Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 17 clash between the Melbourne Storm and the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Melbourne Storm Vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Date: Sunday June 29, 2pm (ADST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Storm: 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. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 18. Ativalu Lisati 19. Bronson Garlick 20. Joe Chan 21. Keagan Russell-Smith 22. Kane Bradley
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Billy Burns 19. Hohepa Puru 20. Niwhai Puru 21. Chris Veaila 22. Jayden Berrell
Referee: Ashley Klein
Bunker: Chris Butler
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
League fans will be treated to a cracking clash down in the Victorian capital as the Sharks travel south to do battle with the Melbourne Storm on Sunday afternoon. Many expected both of these sides to be firmly in the top four as we approach the business end of the season, and while that may not be the case for one of these sides, these two are sure to put on a show with a real finals feel about it.
The Storm come into this clash after claiming victory by the skin of their teeth against a gallant South Sydney outfit, with a Ryan Papenhuyzen field goal proving the difference, while the Sharks will be ruing a missed opportunity as they let a 28-12 lead slip against a fast-finishing Broncos side. Both coaches are known for having a hard-edged coaching style and neither will be happy with their previous efforts and will want to see plenty of improvement.
While most of the plaudits for the Origin game two performance will rightfully go to Cameron Munster, don’t underestimate the week his clubmate and captain Harry Grant managed to pull off for both club and state. The Maroons rake played himself to a standstill for the Maroons on Wednesday night, making 55 tackles and only missing three in game two, and he repeated this effort against the Bunnies, making 50 tackles with just four missed in an 84-minute performance just three days later. Very few could make 105 tackles and play 164 minutes in just three days and even fewer could still have the attacking impact Grant does. Take a bow Harry!
The Sharks halves have been accused of lacking the killer instinct required to make a deep run in September and a performance like the one they dished up against the Broncos shows both why they can make a deep finals run and that these concerns are well-founded. For 50 minutes, the Cronulla outfit played some sparkling footy and looked like they were going to blow the Broncos off the park, but when the momentum started to swing against them, neither Hynes nor Trindall stood up when it counted to ice the game for their side. They need to find consistency over the 80 minutes if they want to stand a hope in this cut-throat competition.
The Victorian outfit has the upper hand over their Sydney-side rivals, having won seven of the last 10 clashes between the two. While in team list news, the Storm welcome back Xavier Coates on the wing, with Jack Howarth dropping out with Appendicitis; while the Sharks see Oregon Kaufusi rejoin the starting side, with Hamlin-Uele shifting back to the bench, and Hoehpa Puru returning back to the extended bench.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Storm by 2 points.
Check out our round 17 predictions here.
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