NRL Preliminary Final Preview - Storm v Sharks @ AAMI Park

NRL Preliminary Final One - Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sharks @ AAMI Park

Preview - The Storm and Sharks collide with a place at the NRL Grand Final at stake at AAMI Park on Friday night. These two Clubs have built a strong rivalry over the past few years, with the Premiers of 2016 and Premiers of 2017 looking for an opportunity to take out the 2018 crown. The Sharks have had a great record against the Storm, beating them in the 2016 Grand Final, as well as twice this year at home and in Melbourne. The Storm are fresh after a week off, after narrowly getting past the Rabbitohs 29-28 in Week 1 of the finals. The Sharks have had a much harder passage through to the Preliminary Finals, defeating the Panthers 21-20 in a dramatic game at Allianz Stadium. After storming out of the blocks to lead 18-2, Cronulla had to survive injuries and a Panthers’ rally to survive with another game winning field goal from Chad Townsend.

Melbourne Storm Scouting Report - The Storm are at full strength at exactly the right time of year, with centre Will Chambers returning from suspension. Both veteran backrower Ryan Hoffman and explosive forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona join the bench, as Cheyse Blair, Brandon Smith and Sam Casiano all drop out of the side.

Cronulla Sharks’ Scouting Report - Shane Flanagan has named an unchanged side from the one that gripped on to defeat Penrith. Josh Dugan could be a late inclusion after being included in the reserves. Paul Gallen and Luke Lewis both failed to finish the game on Friday, with Joseph Paulo a possible late inclusion should one of them pull out.

Verdict - Storm by 8-16

I can't completely write Cronulla off, however it would be a monster effort to get up here despite their record against the Storm. Lewis and Gallen will be playing busted and, with Wade Graham out, it’s tough to see them going the distance with a Melbourne side freshened up after two weeks off without the same injury problems. The Storm are not the unbeatable juggernaut they were last year, and have played loosely at times this season in terms of ball possession, and not looked as solid defensively. The Sharks will try and turn this game into a real scrap and get under Melbourne’s skin in a low scoring game. They will be hoping for wet conditions as they have played them on slippery surfaces both times this season.