Rested and refreshed after a week off due to the bye, the NYC Sharks are back in action on Thursday night as they look to maintain top spot on the competition table when they host the Melbourne Storm at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
The Sharks have forged their way to first position on the back of committed defensive efforts added to some quality attacking play, with their last loss coming way back in round four when beaten at ANZ Stadium by the Parramatta Eels.
However as solid as their form has been of late the Sharks won’t be taking this week’s opponents lightly with the Storm struggling of late but sure to be determined to turn their fortunes around.
The Sharks and Storm have met once already this year, in a match played on the Sunshine Coast back in early April with the young Cronulla side prevailing in a spirited contest.
On that occasion the Sharks built up a big half time lead, the Storm battled back to make a game of it, before John Morris’s boys showed good character in coming away with the points late in a 36-22 win.
While the Sharks had last week off following a win in their last game which was against the Bulldogs in round 12, the Storm come into this match on the back of a 27-20 loss to the Newcastle Knights.
For the Sharks Billy Magoulias and Isaac Lumelume return after missing the Bulldogs game while on Under 20’s duty with NSW and imposing winger Josh Tuilagi returns to the starting side after recently returning from injury.
Two interesting names on the Storm’s extended bench are former Sharks junior Curtis Scott and Queensland under 20’s half back Brodie Croft. Both have been playing Queensland Cup for the Storm’s feeder club and would be valuable inclusions in the Melbourne NYC team.
As for the Sharks, Coach Morris has trimmed his numbers down from the original 23 players selected on Tuesday to a squad of 20 (see below), with his final 17-man team list to be revealed one hour prior to kick off.
NYC Team List – Round 14
Sharks v Storm
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Southern Cross Group Stadium
Kick-off – 5.05pm
1 William KENNEDY
2 Sione KATOA
3 Isaac LUMELUME
4 Bessie AUFAGA-TOOMAGA
5 Joshua TUILAGI
6 Jack WILLIAMS ©
7 Kyle FLANAGAN
8 Ryan KING
9 Blayke BRAILEY
10 Brock ILETT
11 Briton NIKORA
12 Tony MATAUTIA
13 Billy MAGOULIAS
Interchange
14 Zachary FAULKNER
15 Eddie FAALUA
16 Johnathan TUFUGA
17 Joshua CARR
21 Luke Jurd
22 Kalani PEWHAIRANGI-CHARLIE
23 Jaemon SALMON
Melbourne Storm NYC Team List
1. Jack Cornford
2. Harlan Collins
3. Kea Pere
4. Sale Finau
5. Pio Nakubuwai
6. Braydon Trindall
7. Matt Egan
8. Jake Ainsworth
9. Harry Grant
10. Dechlan Day
11. Jacob Tonge
12. Louis Geraghty
13.Tevita Alifa
Interchange
14. Jake Elmore
15. Caleb Daunt
16. Jirah Momoisea
17. Jaiyden Hunt
18. Curtis Scott
19. Dale Madden
20. Scott Drinkwater
21. Brodie Croft
22. Lachlan Foulds
23. Jesse Arthars
