2025 FW3 PF Fri - Melbourne 22-14 Cronulla @ AAMI

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2025 - Round 27
Melbourne Storm v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri (TICKETS)

Friday 26 September 2025
NRL kickoff 7:50pm
Live on Fox, Kayo, Nine, 9Now

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen
2. William Warbrick
3. Jack Howarth
4. Nick Meaney
5. Xavier Coates
6. Cameron Munster
7. Jahrome Hughes
8. Stefano Utoikamanu
9. Harry Grant
10. Josh King
11. Ativalu Lisati
12. Eliesa Katoa
13. Trent Loiero

14. Tyran Wishart
15. Shawn Blore
16. Tui Kamikamica
17. Alec MacDonald

18. Bronson Garlick
19. Grant Anderson
20. Joe Chan
21. Jonah Pezet
22. Sualauvi Faalogo

Ins & outs
Out: Grant Anderson (centre to reserve), Jonah Pezet (halfback to reserve), Joe Chan (second row to reserve)
In: Ryan Papenhuyzen (fullback), Jahrome Hughes (halfback), Shawn Blore (bench)
Changes: Nick Meaney (fullback to centre), Ativalu Lisati (bench to second row)

1. William Kennedy
2. Sione Katoa
3. Jesse Ramien
4. KL Iro
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo
6. Braydon Trindall
7. Nicho Hynes
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Blayke Brailey
10. Toby Rudolf
11. Billy Burns
12. Teig Wilton
13. Jesse Colquhoun

14. Briton Nikora
15. Siosifa Talakai
16. Oregon Kaufusi
17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

18. Daniel Atkinson
19. Mawene Hiroti
20. Jayden Berrell
21. Tuku Hau Tapuha
22. Hohepa Puru

Ins & outs
Out: Thomas Hazelton (bench)
In: Oregon Kaufusi (bench)

Referee: Ashley Klein
Sideline Officials: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, Chris Sutton
Video Referee: Chris Butler

HEAD TO HEAD - 1998 - 2025​

	TOTAL	MELBOURNE	CRONULLA	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	49	31	18	0
AAMI	17	14	3	0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2023	Round 15	MELBOURNE 54-10	AAMI	20253
2024	Round 10	CRONULLA 25-18	AAMI	18670
2024	Qualifying Final	MELBOURNE 37-10	AAMI	26326
2025	Round 11	CRONULLA 31-26	Sharks	11570
2025	Round 17	MELBOURNE 30-6	AAMI	21399

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2005	Round 22	CRONULLA 40-16	Toyota	13575
2023	Round 15	MELBOURNE 54-10	AAMI	20253

 

[Fangs]

I'm on Cronulla.

2022 Semi final (Straight sets...similar losses to the 2025 Raiders)

2023 Quarter final (1 point loss at home)

2024 Prelim (Kept up with Penrith for 60 minutes)

2025 Grand final?

Fairly linear improvement in finals perfromances since Fitzgibbon took over. Storm are no easy beats but the Sharks look fit and ready to make the final.

Cronulla by 4.

 

[Ruby Roundhouse]

50/50

 

[Dragon Slayer]

We have a chance as long as the referee isn’t named Ashley Klown.

 

[Someguy]

Going to be an interesting team list Tuesday! Broncos showed that hitting Papenhuzen on the chin every kick return makes him very timid to run the ball sharks no doubt taking notice. Can Cronulla get big Tommy out of concussion protocol. Also rumours of Hughes back at training

 

[soc123_au]

I think Sharks can get this done. Their pack has been very good.

 

[Someguy]

I think Sharks can get this done. Their pack has been very good.

playing the field position game very well forwards rolling Brailey taking advantage of fast play the balls and excellent long kicking game. If they avoid cheap penalties then the Storm will get few chances outside of long range trick shots, might not get many chances for attacking kicks to Coates

 

[mongoose]

Sharks are in better form, although I don't think they've been hugely impressive in either final. Storm are always capable of winning any game with Hughes, Grant, Munster.... would love a 1997 Super League grand final rematch even though a bunch of Sharks fans on this forum are weird f**kers...

 

[Marshall_magic]

Sharks are in good form, Melbourne have been very ordinary for a few months. Could really go either way. Winner here probably gets done next week.

 

[age.s]

Get it done Sharkies.

 

[moffla]

At our best we win this game. But I don’t expect us to rediscover our best form. Coin flip for me

 

[Bazal]

I mean I hate Storms more than any team so I'll be preferring Shark.

But in reality it'll be harder to beat Storms at home than cursed and broken Raider. I don't think it'll be a high scoring game either way, and that for mine leans towards Storms experience and home ground advantage too. But I hope Shark well.

 

[Rudy]

I dislike the Sharks less than the Storm, so let's see the Sharks go through to play the Panties in the GF.

 

[horrie hastings]

Hmmmmm, who do i dislike more ?
Nicho Hynes or Cameron Munster.
Going have to flip a coin but think i will be going for the Sharks because of Fitzy and nothing else.

 

[soc123_au]

Sharks so we dont have to win another GF in pink.

 

[roboshark]

We have a chance as long as the referee isn’t named Ashley Klown.

We all know it will be

 

[Bobby DIGital]

It's a tough one but I'll tip the Sharks due to Hughes being busted.

Sharks by 4

 

[Miller was a legend]

Hmmmmm, who do i dislike more ?
Nicho Hynes or Cameron Munster.
Going have to flip a coin but think i will be going for the Sharks because of Fitzy and nothing else.

Come on, you love us Shark fans as well

 

[Saxon]

We have a chance as long as the referee isn’t named Ashley Klown.

Funny, that's exactly what we think.

 

[Apey]

I have been unconvinced by the Storm for most of the year. They've been premiership favourites because everyone has been expecting their quality side on paper to click at crunch time. On the flip side, Sharks have gone well above my expectations and should have every confidence in taking it to a team that isn't playing at their best. It's hard to know how the Storm will come out after a week off. If the week off has done them good and they're close to their best then they should win. If they serve up the same as their last few games, Sharkies will be in the GF.

Storm should be very motivated really. They got a relatively easy ticket to the Prelim playing the Dogs (I reckon they lose Week 1 to pretty much everyone besides Dogs/Warriors). They were in prime position to win the comp this year - lost nobody of note and their main threat the Panthers lost several big names and had a shocking start to the year. A bit of leniency for the Hughes injury sure, but to me them bowing out in the Prelim would be considered a big failure.

These are my two preferred teams left so either result will do, but I reckon Sharkies by 6.