kick to come.
Storm have hit the front somehow! They got a seven tackle set, they spread it to Chambers who stepped inside and went over.
Melbourne Storm 10-8
Dear, oh dear.. Townsend kicks it dead from 40 metres. Seven tackle set for the Storm.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-6
Graham kicks on fourth.. Storm recover.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-6
Blair taken in-goal again. GLDO.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-6
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM: Cheyse Blair makes an unforced error.
Cheyse Blair knocks it on with an attempted dunk?
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-6
Smith tries to be acute with a kick but it goes dead.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-6
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM: Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Smith with his first conversion of the night, slams it through.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-6
TRY MELBOURNE STORM: Scored by Jesse Bromwich. Kick to come.
BUNKER TIME! Jesse Bromwich spinned across. It was checked and GREEN LIGHTS.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-4
PENALTY STORM! They get a piggyback out of their own half.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
PENALTY SHARKS! Dangerous contact.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
Great catch from Munster and Storm ruck it out. PENALTY.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
The same pattern is developing.. Sharks force a GLDO.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
KICK-OFF! Here we go!
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
Here we go! The final forty minutes of the season. Sharks out to a huge reception. Storm are next, they need to overhaul their ideas to win this.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
HALFTIME :: Sharks came out fired up and lead 8-nil.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
Koroibete is corralled over the dead ball line. Sharks one more set.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM: Cameron Smith makes an unforced error.
Cam Smith tries to take a slips catch, spills it. Six more for the Sharks.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM: Marika Koroibete makes an unforced error.
A deliberate kick for Feki almost results in a try but Koroibete saves the day again. GLDO.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
BUNKER TIME! Checking if Feki got the ball down.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
Seven tackle set for the Sharks. Feki took it on the full.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
Sharks tried to sweep it to Leutele but he is picked up, dumped over the sideline.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM: Cooper Cronk makes an unforced error.
Cronk was on the spot but it squirmed from his grasp.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
Barba is wrong footed on a Cronk kick and takes it dead. GLDO.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney with a slightly tougher conversion after his earlier penalty. He still pilots it over though.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Scored by Ben Barba. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Nothing wrong and the Sharks have the first four pointer.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 6-0
BUNKER TIME! Sharks with the unique scrum play and somehow Barba popped through.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2-0
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM: Marika Koroibete makes an unforced error.
Koroibete saves the day! Maloney busted them and Lewis was an inch away! Townsend tries to chip it for his winger but the Storm player is there!
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2-0
UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Chad Townsend makes an unforced error.
Fifita crabs across field and tries to link with Townsend, the half can't handle though.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2-0
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Penalty goal attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney has first points. Through the sticks.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2-0
Koroibete ON REPORT for the high tackle. He is leaving the sport so nothing happens. Sharks take the two.
0 all
PENALTY SHARKS! Koroibete caught Townsend high. Some how you going happens after.
0 all
Sharks stab one in-goal. GLDO incoming.
0 all
PENALTY SHARKS! Fifita draws a penalty from Cheyse Blair.
0 all
First set done for the Storm. Cronk professionally kicks into touch.
0 all
McLean taken high. PENALTY.
KICK-OFF! Here we go! Storm with first use!
Festivities done. Now time for some football!
Teams out on the field, Dani Im who represented Australia at Eurovision is going to sing the anthem.
First onto the the field are the Sharks, a cacophony of noise welcomed them onto ANZ Stadium! Next to a chorus of boos, is Melbourne led by Cam Smith.
All the entertainment is done! We have the anthem and both teams then we are ready to go!
TEAM NEWS: Well both teams have made it easy; they are 1-17 tonight. So the 17 named on Tuesday take the field.
Welcome to ANZ Stadium for the finale of season 2016! The two best teams in the competition come together in minor premiers Melbourne Storm and the Cronulla Sharks. The Storm are chasing their third title in their existence while it would be the first for the team from the Shire. All the porch lights are on there as they try to believe in miracles.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Matt Cecchin, Ben Cummins
Touch Judges: Brett Suttor, Jeff Younis
Video Referee: Bernard Sutton, Luke Patten, Ashley Klein
MELBOURNE STORM (12)
Tries: Jesse Bromwich, Will Chambers
Field Goals:
Conversions: Cameron Smith (2/2)
Penalty Goals:
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (14)
Tries: Ben Barba, Andrew Fifita
Field Goals:
Conversions: James Maloney (2/2)
Penalty Goals: James Maloney (1/1)