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 inย 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 theย 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
190.8
2024 AVG.
5151
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
185.2
2024 AVG.
5000
2024 TOTAL
All Run Metres
MATCH
1699.6
2024 AVG.
45888
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
1715.8
2024 AVG.
46327
2024 TOTAL
Line Breaks
MATCH
5.2
2024 AVG.
141
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
6.4
2024 AVG.
174
2024 TOTAL
Offloads
MATCH
9.2
2024 AVG.
249
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
9.7
2024 AVG.
261
2024 TOTAL
Kick Metres
MATCH
596.7
2024 AVG.
16111
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
541.2
2024 AVG.
14612
2024 TOTAL
Forty Twenty Kicks
MATCH
0.1
2024 AVG.
4
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
0.1
2024 AVG.
2
2024 TOTAL
Tackles Made
MATCH
348.2
2024 AVG.
9401
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
309
2024 AVG.
8343
2024 TOTAL
Missed Tackles
MATCH
34.5
2024 AVG.
931
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
30.1
2024 AVG.
814
2024 TOTAL
Penalties
MATCH
6
2024 AVG.
163
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
5.1
2024 AVG.
138
2024 TOTAL
Errors
MATCH
11.2
2024 AVG.
303
2024 TOTAL
2024 AVG.
2024 TOTAL
10.7
2024 AVG.
290
2024 TOTAL

Player Stats



Summary

 

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