Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks – Regular Season – Preview & Prediction | NRL 2022
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks on and what time does it start? Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks will take place on Saturday 16th April, 2022 – 10:35 (UK)
Where is Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks taking place? Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks will take place at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia
Where can I get tickets for Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks? Click here for ticket information on 2022 NRL matches
What channel is Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here
Where can I stream Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL
THE TEAM NEWS
MELBOURNE STORM
- Melbourne Storm were comfortable victors in their clash with Canberra Raiders last week to make it four wins from five to begin the season but they will need to be at the top of their game to get the better of the in-form Cronulla Sharks.
- Craig Bellamy’s side have shown a few issues with defending out on the edges so far this season which could be exploited by the Sharks but they have no new injury issues to contend with this week with Tyran Wishart returning to the bench in place of Alec MacDonald.
Starting 13: Papenhuyzen, Meaney, R. Smith, Olam, Coates, Munster, Hughes, J. Bromwich, H. Grant, Asofa-Solomona, Kaufusi, K. Bromwich, King – Interchanges: B. Smith, Wishart, Loiero, Moeroa – Reserves: Lewis, MacDonald, Seve, J. Grant, Nikorima, Warbrick, Faalogo
Unavailable: Tom Eisenhuth, Tui Kamikamica, Christian Welch, George Jennings, Dean Ieremia
CRONULLA SHARKS
- Cronulla Sharks have made an eye-catching start to life under new head coach Craig Fitzgibbon and his side came agonisingly close to making it back-to-back games without conceding a point as claimed an easy success against Wests Tigers last week.
- The Sharks dominated proceedings against Wests without even hitting top gear and would have nilled their opponents had they not allowed a solitary consolation in the dying stages of the game and they come into this with a fairly settled side with only Royce Hunt making way here for Aiden Tolman.
Starting 13: Kennedy, Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Mulitalo, Moylan, Hynes, Rudolf, Brailey, Hamlin-Uele, Nikora, Wilton, Finucane – Interchanges: Tolman, McInnes, Williams, Fifita – Reserves: Trindall, Hiroti, Miller, Hunt, Dykes, Lualua, Pele
Unavailable: Wade Graham, Matt Ikuvalu, Connor Tracey
THE PREDICTION
This could be the clash of round six as Melbourne Storm host Cronulla Sharks in a contest between two top four hopefuls. The Storm are no strangers to that position but the Sharks will be hoping to break into that group this year having made an impressive start to the campaign. The pair come into this with just one loss apiece so far this season meaning there is very little to split the two teams and it should be a high-quality matchup if both hit their straps. This could genuinely go either way and while the Storm start as favourites on home soil, a +8.5 start on the handicap for the Sharks is difficult to ignore.
