MATCH CENTRE
MATCH CENTRE
ROUND 14, 2017

SHARKS

V

STORM

StormMEL WIN BY 5
13
FT
18
Southern Cross Group Stadium
2017-06-08T09:50:00Z

Preview

Well, where do we begin?

It doesn't get any bigger than this to open round 14.

The Sharks enter round 14 off the back of a bye, with their Origin representatives getting plenty of rest coming into the clash with their arch-rivals.

The Storm, meanwhile, carved up the Knights quite easily last week, priming themselves for a crack at overturning a recently rough run of results against the reigning premiers.

Let's start at the back and work our way up.

Billy Slater against Valentine Holmes is a mouth-watering matchup in itself, with the two Queenslanders vying for a berth in the upcoming Maroons squad as both are in exceptional offensive and defensive form.

Origin centres Jack Bird and Will Chambers will go head to head once again in a show of strength and speed.

The battle of the halves - as in any game - will be a key with Origin counterparts James Maloney and Cooper Cronk matching up. The Sharks have successfully nullified Cronk's impact in recent meetings and will look to do so again this week.

The battle of the forwards will where the game will be won, with both packs in excellent form in 2017.

Andrew Fifita is arguably the best in the game along with Jesse Bromwich, who made a solid return last week following suspension. Cameron Smith's apparent sternum injury won't keep him out of Thursday's clash as he prepares to renew hostilities with Paul Gallen while in-form duo Felise Kaufusi and Tohu Harris come up against the battle-hardened pair of Luke Lewis and Wade Graham.

It's been Cronulla physically imposing defence that has caused issues for the well-organised Storm in recent times, winning three of their past four encounters, however, the Storm are a different side with Billy Slater, and particularly the form that he is in.

The Storm are 6-0 away from home in 2017 and while the Sharks have a poor home record, both of those stats will count for little.

The bookies can't split them, and neither can we.

90-minute draw, anyone?

Sharks by 2.

Team Lists

Team Stats


Sharks

Storm

All Runs
MATCH
195.7
2025 AVG.
5284
2025 TOTAL
2025 AVG.
2025 TOTAL
187.6
2025 AVG.
5064
2025 TOTAL
All Run Metres
MATCH
1707.7
2025 AVG.
46108
2025 TOTAL
2025 AVG.
2025 TOTAL
1687.5
2025 AVG.
45562
2025 TOTAL
Line Breaks
MATCH
4.7
2025 AVG.
127
2025 TOTAL
2025 AVG.
2025 TOTAL
4.7
2025 AVG.
126
2025 TOTAL
Offloads
MATCH
8.6
2025 AVG.
232
2025 TOTAL
2025 AVG.
2025 TOTAL
10.5
2025 AVG.
284
2025 TOTAL
Kick Metres
MATCH
613.4
2025 AVG.
16562
2025 TOTAL
2025 AVG.
2025 TOTAL
609.5
2025 AVG.
16457
2025 TOTAL
Forty Twenty Kicks
MATCH
0.1
2025 AVG.
3
2025 TOTAL
2025 AVG.
2025 TOTAL
0.3
2025 AVG.
7
2025 TOTAL
Tackles Made
MATCH
342.9
2025 AVG.
9257
2025 TOTAL
2025 AVG.
2025 TOTAL
329.6
2025 AVG.
8898
2025 TOTAL
Missed Tackles
MATCH
30.4
2025 AVG.
820
2025 TOTAL
2025 AVG.
2025 TOTAL
28.6
2025 AVG.
772
2025 TOTAL
Penalties
MATCH
5.5
2025 AVG.
148
2025 TOTAL
2025 AVG.
2025 TOTAL
5.7
2025 AVG.
153
2025 TOTAL
Errors
MATCH
11
2025 AVG.
297
2025 TOTAL
2025 AVG.
2025 TOTAL
11.3
2025 AVG.
305
2025 TOTAL

Player Stats



Summary