Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks Predictions
Cronulla make the trip to Melbourne for this Sunday afternoon thriller. This will be Melbourne’s first Sunday game of the year and the third for the Sharks.
- Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks Predictions
- Head to Head
- Melbourne Storm Form
- Melbourne Storm Team News
- Melbourne Storm Team List
- Cronulla Sharks Form
- Cronulla Sharks Team News
- Cronulla Sharks Team List
With both teams coming off a loss Coaches Bellamy and Fitzgibbon will be eager to get back to basics to ensure a win. I am predicting a close game with both teams scoring over 20, and for Melbourne to come out on top at home.
- Cronulla have lost 5 of 5 games against current top 8 opponents this year.
- The Storm are averaging 22 points scored in their last 5 games.
- 10 of the last 11 Storm games and 7 of the last 8 Sharks games played on a Sunday have gone OVER the points total
- Cronulla have scored 52% of their tries in 2023 down the left hand edge.
Head to Head
Cronulla won the most recent match up with Melbourne, a 28-6 victory at Pointsbet Stadium in July 2022. Prior to that the Storm had won five games in a row with three of those games being played in Melbourne.
In only two of the last seven games has the winning margin been less than 12 points.
Melbourne Storm Form
Melbourne had their second bye two weeks ago and many wondered if they were still away against the Cowboys last week.
A 14-14 halftime score finished with the Cowboys running away to a 45-20 victory with the Cowboys wingers combining for five of the eight tries.
The Storm lacked go forward and in the relative small amount of time they had the ball it was working it out of their own end. The Storm missed 49 tackles in their loss.
Melbourne Storm Team News
Justin Olam is out with concussion following a big hit last weekend. Grant Anderson is his replacement.
Tariq Sims returns to the bench after spending a number of weeks out of the team.
Melbourne Storm Team List
1. Nick Meaney
2. Will Warbrick
3. Reimis Smith
4. Grant Anderson
5. Xavier Coates
6. Cameron Munster
7. Jahrome Hughes
8. Tui Kamikamica
9. Harry Grant
10. Christian Welch
11. Trent Loiero
12. Elisea Katoa
13. Josh King
Interchange
14. Bronson Garlick
15. Aaron Pene
16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
17. Tariq Sims
Reserves
18. Sualauvi Faalogo
19. Marion Seve
20. Kane Bradley
21. Tyran Wishart
22. Tom Eisenhuth
Cronulla Sharks Form
The Sharks also lost their last game coming off a bye 20-12 against the Broncos.
The Sharks dominated possession but were unable to break the staunch Brisbane defence. Two of the Brisbane tries came off long range efforts and without them the Sharks were very much in the game.
Cronulla Sharks Team News
Thomas Hazelton moves back to the reserves with Cam McInnes returning from injury.
Cronulla Sharks Team List
1. William Kennedy
2. Sione Katoa
3. Jesse Ramien
4. Siosifa Talakai
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo
6. Matt Moylan
7. Nicho Hynes
8. Oregon Kaufusi
9. Blayke Brailey
10. Royce Hunt
11. Briton Nikora
12. Teig Wilton
13. Dale Finucane
Interchange
14. Cam McInnes
15. Wade Graham
16. Jack Williams
17. Braden Hamlin-Uele
Reserves
18. Braydon Trindall
19. Connor Tracey
20. Thomas Hazelton
21. Daniel Atkinson
22. Jesse Colquhoun