It is Fulltime! The Melbourne Storm are into their 3rd straight Grand Final after a comprehensive victory over the Sharks. Stay tuned for the 3,2,1's and Match Report, all to come @LeagueUnlimited!
Cameron Munster kicks the ball out on the full. Scrum Sharks 20m inside their own half.
Chad Townsend puts in a terrible kick on the last and Slater takes it in goal for a 20m re-start.
Jayson Bukuya gets a one on one strip but then knocks on. Storm scrum just short of halfway.
VIDEO REF - NO TRY - Cameron Munster throws a superb pass for Josh Addo-Carr who leaps in the corner to score but Jesse Ramien does enough to push him into touch. Great effort. Sharks need something this set you feel.
Sharks get on the attack but then Holmes is ruled offside in attack. Storm now 30m out.
Valentine Holmes converts and the Sharks need another 3 tries here.
Joseph Paulo holds up a terrific pass for Luke Lewis who charges over to score. Sharks have a pulse.
Ricky Leutele finds some space wide and gets a pass to Kurt Capewell. Capewell kicks inside and the ball bounces in goal and Josh Addo-Carr runs the ball dead. Dropout Storm.
Cameron Smith makes it 22-0.
Penalty Storm - Jesse Ramien not back 10m close to the line. Smith will shave some time of the clock here.
James Segeyaro throws a forward pass to Kurt Capewell from dummy half. Storm on the attack 30m out!
Christian Welch gets a quick ball from Cameron Smith close to the line but the Sharks hold him up. Sharks ball 10m from their own line.
Chad Townsend throws a long ball wide to Lewis but is was ordinary. Storm scrum on halfway.
Chad Townsend kicks for Edrick Lee on the last but Josh Addo-Carr collects it and almost gets away. Jesse Ramien brings him down 15m out from the Storm line.
Sharks on the attack in their own half but a poor pass from Joseph Paulo finds Cameron Munster and again Sharks don't take their chances.
James Segeyaro loses the ball and Storm are off the hook. Storm ball 15m out from their own line.
Penalty Sharks - Storm hold onto to the tackled player way too long 10m out. Sharks take the tap.
Felise Kaufusi pushes a difficult offload to Slater who puts it down. Sharks scrum 10m short of halfway.
Luke Lewis looks to find Edrick Lee down the sideline and his pass is forward. Storm scrum 35m inside their own half.
Cameron Munster slices through and he looks for support and finds Smith who is crunched by Fifita 5m out.
VIDEO REF - NO TRY - Chad Townsend bombs towards Edrick Lee on the last and the replay shows he bats it forward. Jesse Ramien picks it up and scores under the post but it will be no try.
We are underway in the Second Half! Christian Welch brings the ball back.
It is Halftime and it is all Melbourne Storm! Billy Slater has bagged a double and it is 20-0 at the break. Stay tuned for all the action @League Unlimited!
Cameron Smith converts from in front and it is a shutout at halftime!
VIDEO REF - Cameron Smith grubbers close to the line, after Andrew Fifita gets into a scuffle with Kenny Bromwich. The kick goes into the space where Fifita was and Billy Slater scores his second try!
Penalty Storm - Against Andrew Fifita for a crusher tackle. Didin't look great. Storm find the line just short of halfway.
Valentine Holmes creates some space on the outside but Kurt Capewell in the unfamiliar position of wing for Feki can't get airborne in the corner! Scrum Storm.
Billy Slater makes an error on his own tryline after a great kick from Chad Townsend. Sharks ball 10m out. Need a try!
Matt Moylan kicks early in the set but it is beautifully read by Billy Slater who is everywhere! Storm ball 10m from their own line.
Suliasi Vunivalu doesn't get to his feet trying to play the ball. Big opportunity Cronulla, scrum 23m out.
Cameron Smith lands the conversion and it is all the Storm so far at AAMI Park.
Billy Slater gets the ball out wide close to the line off Croft and he gets on the outside of Moylan to score!
Penalty Storm - Sharks again not back the 10m and Melbourne find the line 30m out.
Brodie Croft grubbers close to the line and Andrew Fifita dives on it just short of his own tryline for tackle 1.
Penalty Storm - Against Andrew Fifita for pushing Nelson Asofa-Solomona who was trying to play the ball. Storm find the line 40m out.
INJURY UPDATE - Sosaia Feki leaves the field with a shoulder injury.
Penalty Sharks - Suliasi Vunivalu is penalised for making contact with Feki trying collect a Brodie Croft cross field kick. Replays suggest a push from Ricky Leutele on Vunivalu. Lucky to get away with that Cronulla.
Cameron Smith adds the extras and the Storm extend their lead.
Billy Slater busts the line off a sensational offload from Felise Kaufusi and Slater finds Brodie Croft backing up on the inside and the halfback scores beside the posts!
Curtis Scott gets a difficult ball from Cameron Munster and the Sharks breathe a sigh of relief. Sharks scrum 10m out from their own line.
Back to back penalties - Cameron Smith takes the tap this time!
Penalty Storm - Sharks inside the 10m. Storm find the line 40m out.
Matt Moylan drops the ball while the Sharks on the attack! Big let off for Melbourne.
Penalty Sharks - Sosaia Feki gets the ball out the back and Billy Slater used a shoulder charge to bundle him into touch! Sharks tap 10m out!
Will Chambers grubbers close to the line on the last, well read by Valentine Holmes close to his tryline and he makes his way to 30m from his own line.
Joe Stimson with a nasty cut below the eye. Trainer cleans him up and we are back under way.
Cameron Munster hoists the ball high on the last and Sosaia Feki takes it 30m from his own line on the first tackle.
Billy Slater gets a great inside ball from Brodie Croft and is tackled on the last. Sharks ball 27m from their own line.
Cameron Smith opens the scoring. Storm in front.
Penalty Storm - Against Luke Lewis for a strip in the tackle. Smith points to the posts.
Ricky Leutele drops the ball cold on the 3rd tackle. Storm scrum 38m out.
Billy Slater fields the ball on the last and he is driven back 15m by Luke Lewis and Matt Prior. Sharks showing some strong defence early.
We are underway @ AAMI Park! Aaron Woods brings the ball back and is met by Tim Glasby and Dale Finucane.
Welcome to AAMI Park in Melbourne for the Preliminary Final between the Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks, with the winner going through to the 2018 NRL Grand Final next week. The Storm has one late change, with Ryan Hoffman out and replaced on the bench by Brandon Smith in jersey #20. The Sharks will be missing skipper Paul Gallen who was ruled out on Thursday, which sees Aaron Woods start in the middle and Joseph Paulo comes onto the bench also in jersey #20. Josh Dugan has missed selection and has been named 18th man. It is the 2016 Grand Final replay, both sides loathe each other and the last game for either Billy Slater or Luke Lewis. Massive game, so get amongst it @LeagueUnlimited! Kickoff not far away!
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins
Touch Judges: Brett Suttor, Chris Butler
Video Referee: Jared Maxwell, Luke Patten
MELBOURNE STORM (22)
Tries: Brodie Croft, Billy Slater (2)
Field Goals:
Conversions: Cameron Smith (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Cameron Smith (2/2)
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (6)
Tries: Luke Lewis
Field Goals:
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (1/1)
Penalty Goals: