NRL Preliminary Final: Storm vs Sharks – Preview & Prediction
AAMI Park under Friday-night lights, a Grand Final berth on the line. The Storm arrive fresh from a week off and, crucially, welcome back key troops; the Sharks surge in off a ruthless 32–12 road win that bounced the minor premiers.
Expect a territorial arm-wrestle shaped by the halves and the hookers , a classic prelim script in Melbourne.
Storm form
Melbourne’s spine gets a major boost with Jahrome Hughes tracking to return at halfback after his fractured forearm/shoulder issues, reuniting with Cameron Munster and Harry Grant; Ryan Papenhuyzen is also expected to be available after clearing concussion protocols.
The big omission remains Nelson Asofa-Solomona (suspension). With Hughes back, the Storm regain long-kick pressure and structured red-zone shape; add Papenhuyzen’s kick-return metres and counterpunch and Melbourne’s back-five yardage jumps.
The plan: squeeze territory with kick-chase and discipline, play field position, and let Grant/Hughes turn repeat sets into scoreboard pressure.
Sharks form
Cronulla’s spine is humming: Nicho Hynes has taken command with Braydon Trindall complementing as a second threat, and Blayke Brailey is playing career-best footy.
Up front, Tom Hazelton is out (Category-1 concussion), with Oregon Kaufusi set to step in; Toby Rudolf is free to play after a fine.
The brief is familiar: bully the yardage sets early, kick to corners, and apply repeat-set pressure while Hynes manipulates short sides when the middle compresses.
On the edges, Briton Nikora remains the line-running barometer, with Ronaldo Mulitalo and Sione Katoa turning defensive takes into momentum starts.
Context & numbers
2025 H2H: Split 1–1 — Sharks 31–26 in Cronulla (Round 11); Storm 30–6 in Melbourne (Round 17). Home-ground edge looms.
Overall H2H: Storm lead 31–18 since 1998; AAMI Park has generally been a tough road trip for Cronulla.
Storm vs Sharks: Best Odds
| 🏈 ️ Bookmaker | ⚡️ Storm Win | 💎 Sharks Win |
|---|---|---|
| 🏈 ️ Bet and Play | 1.42 | 2.87 |
| 🏈 ️ Mr Bet | 1.4 | 3.2 |
| 🏈 ️ 22Bet | 1.41 | 3.1 |
| 🏈 ️ Stake | 1.38 | 2.95 |
| 🏈 ️ 20Bet | 1.38 | 3.06 |
Prediction for Storm vs Sharks
Cronulla are battle-hardened and tactically clear, but Melbourne with a restored spine at home is a different puzzle.
With Hughes steering territory, Grant owning the ruck, and Papenhuyzen/Coates tilting yardage and returns, the Storm’s set-for-set discipline should tell in the last quarter.
Storm 24–18 (≈56–60% win probability).
