Round 14: Sharks v Storm preview - 2017 Round 14
There aren't many better ways to start a round of footy than with a Grand Final rematch.
Melbourne head to the Shire for some Thursday night football between first and second on the table and revenge on the mind of the Storm avenging the Sharks first title in 50 years.
Cronulla Sharks were hit hard by the first Origin, with several representatives pulling on the sky blue of New South Wales but the current premiers have in recent weeks found a way to win despite not playing at their best. Close victories has been the agenda this season with six of their nine victories margin being under ten points - so the Sharks who were renowned for their grit in recent seasons have taken it to another level in 2017 as teams lift to take on the champions but they also have the x-factor is fullback Valentine Holmes and Andrew Fifita to which creates the spark alongside the stability in the rest of the spine. The rest Paul Gallen has got with his representative career over has helped in that regard as well with the premiers aim to become the first team to repeat since 1992-93.
For Melbourne - it was is the status quo, they are winning games and welcomed back champion fullback Billy Slater who like a well worn pair of jeans has fitted right back into his role - chiming into that talented Melbourne backline - alongside his almost psychic connection with Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith has the team from bleak city sat on top of the competition. The Storm have turned into point scoring machines in part to the power and pace combination of Marika Koroibete and Josh Addo-Carr compliment a side that superlatives can become monotonous after a while - everyone knows their role and plays it to perfection and has these two primed to possibly meet once again on the first weekend of October.
Last meeting: Round 6 2017 - Storm 2 Sharks 11
Who to watch: Billy Slater following two season ending injuries in the last two years has come back to his best with five tries and 10 try-assists in ten games has Billy the Kid back in the reckoning for State of Origin game two. In club land - the addition of Slater has created an extra option for the structured Storm that might have been useful in October and create the opportunity against a stubborn Sharks defense on what is looking to be wet conditions on Thursday night.
For the home side - Wade Graham will need to continue his stellar run of form in the last few seasons to cut down the time the Melbourne spine has to use their pace in the backline. Graham has been tasked with pressuring halves and limiting the time allowed to use that precise kicking game and put the Sharks back three under pressure. In attack - Graham plays the whole contest on the edge, running good lines and pumping his legs to make 1237 run metres across the season. He acts as the steady influence in the pack which has the grit of Paul Gallen and explosiveness of Andrew Fifita and in a close contest might pop up with the winner.
The favourite: Cronulla's home ground advantage and the late withdrawal of Cooper Cronk have the hosts favourite to record a third straight victory over their Melbourne counterparts.
My tip: Revenge is always an overblown topic when talking about Grand Final rematches as a victory in June doesn't quell the hurt from Grand Final day. Melbourne have been mowed through a majority of their contests this season until the Sharks halted them at AAMI Park and I think the home side will have ust enough again to squeak by the competition leaders. Sharks by 1.
