Since winning the premiership in 2016 the Sharks have missed the finals just once but they have not been able to make it back to the big dance.
A grand final berth is now just one win away but blocking the path to Accor Stadium on October 5 are modern masters Melbourne, who have played in three more deciders since losing to the Sharks in 2016.
The Storm were victorious over the Cowboys in 2017 and the Panthers in 2020 before losing last year's grand final to the Panthers so they know exactly what it takes to get there and how to handle the pressure of the occasion.
Having beaten the Storm 31-26 in Round 11 at Sharks Stadium, Craig Fitzgibbon's men will have confidence in their ability to spring an upset.
If the Sharks are to salute they will need big a monster game from Addin Fonua-Blake, the man who was brought to the Shire to help them take the leap from perennial finalists to premiers.
Fonua-Blake carved out 156 run metres in the win over Canberra to take his season average to 161 metres per game and his battle with Stefano Utoikamanu and Josh King will be one of the highlights of the night.
Match: Storm v Sharks
Finals Week 3 -
home Team
Storm
2nd Position
away Team
Sharks
5th Position
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Storm: Huge inclusions for the Storm with halfback Jahrome Hughes (fractured forearm), fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (concussion) and back-rower Shawn Blore (fractured larynx) all back on deck for Friday's game. Papenhuyzen's return sees Nick Meaney revert to the centres and Grant Anderson drop out while fill-in halfback Jonah Pezet also makes way. Blore has been named on the bench with Ativalu Lisati moving into the starting side in place of Joe Chan, who drops to the reserves.
Sharks: Just the one change for the Sharks with prop Oregon Kaufusi recalled to the side to fill in for the luckless Tom Hazelton (concussion). Kaufusi will come from the bench in his 22nd appearance of the season. Dan Atkinson is again listed as 18th man, a role he has filled on nine occasions this season.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan PapenhuyzenFullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
-
Winger for Storm is number 2 Will WarbrickWinger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
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Centre for Storm is number 3 Jack HowarthCentre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
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Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick MeaneyCentre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro
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Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier CoatesWinger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
-
Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron MunsterFive-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
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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 8 Stefano UtoikamanuProp for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
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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 10 Josh KingProp for Sharks is number 10 Toby Rudolf
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2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Ativalu Lisati2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Billy Burns
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2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
-
Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent LoieroLock for Sharks is number 13 Jesse Colquhoun
Interchange
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Interchange for Storm is number 14 Tyran WishartInterchange for Sharks is number 14 Briton Nikora
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Interchange for Storm is number 15 Shawn BloreInterchange for Sharks is number 15 Siosifa Talakai
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Interchange for Storm is number 16 Tui KamikamicaInterchange for Sharks is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
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Interchange for Storm is number 17 Alec MacDonaldInterchange for Sharks is number 17 Braden Hamlin-Uele
Reserves
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Replacement for Storm is number 18 Bronson GarlickReplacement for Sharks is number 18 Daniel Atkinson
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Reserve for Storm is number 19 Grant AndersonReserve for Sharks is number 19 Mawene Hiroti
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Reserve for Storm is number 20 Joe ChanReserve for Sharks is number 20 Jayden Berrell
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Reserve for Storm is number 21 Jonah PezetReserve for Sharks is number 21 Tuku Hau Tapuha
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Reserve for Storm is number 22 Sualauvi FaalogoReserve for Sharks is number 22 Hohepa Puru
Storm Ins
- Jahrome Hughes
- Ryan Papenhuyzen
- Shawn Blore
- Sualauvi Faalogo
Sharks Ins
- Hohepa Puru
- Jayden Berrell
- Mawene Hiroti
- Oregon Kaufusi
- Tuku Hau Tapuha
Storm Outs
Sharks Ins
- Thomas Hazelton
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Storm have won their last four finals at AAMI Park.
- The Sharks have conceded only 14 points per game over the past three months.
- Storm hooker Harry Grant has scored six tries in his last six games against the Sharks.
- Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored eight tries in his last five games.
- Storm winger Xavier Coates has scored 41 tries in 38 games at AAMI Park.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
