MATCH CENTRE
MATCH CENTRE
ROUND 14

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
210.5
2024 AVG.
421
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
188
2024 AVG.
376
2024 TOTAL
All Run Metres
MATCH
1691
2024 AVG.
3382
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
1568.5
2024 AVG.
3137
2024 TOTAL
Line Breaks
MATCH
5.5
2024 AVG.
11
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
4
2024 AVG.
8
2024 TOTAL
Offloads
MATCH
9
2024 AVG.
18
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
8.5
2024 AVG.
17
2024 TOTAL
Kick Metres
MATCH
664.5
2024 AVG.
1329
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
631
2024 AVG.
1262
2024 TOTAL
Forty Twenty Kicks
MATCH
0
2024 AVG.
0
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
0
2024 AVG.
0
2024 TOTAL
Tackles Made
MATCH
323.5
2024 AVG.
647
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
313.5
2024 AVG.
627
2024 TOTAL
Missed Tackles
MATCH
33
2024 AVG.
66
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
30
2024 AVG.
60
2024 TOTAL
Penalties
MATCH
6.5
2024 AVG.
13
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
7
2024 AVG.
14
2024 TOTAL
Errors
MATCH
10
2024 AVG.
20
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
11
2024 AVG.
22
2024 TOTAL

Player Stats



Summary

 

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