A mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash awaits at AAMI Park on Saturday night as the third-placed Storm host the second-placed Sharks with the chance for one side to move to a 5-1 start to the season.
Expects Cronulla's ex-Storm stars Dale Finucane and Nicho Hynes to be well and truly up for this one against their former teammates, with each enjoying terrific starts to the year in terms of their personal and team form.
The Storm have won their past two matches by a combined 74-16 since their golden point loss to the Eels in round three.
Meanwhile the Sharks, since a last-gasp loss to the Raiders in round one followed by stealing a late win against the Eels in round two, haven't looked like losing since.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Storm v Sharks
The Rundown
Team news
Storm: Jesse Bromwich and brother Kenny are both out of the side after testing positive to COVID. Brandon Smith and Trent Loiero have been added to the starting side with Chris Lewis and Alec MacDonald joining the bench. Tyran Wishart returns on the bench for his third NRL game. Jordan Grant is 18th man.
Sharks: No late changes on game day after Sione Katoa (knee) and Briton Nikora (COVID) dropped out on Friday. Mawene Hiroti comes in on the wing and Cameron McInnes moves from the bench to the second row. Braydon Trindall has been added to the bench. Veteran Aiden Tolman returns on the bench after missing last week's game due to COVID. He replaces Royce Hunt who is 18th man.
Match: Storm v Sharks
Round 6 -
home Team
Storm
away Team
Sharks
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan PapenhuyzenFullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
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Winger for Storm is number 2 Nick MeaneyWinger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
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Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis SmithCentre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
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Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin OlamCentre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai
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Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier CoatesWinger for Sharks is number 19 Mawene Hiroti
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Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron MunsterFive-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan
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Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome HughesHalfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes
Forwards
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Prop for Storm is number 10 Nelson Asofa-SolomonaProp for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf
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Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry GrantHooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
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Prop for Storm is number 14 Brandon SmithProp for Sharks is number 10 Braden Hamlin-Uele
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2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
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2nd Row for Storm is number 16 Trent Loiero2nd Row for Sharks is number 15 Cameron McInnes
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Lock for Storm is number 13 Josh KingLock for Sharks is number 13 Dale Finucane
Interchange
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Interchange for Storm is number 15 Tyran WishartInterchange for Sharks is number 14 Aiden Tolman
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Interchange for Storm is number 17 Tepai MoeroaInterchange for Sharks is number 16 Jack Williams
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Interchange for Storm is number 18 Chris LewisInterchange for Sharks is number 17 Andrew Fifita
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Interchange for Storm is number 19 Alec MacDonaldInterchange for Sharks is number 18 Braydon Trindall
Reserves
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Replacement for Storm is number 21 Jordan GrantReplacement for Sharks is number 21 Royce Hunt
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Nick Morel
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
Key match-up
Jahrome Hughes v Nicho Hynes: remarkably, all four starting halves in this match began their careers as fullbacks. It's a more natural transition from the No.1 to the No.6 but the excellence produced by Hughes over the past few years and by Hynes in just five games as a halfback, is remarkable. He's arguably the form player of the NRL and a huge reason the Sharks share equal-second spot on the ladder with the Storm and Eels but Hughes has been impressive himself this year and the duel between the two is arguably the most important one on the field in terms of deciding the result.
Stat attack
Hynes's ball-playing has been top-notch so far this year, with the halfback chalking up a league-high seven line break assists in his five games. Remarkably, his centre Jesse Ramien is equal-second on the list with five.
