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Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Melbourne Storm Saturday 7:35pm at Sharks Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal

Saturday night in the Shire

A consolidated spot in the top four heading into the representative season awaits the winner on Saturday night as the Cronulla Sharks host the Melbourne Storm in the match of the round.

Returning to Sharks Stadium following six weeks away from their spiritual home, the Cronulla Sharks will be looking to prove their premiership credentials against last year's grand finalists.

Soaring home with three tries in the final 15 minutes to turn a 14-all deadlock into a comprehensive 30-14 victory over the Sea Eagles, coach Craig Fitzgibbon will welcome back Siosifa Talakai in place on Tom Hazelton on the bench.

Second-rower Billy Burns will play his 50th game in first grade; the journeyman forward played a central role in the side's victory last Sunday setting up two tries to seal the win away from home.

Winning their past three matches against the Storm at Sharks Stadium, the Sharks have bounced back from a slow start to the year with four wins from their past five matches to sit in outright fifth position.

Coming off their equal biggest ever win last Sunday at home, the Melbourne Storm will hit the road with the determination to win under more challenging circumstances.

Scoring 11 tries in a 64-0 rout of the Wests Tigers in their most recent outing, coach Craig Bellamy has recalled Tui Kamikamica on the bench, while Harry Grant and Nelson Asofa-Solomona have been included in the extended squad.

Holding a decisive record of nine wins from 15 matches against the Sharks in the near decade since facing off in the 2016 grand final, only two players - Cameron Munster and Asofa-Solomona - remain from the last Storm side to win at Sharks Stadium eight years ago. 

Last meeting: Finals Week 1 2024 - Storm 37 Sharks 10

Who to watch: Recruited by the Sharks for the explicit purpose of winning games like these, Addin Fonua-Blake will be determined to deliver on his reputation as a heavyweight performer. Enjoying a strong start to life at Cronulla with 170 running metres - including 77 post-contact metres - on average to go with three tries and 30 tackle breaks, the 29-year-old Tongan front-rower will be integral to his side's chances of weathering the Storm. Holding the distinction of winning the Dally M Prop of the Year accolade for the past two seasons, the Sharks will be looking for Fonua-Blake to stand up and deliver on Saturday night.

As speculation mounts over who should wear the Queensland number six jersey in this year's State of Origin series, Cameron Munster will be out to deliver a decisive performance on Saturday night. Making 18 appearances for the Maroons before missing last year's series through injury, the 30-year-old has produced 11 try assists and two tries to hold a slight edge over incumbent five-eighth Tom Dearden - eight try assists and three tries - from nine appearances respectively. Capable of single-handedly changing the course of a game through sheer brilliance - as evidenced by his Player of the Match heroics in the 2020 decider - Munster will be aiming to guarantee his place in Billy Slater's side with a strong performance.

Favourite: Coming off one of the biggest wins recorded in the NRL era, the Storm are expected to back up that success against their rival opponents.

My tip: The likely return of Harry Grant should give the Storm the confidence to overcome a hostile crowd and win their first match in the Shire since 2017. Storm by 8.

1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Billy Burns 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Teig Wilton 22. Chris Veaila

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Sualauvi Faalogo 3. Grant Anderson 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Joe Chan 18. Ativalu Lisati 19. Lazarus Vaalepu 20. Kane Bradley 21. Harry Grant 22. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Referees: Adam Gee; Sideline Officials: Drew Oultram, David Munro; Video Referees: Chris Butler;