NRL Match Preview: Round 17 v Storm

Author: Troy Whittaker Media Coordinator
Timestamp: Sat 28 Jun 2025, 01:59 PM

Cronulla's penchant for finding an extra gear against Melbourne could prove crucial as they head south in search of a vital win over their fierce rivals at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.

24-hour team list

The Sharks overcame adversity to score a tenacious 31-26 victory against the team they conquered in the 2016 grand final when the clubs last met in May.

While eighth-placed Cronulla have won only one of their four matches since that point, they'll enter enemy territory with a quiet confidence having stunned the Storm on their home turf in a memorable encounter last season. Melbourne fired back with a one-sided triumph at AAMI Park in the 2024 qualifying final.

The teams have traded wins since 2022, with Cronulla aiming to buck that trend and defeat the Storm twice in the same season for the first time in seven years.

Prop Addin Fonua-Blake was unstoppable against third-placed Melbourne in Round 11, carrying the ball for a whopping 249 metres, and will again have a leading role to play as the Sharks look to dominate through the middle.

Boosted by the return of his front-row partner Oregon Kaufusi, who missed last week's disappointing 34-28 loss to the Broncos with hamstring tightness, Fonua-Blake acknowledged the team needed to respond emphatically.

"As a playing group, it wasn't good enough," Fonua-Blake said.

"We had some honest conversations. We've had to look in the mirror a bit, but we're trending in the right direction ... We've still got a good opportunity ahead of us to make a charge towards the end of the year. That's what we're going to do."

Fonua-Blake expects a fiery encounter after a heated contest earlier this year, while five-eighth Braydon Trindall knows the Storm will be up for the fight.

"They're going to be looking for vengeance. We need to come with our A-game and put on a good performance to beat Melbourne," Trindall said.

With a bye next week, the Sharks are desperate to bank two competition points and ensure they remain firmly in the top eight with the finals creeping up.

"It's a good opportunity to bounce back and show each other how much we care about what we're fighting for here," second-rower Teig Wilton said.

Meanwhile, Melbourne are shooting for a fourth straight win, though they were far from their best last week in a 25-24 result against the Rabbitohs. The golden boot of fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen got them home after surrendering a 12-point lead.

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has maintained the faith in his troops, naming an unchanged team – save for Kaufusi's return, with fellow forward Braden Hamlin-Uele sliding back to the bench and utility Hohepa Puru dropping to the reserves.

For the Storm, Queensland winger Xavier Coates is back after being rested, pushing Grant Anderson to centre as cover for the ill Jack Howarth. Fellow State of Origin representatives Stefano Utoikamanu and Trent Loiero will also reclaim their places in the forward pack after being kept on ice for the South Sydney game.

The hooker duel between consistent Sharks rake Blayke Brailey and international star Harry Grant shapes as the key match-up. Fonua-Blake and company are tasked with setting a platform for the crafty Brailey to scheme, while NSW prop Utoikamanu and workhorse Josh King are out to do likewise for the brilliant Grant.

Kick-off is at 2pm. Catch the action live on Foxtel and Kayo.

See the 24-hour team lists below.

Round 17 - Sunday 29th June

Full Time

Storm

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
Winger for Storm is number 2 Sualauvi Faalogo

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
Centre for Storm is number 3 Grant Anderson

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick Meaney

Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai
Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh King

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Storm is number 17 Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Oregon Kaufusi
2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Shawn Blore

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent Loiero

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Interchange

Interchange for Storm is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Jesse Colquhoun
Interchange for Storm is number 14 Tyran Wishart

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Toby Rudolf
Interchange for Storm is number 15 Alec MacDonald

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Braden Hamlin-Uele
Interchange for Storm is number 16 Tui Kamikamica

Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Billy Burns