Some may say it was a typical Melbourne afternoon, wet and windy making free-flowing rugby league difficult but it didn’t stop the 2016 Grand Final combatants from putting on another exciting display the last time they met.
It was a game where neither team could break away to any sort of commanding lead, with defence dominating, but in the final wash up it was a resilient Sharks side that held firm and came away from AAMI Park with a memorable 11-2 victory.
Ahead 3-2 and with the match heading towards a soccer-like final score line, a late Sharks try to James Segeyaro and a James Maloney penalty goal tipped the ledger in their favour as the Cronulla side headed home with two valuable competition points.
With 10 minutes to go it appeared it would be the first tryless game since 1993, but instead it would be the first time the Storm had been unable to score a four-pointer on their home field in the club’s 19-year history.
Sharks v Storm matches are always tough, bruising encounters, emphasised by round six this year and of course the Premiership decider in 2016 and this time around promises to be no different.
Last time we met
Round 6, 2017
AAMI Park
SHARKS 11
James Segeyaro try, James Maloney 3 goals, field goal
beat
STORM 2
Cameron Smith goal
