As it happened: Brave Sharks bow out against Storm

 

Stefano beats AFB on points: In the battle of the big men it was the Storm's young bull delivering big time with 139 run metres, four tackle breaks and 26 tackles in 47 minutes of game time. Fonua-Blake was kept relatively quiet by the Storm but still finished with 143 metres from 13 runs.

The Big Four: Cameron Munster is into the sixth grand final of his career after delivering a masterclass with 195 run metres, a line break and a try assist while Jahrome Hughes had eight tackle breaks and scored a try in his comeback from a fractured forearm. Harry Grant and Ryan Papenhuyzen (22 runs for 158 metres, 6 tackle breaks) were also supreme as the Storm set up a shot at redemption for last year's grand final defeat.

80 min: KL Iro grabs a consolation try for the Sharks who will come up one game short of the grand final for the second year running. Storm 22-14.

75 min: The Storm put the game out of reach as some Harry Grant brilliance through the middle of the field sets up a break down the left and Jack Howarth delivers the final pass for Xavier Coates to score. That's 42 tries in 39 games at AAMI Park for Coates. Storm 22-10.

71 min: Addin Fonua-Blake loses the ball just short of the line, the Sharks use a captain's challenge but the bunker rules Stefano Utoikamanu was simply making a tackle. 

66 min: Oregon Kaufusi is out for the rest of the game after failing a HIA.

65 min: Jack Howarth is ruled to have knocked on but the Storm challenge and come up trumps. Eli Katoa goes to the line and Braydon Trindall strips the ball with more than one in the tackle. The 18th penalty of the night hands Nick Meaney a shot at two more points. Storm 18-10.

64 min: Jahrome Hughes hoists the ball high and Sione Katoa produces a superb take right on his goal line to defuse the situation.

61 min: The Sharks get into great field position but Nicho Hynes puts the ball down cold and the opportunity is lost.

58 min: Briton Nikora powers onto a pass from close range and looks certain to score but Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen combine to deny him a try. Papenhuyzen is ruled to have caught Nikora high. Nicho Hynes knocks over the penalty goal. Storm 16-10.

57 min: Trent Loiero loses the ball in the ruck and the Sharks get an attacking set in Storm territory.

55 min: The Sharks rush up in defence on the left edge and force an error from Jack Howarth as Sione Katoa closes him down.

54 min: Braydon Trindall shoots out of the line and puts a huge hit on Jahrome Hughes. The pair clash heads and Hughes is left with a bloody mouth. Trindall is penalised for high contact. 

52 min: Storm prop Tui Kamikamica leaves the field for a HIA which he passes.

51 min: Braydon Trindall chips and Will Kennedy flies high but can't bring the ball to ground and the Storm get a seven-tackle set from the 20.

48 min: Sharks back-rower Billy Burns leaves the field for a HIA. He passes and is able to return.

47 min: Harry Grant nudges the ball into the in goal and Shawn Blore chases but it just goes dead before the back-rower can get to it.

45 min: Harry Grant scoots out of dummy half and catches Sifa Talakai offside in the ruck to earn a penalty.

Stefano stands tall: Big man Stefano Utoikamanu produced a powerhouse 27-minute stint with nine runs for 89 metres and three tackle breaks, laying the platform for his halves to work off.

Half-time: With Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster in sensational form the Storm take a 16-8 lead to the break with another grand final berth beckoning. Munster had 11 runs for 115 metres, two tackle breaks and a try assist as he stamped his class on the game. The Storm completed 17 of 19 sets while the Sharks went 19 from 21.

36 min: Cameron Munster gets a left footed chip kick over the top and Ryan Papenhuyzen toes it ahead and controls it brilliantly to touch down next to the posts. Nick Meaney converts. Storm 16-8.

30 min: Nicho Hynes puts Billy Burns into a hole before the back-rower finds Jesse Ramien and on to Sione Katoa who does superbly to get under Xavier Coates' tackle and scramble over for his second try. Hynes again misses from wide out. Storm 10-8.

29 min: The Sharks are forced to scramble again and drag Nick Meaney down just short of the line.

27 min: The Sharks squander a golden opportunity when Jesse Colquhoun takes out a defender and is penalised for obstruction.

25 min: A forward pass from Jack Howarth to Xavier Coates gives the Sharks good field position from 30 metres out.

21 min: The Storm goes to the air, Will Warbrick taps the ball back to Nick Meaney who gets a pass back inside but Braydon Trindall shows great desperation to get back and knock the ball away. The bunker rules the ball was last touched by the Storm so the Sharks come away with a 20m tap.

17 min: Sharks prop Toby Rudolf leaves the field for a HIA. He passes and is able to return.

16 min: Jahrome Hughes slices between Teig Wilton and Jesse Colquhoun before evading Will Kennedy and carrying Ronaldo Mulitalo across the line for Melbourne's second try. Nick Meaney converts. Storm 10-4.

12 min: The Sharks hit back when Nicho Hynes picks up a bouncing ball and sends it to Will Kennedy who shows slick footwork to evade Jack Howarth before picking up Sione Katoa who dives into the corner. Hynes pushes the conversion across the face. 4-4.

11 min: Trent Loiero is penalised and placed on report for not using his arms in a hit on Nicho Hynes just as he got a pass away.

10 min: Shawn Blore is pinged for being inside the 10 metres and the Sharks are out of trouble.

7 min: Jahrome Hughes goes to the line and takes a hit from Teig Wilton but picks up Nick Meaney who gets a superb flick pass to Will Warbrick who crosses in the corner. Meaney fails to convert. Storm 4-0.

6 min: Slick attack down the left from the Storm and Xavier Coates kicks back inside where Braydon Trindall cleans up and is trapped in goal.

5 min: The Sharks are penalised for being inside the 10 metres and the Storm get an easy out from their own end.

3 min: A poor pass by Blayke Brailey brings the Sharks' attacking set to a disappointing end.

2 min: The Sharks receive the first penalty of the night as Nick Meaney is too slow to clear the ruck.

Late Mail

Storm: A late swap in the back row with Shawn Blore to start the game in his return from a fractured larynx and Ativalu Lisati going to the bench. Halfback Jahrome Hughes returns just three weeks after fracturing his forearm against the Broncos while fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (concussion) is also back on deck. Young gun Jonah Pezet makes way after playing a blinder in the qualifying final filling in for Hughes while Nick Meaney moves to the centres and Grant Anderson drops out. Joe Chan is 18th man.

Sharks: The Sharks are 1-17 with no late changes. Oregon Kaufusi has been 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. Winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored eight tries in his last five games. 

Numbers Game

• 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.