AAMI Park will play host to Sunday's Round 15 NRL game between Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks. The game kicks off at 4:05 pm with Melbourne Storm heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Melbourne Storm vs. Cronulla Sharks game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Sunday June 11, 2023 at 4:05 pm
Where: AAMI Park
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks Odds
Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks Preview
A fifth-hosting-fourth blockbuster sees Melbourne and Cronulla both coming off jarring Round 14 losses.
After winning five of their previous six, the Sharks were outmuscled and exposed on the edges in a 20-12 defeat to a Brisbane side shouldering a heavy Origin load.
Several chances fell by the wayside in the second half and they only found their second try of the match in the dying minutes.
The Storm produced clinical 24-16 wins over the Broncos and Dolphins prior to the Round 13 bye, so their 45-20 loss to the struggling Cowboys in Townsville came out of nowhere, as the Storm conceded their most points in a game since 2003.
The Storm will be without a concussed Justin Olam, which sees Grant Anderson come in to mark Jesse Ramien, while Tariq Sims joins the bench.
Cronulla gets Cameron McInnes back on the bench at Thomas Hazelton’s expense in their only change.
Nicho Hynes’ pursuit of a starting halves spot for NSW adds another layer of intrigue to this clash – particularly with Queensland talisman Cameron Munster, who stood Hynes up to lay on the go-ahead try in the series opener, in the Storm side.
The Sharks snapped a five-match losing streak against the Storm with a 28-6 result at home in Round 17 last year, with Origin players out for the Storm and Hynes missing for the hosts.
Cronulla has a 2-11 record at AAMI Park, last winning there in 2018. But a lack of consistency have been an unfamiliar hallmark of Melbourne’s season and the Sharks are an enticing underdog with a 4.5-point start.
But the under – with 12 of the last 16 games between these sides producing 38 points or less – looks one of the sharpest options on offer in this blockbuster.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
Head To Head Bet
We're tipping Melbourne Storm to win at $1.57 odds.
First Try Scorer
First Try Scorer: Will Warbrick at $10.
Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks Teams
Storm team: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Grant Anderson 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Aaron Pene 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Tariq Sims 18. Sualauvi Faalogo 19. Marion Seve 20. Kane Bradley 21. Tyran Wishart 22. Tom Eisenhuth
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Wade Graham 16. Jack Williams 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Braydon Trindall 19. Connor Tracey 20. Thomas Hazelton 21. Daniel Atkinson 22. Jesse Colquhoun