Melbourne earn shot at redemption after preliminary final win over Cronulla

And Grant led from the front, forever testing the Sharks line and even setting up the final try. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. You can translate text, handwriting, photos, and speech in over 200 languages with the Google Translate app.

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The Sharks needed to be the next team to score and were presented a try on a platter when Faalogo hesitated under a Hynes bomb and allowed Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall to score an easy try to trim the deficit to four at half time. The Sharks wasted their captain’s challenge just nine minutes after a Sione Katoa loose carry. The Sharks were admittedly grittier defensively than they have been in recent times, but they still conceded 30 for a fourth time in five matches, and offered little from an attacking standpoint. With the game finely balanced in the second half, Katoa produced two incredible catches under high balls to set up tries for centre Nick Meaney and halfback Jahrome Hughes. Limited-time offer. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play.

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That relief turned to elation when Xavier Coates scored his first finals try in three years to extend the lead out to an unassailable 12 points. It was a third consecutive week where Cronulla conceding the opening try and they showed plenty of resolve to stay in the game on this occasion as well, striking in the 11th minute when the off-contract Will Kennedy dummied Cameron Munster and Jack Howarth before scything the pair and slinging it out wide to Sione Katoa for the first of his two tries prior to half-time. Legendary NRL coach Craig Bellamy has booked himself an 11th Grand Final appearance after his Melbourne Storm held on for a nervy preliminary final win against the Cronulla Sharks. But it was third time unlucky for the Sharks with Faalogo collecting a Nicho Hynes tap-on cleanly and out-sprinting speedy Sharks fullback Will Kennedy over 90 metres to score and give the Storm a 10-0 lead.

• The Sharks were considered premiership hopes pre-season, but more than halfway into the season and they sit outside the top eight.
• Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen extended the lead to six early in the second half with a penalty from straight in front, but failed on a tougher second penalty goal attempt that would have extended the lead to eight in a low-scoring game.
• The halfback then scored Melbourne’s next, when Stefano Utoikamanu continued his powerful end to the season by bumping off a defender and offloading to his halfback.
• Legendary NRL coach Craig Bellamy has booked himself an 11th Grand Final appearance after his Melbourne Storm held on for a nervy preliminary final win against the Cronulla Sharks.
• The master coach said this season, like last, can already be considered a successful one, even if the Storm don’t win the title next weekend.

And fellow Storm stars Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Ryan Papenhuyzen all produced their own magical moments to help lift the Storm into yet another grand final. The first time you open Google Translate, you’ll be asked to choose your primary language and the language you translate most often. Cronulla’s defence continued to sustain some of Melbourne’s finest attacking plays and again stood up in the 29th minute of the first half when Munster dummied and busted a tackle, broke through the line only to be dragged down by a diving tackle from Blaike Brailey who grabbed Munster by the shorts. Warbrick was ruled to have made the last touch and so Cronulla had an immediate chance to bounce back but the last tackle dribble kick from Trindall on the counter was cleaned up by Papenhuyzen, who was instrumental at the back as usual. The Storm were exceptionally slick in attack in the opening 20 minutes and looked on for a third try that was denied by outstanding defence from Brayden Trindall and KL Iro to defuse a cross-field bomb that Warbrick and Meaney had combined to set up for a try.

The master coach said this season, like last, can already be considered a successful one, even if the Storm don’t win the title next weekend. Storm coach Craig Bellamy said his team had been given a leg up over next week’s grand final opponent, who will have two fewer days to prepare after playing on Sunday afternoon. It is coach Craig Bellamy’s 11th grand final in 23 years. It will be their seventh grand final since 2012.

Storm 18, Sharks 10 with 14 minutes to go Nick Meaney slots the ball easily and Melbourne hold an eight-point lead. It’s an easy kick from in front, following a stupid decision from Trindall. Storm 18, Sharks 10 with nine minutes to go Storm 22, Sharks 10 with 1xbet login four minutes to go It started with Harry Grant running the ball from dummy-half, catching cronulla off guard.