Round 21: Cronulla Sharks vs Melbourne Storm

[Queenslander]

Cronulla Sharks vs Melbourne Storm
Toyota Park; Monday 6th August, 7:00PM


http://premier.ticketek.com.au/dbimages/sfx11941.jpgvshttp://premier.ticketek.com.au/dbimages/sfx15643.jpg


Referee: Paul Simpkins

Team Notes:

Sharks

- Reece Williams comes into the centres for Fraser Anderson who moves to the bench

- Jacob Selmes and Issac De Gois moves from the bench to the starting line up in the front row and hooker respectively

- Luke Douglas moves from the front row to the second row, Cameron Ciraldo moves to the bench

- Ben Ross and Anthony Watts return to the first grade side on the bench.


Storm

- Clint Newton moves from the bench to the second row

- Sam Tagataese goes onto a 6 man bench.


Teams:
http://rebelsport.com.au/data/pages/categories/images/NRL_14.gif
1. Mitch Brown
2. David Simmons
3. Ben Pomeroy
4. Reece Williams
5. Luke Covell
6. Adam Dykes
7. Brett Seymour
8. Jacob Selmes
9. Isaac De Gois
10. Craig Stapleton
11. Paul Gallen
12. Luke Douglas
13. Henry Perenara

Interchange:

14. Ben Ross
15. Cameron Ciraldo
16. Fraser Anderson
17. Anthony Watts


http://rebelsport.com.au/data/pages/categories/images/NRL_15.gif
1. Billy Slater
2. Matt Geyer
3. Matt King
4. Israel Folau
5. Steve Turner
6. Greg Inglis
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Ben Cross
9. Cameron Smith
10. Brett White
11. Clint Newton
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Dallas Johnson

Interchange:

14. Jeff Lima
15. Adam Blair
16. Garrett Crossman
17. Anthony Quinn
18. James Aubusson
19. Sam Tagataese (two to be omitted)

[Queenslander]

Storm not taking Sharks lightly

Monday, August 6, 2007 - 12:15 AM

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy is set to bench his rotation policy for Monday night's trip to Cronulla in a bid to keep the Storm's NRL premiership campaign on track.

Melbourne's seemingly unstoppable run to a second straight grand final appearance suffered a minor setback last weekend when they went down to Brad Fittler's Sydney Roosters.

The Storm brains trust rejected claims it was the loss the side had to have in the lead-up to the finals series, but it is set to cause a re-think - or at least a delay - of plans to rest skipper Cameron Smith.

Smith was due to be given the game off after Ryan Hoffman and Matt Geyer were afforded the same luxury last week, but assistant coach Dean Lance said Smith's week off was unlikely to occur against the Sharks.

"Craig's still pretty keen to give him (Smith) a break but I'm not convinced it's going to be this one, particularly after losing last week," Lance told AAP.

"Last week's loss has certainly upped the ante as far as intensity in the joint's concerned, but whether it's changed Craig's plans with resting guys we'll have to wait and see.

"Everyone's talking about how it was the loss we needed to have which is rubbish - we lost because the Roosters were certainly better than us on the night, more intense.

"We lost because we didn't quite have the edge that we normally have - it was the loss we deserved to have not so much needed to have."

While the Storm would remain on top of the table with another loss, defeat would put the nail in the coffin for the Sharks.

The Sharks are in freefall after six straight losses and now remain only a mathematical possibility of making the finals.

Coach Ricky Stuart told his squad to stay away from the club's Toyota Park training base for four days this week in a bid to shake things up, backrower-come-centre Reece Williams claiming the time off was just what the side needed.

"It's a tough situation, we've lost the last six and once you get into this situation it's a bit like turning up for a job," Williams said.

"But we had four days off and turning up at training again afterwards we were a bit more refreshed and we're now looking forward to Monday night."

As well as giving his side some time off, Stuart reshuffled his pack with prop Luke Douglas shifted to the second-row in a bid to add more size to the starting line-up.

The move has resulted in Williams being squeezed out to the centres, where he will line up against Test star Matt King, the pair former team-mates in the Sharks lower grades.

Asked what he remembered from their time together, Williams said one thing stuck out.

"I can always remember him telling us all the time how he used to be a garbo," Williams said.

"For him leaving our club as a reserve grader to where he's gone to be an international player, it's a big thing.

"I've done a lot of video work in the lead-up to see how he plays, and it should be a good contest."
Source: AAP

[Steve]

I'm hoping the Storm get up here, give the Panthers a sniff at getting off the bottom of the ladder.
And I think I picked the Sharks for the spoon at the start of the season, so it'd be quite fitting!

[shamus]

I'm hoping the Storm get up here, give the Panthers a sniff at getting off the bottom of the ladder.
And I think I picked the Sharks for the spoon at the start of the season, so it'd be quite fitting!

NOOOOOOOOO.......I have my $6 on Betfair that the Panthers are taking the spoon.......Only 4 weeks to go......soooo close

[Cowboy Titan]

FULL TIME - Melbourne 17 defeated Sharks 16

A field goal to Cooper Cronk in the 77th minute. A Sharks field goal just missed.

Sharks lead 14 nil early on.

SHARKS:
Tries (2)
Henry Perenara 2m
Ben Pomeroy 27m

Conversions (2/2)Luke Covell 3m
Luke Covell 27m

Penalty Goals (2/2)Luke Covell 8m
Luke Covell 69m

Goalkickers (4/4)
Luke Covell 4 from 4

Field Goals (0/2)

STORM
Tries (3)
Matt King 32m
Ryan Hoffman 38m
Israel Folau 55m

Conversions (2/3)Israel Folau 33m
Israel Folau 40m

Penalty Goals (0/0)
Goalkickers (2/3)
Israel Folau 2 from 3

Field Goals (1/2)
Cooper Cronk 77m

[Queenslander]

FULL TIME


Melbourne Storm 17
Tries: Matt King, Ryan Hoffman, Israel Folau
Field Goals: Cooper Cronk (1/1)
Goals: Israel Folau (2/3)

defeated

Cronulla Sharks 16
Tries: Henry Perenara, Ben Pomeroy
Goals: Luke Covell (4/4)

[Titanium_BD1103]

If I was a sharks supporter today, I'd be mighty proud of my side today...that was a very gallant performance with another lot of players lost to injury and yet they fought to the death.... you might be only 2 from the spoon now, but there is nothing to be disappointed about with that performance, besides the scoreline.

Melbourne on the other hand to me look like they are going through a period of laxness, where they are happy to play a certain tempo, no higher, no lower... and perhaps that's a good thing, keeping them fresh for the finals assult, but at the same time, it's making them vunerable in matches.. that is 2 weeks in a row they have let the opposition get to a large lead early.. luckily this time they reeled it in.

I think Melbourne also learnt when you rest someone as influnetial as captain Cameron Smith, you are always going to struggle, and they did for much of that match... they were just lucky the Sharks ran out of troops, otherwise the scoreline could have been a lot different... ;)

[J-Storm]

The Sharks supporters should be happy with how they played. They deserved the win really, though in saying that, with the ball they had in the 1st half, they should have led by more. The only thing that irked me was Ricky whinging yet again after the game. Ok so we got the call on the FG which was a tad rough in the end. But sheesh, it works out for both teams when we had Slater's try disallowed. It could have been worse Ricky, take a 1 point loss on the chin, at least you have something to work with unlike Matt 'Armageddon' Elliott who is doing worse despite a better roster atm injury wise etc...

[Capital_Shark]

Very proud of the effort shown and wore my jersey with pride, even though they lost.

The Covell field goal attempt pretty much summed up our season. Never thought I'd be able to be somewhat proud of my team for coming 2nd last, on the verge of the spoon. But its not often a team's biggest loss after 21 rounds is 14 points and they dwell at the bottom of the ladder, either.

Although Smith and to a much lesser extent Turner were rested, I think coaches with teams assured of a finals spot will have looked closely at Cronulla's and the Rooster's matches against Melbourne. If your defense can stay intense, aggressive and up in their face, they can become quiet rattled. This can result in their otherwise brilliant timing of just how long to lay around in the play the ball being just off, which brings out the penalties. Not to mention the return to old habits like the Melbourne Made grapple tackle.

Pretty much keep Melbourne outside your 20 and they're up sh!t creek. Easier said than done I do realise, but nearly all their tries are scored of short bombs to the wing or fast, in close back line movements all from inside the opposition red zone.

The only thing that irked me was Ricky whinging yet again after the game. Ok so we got the call on the FG which was a tad rough in the end. But sheesh, it works out for both teams when we had Slater's try disallowed.

I wouldn't call it a whinge - he was asked questions about it and gave an answer. He also mentioned that he thought the Slater no-try was a try, so that given the drop goal wouldn't have been an issue.

[PROMETHEUS]

Im shocked at how low the sharks are on the ladder,looking at their roster at the start of the year,and having Stuart as coach i thought they would make the 8 for sure.

[Chaos]

The Covell field goal attempt pretty much summed up our season. Never thought I'd be able to be somewhat proud of my team for coming 2nd last, on the verge of the spoon. But its not often a team's biggest loss after 21 rounds is 14 points and they dwell at the bottom of the ladder, either.

Although Smith and to a much lesser extent Turner were rested

I didn't get to see this game but I'm interested in the time Cam Smith was off the field...how long was he off for and how did the Storm go while he was off?

Interesting stat for a team coming second last...you guys had a great team this year but lacked halves. Without Kimmorley you were always going to struggle.

[Capital_Shark]

Im shocked at how low the sharks are on the ladder,looking at their roster at the start of the year,and having Stuart as coach i thought they would make the 8 for sure.

I was never real confident of them making the 8, even when we were sitting pretty in the top 4 or 5 at the half way mark.

Stuart basically inherited Raper's old squad, the one that sunk 10 in a row at the back end of 2006. Other than fitness and attitude, nothing much has change. Stuart also early on for the fans not to expect a massive turn around over night as he needs time to get the team he wants, then get it working the way he wants. Whether this happens only time will tell.

[Capital_Shark]

I didn't get to see this game but I'm interested in the time Cam Smith was off the field...how long was he off for and how did the Storm go while he was off?

Interesting stat for a team coming second last...you guys had a great team this year but lacked halves. Without Kimmorley you were always going to struggle.

Smith and Turner were rested the entire game mate. Aubusson lined up at hooker with Quinn in the back line for Turner. Later on Geyer did some dummy half work.

[Chaos]

Smith and Turner were rested the entire game mate. Aubusson lined up at hooker with Quinn in the back line for Turner. Later on Geyer did some dummy half work.

I always said the Storm were beatable without Cam Smith but they did win and they were up against an opposition desperate for a win.
Players playing in other positions will make them stronger...they will be hard to beat.

Manly, Eels and the Titans are the only teams capable of upsetting them.