STORM
Punters believed the Storm would make it four wins in a row for the first time this season when they ventured to Hunter Stadium last week to take on the struggling Knights, and accordingly, started short-priced favourites.

It was all going according to plan for the Storm until the final moments of the game when the Knigths produced two tries in the space of as many minutes to tie the game up.

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Knights Captain Kurt Gidley then slotted the winner form the touch-line to leave the Storm – and punters – in a state of disbelief.

The loss prevented the Storm from climbing to fifth on the ladder and instead, they are level with the likes of the Warriors, Bulldogs, Cowboys and the Eels, leaving them precariously placed and vulnerable to other results.

The Storm return to AAMI Park four the first time in a month, a venue where they hold a 6 – 4 winning record this year.

It’s a fairly tough run home for the Storm with the Panthers, Roosters and finally the Broncos, bringing their regular season to a close so a win here is a must.

Only change for the Storm this week is the inclusion of Jordan McLean to an extended bench.

SHARKS
Travelling to New Zealand to take on the Warriors minus the likes of Luke Lewis, Wade Graham, and just prior to the match also losing Paul Gallen, was always going to be an ask for the Sharks but the Cronulla side gave a solid showing.

Although never in front at any stage of the match, the Sharks made the Warriors work hard for their 16 – 12 win and they had earned the right to leave the field with heads held high.

Unfortunately the news on the injury front only gets worse for the Sharks though with Andrew Fifita’s season coming to an end with arm injury.

There’s a host of further changes to the Sharks side for this week as well, something they have been use to all year, but the big inclusion will be Paul Gallen with former Dragons forward Matt Prior also starting in the forward pack.

It’s been a tough year for the Sharks both on and off the field but their efforts this year have to be mostly admired.

They’ll start long price again to cause an upset against the Storm and may not but, as they do more often than not, will let the other team know they’ve been in a game of footy.

HEAD TO HEAD
The Storm has only tasted defeat once against the Shark in eight matches since 2008. Four of those Storm victories have been by a margin greater than the line set down for this match.

Even though they lost last week, the Storm still crossed five times and posted 30 points, making it an average of 29 points per game in the past month.

They should be able to post that again here whilst the Sharks haven’t broke 18 points in their past five matches.

Teams:

Storm: Billy Slater, Sisa Waqa, William Chambers, Mahe Fonua, Marika Koroibete, Ben Roberts, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (c), Bryan Norrie, Kevin Proctor, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan Hinchcliffe. Interchange: Tim Glasby, Tohu Harris, Kenny Bromwich, Jordan McLean, Junior Moors

Ins: Jordan McLean

Sharks: Michael Gordon, Sosaia Feki, Jonathan Wright, Ricky Leutele, Valentine Holmes, Fa’amanu Brown, Jeff Robson, Tim Robinson, Michael Lichaa, Matt Prior, Chris Heighington, Tupou Sopoaga, Paul Gallen (c). Interchange: Pat Politoni, Junior Roqica, Tinirau Arona, Blake Ayshford

Ins: Paul Gallen, Blake Ayshford

Outs: Andrew Fifita (broken arm, season), Sam Tagataese (suspension, season)