Sunday’s third NRL Round 13 match is between Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks with the opening kick to commence at 6:30pm local time. The game is to be played at AAMI Park which see’s home team Melbourne Storm hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks.

WHERE AND WHEN: AAMI Park, Sunday 9th June, 6:30pm

Opening odds comparison:

Melbourne Storm	1.35	1.30	1.35	1.30	1.35	1.34
Cronulla Sharks	3.20	3.65	3.30	3.65	3.20	3.17

Preview:

It’s the Melbourne Storm vs the Cronulla Sharks at AAMI Park, Sunday at 6.30pm. The Storm will go into this match as favourites, after finally turning the tables against the Roosters two weeks ago to get some momentum on their side. Cronulla will be very difficult to beat, however, with the Sharks in great form and the Storm yet to clear any of their Origin stars to play. While Cronulla are not expected to win this one away from home, with four straight wins on their side, they may just be able to put one over on the Storm.

Teams:

Melbourne Storm:
Billy Slater, Sisa Waqa, Maurice Blair, Will Chambers, Justin O’Neill, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (capt), Bryan Norrie, Kevin Proctor, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan Hinchcliffe. Interchange: Jason Ryles, Tohu Harris, Junior Moors, Jordan McLean, Brett Finch, Tim Glasby, Kenneath Bromwich (three to be omitted).

Cronulla Sharks:
Michael Gordon, Sosaia Feki, Ben Pomeroy, Jonathan Wright, Beau Ryan, Todd Carney, Jeff Robson, Andrew Fifita, John Morris, Ben Ross, Luke Lewis, Wade Graham, Paul Gallen (c). Interchange: Chris Heighington, Jayson Bukuya, Isaac De Gois, Anthony Tupou, Tyrone Peachey, Sam Tagataese.

Storm’s Bellamy asks players to step up

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy is looking for an improved performance from his NRL players who aren’t backing up from State of Origin after last season’s faltering form.

The Storm host the resurgent Sharks at AAMI Park on Sunday night with both teams having key players involved in Origin.

Bellamy said that last season, his non-representative players didn’t step up, reflected in the team’s patchy results.

Over the 2012 Origin period, the Storm had three wins and three losses.

After their loss immediately following the third Origin, they then had three successive defeats which almost derailed their season before getting back on track for a grand final triumph.

“We’ve always handled Origin pretty well but, last year, for whatever reason, it didn’t work for us,” Bellamy said.

“I think part of that was that the non-Origin players who were left didn’t really step up as much as they usually do.

“They weren’t at the level that we would have expected.

“The Origin guys are going to be missing a lot of time through the next eight weeks and it’s important that the other guys step up.”

Veteran utility Brett Finch has been included on the bench after a frustrating season back at the Storm following his UK stint and is set for some long-awaited game time.

Bellamy said Finch had been training at dummy-half in the role usually filled by Storm and Queensland hooker Cameron Smith.

He could replace Queensland halfback Cooper Cronk or play five-eighth with regular No.6 Gareth Widdop shifting to fullback should Maroons custodian Billy Slater not start.

“He’s going to play an important part for our team,” Bellamy said of Finch.

“We probably expected to have used him a little bit more than we have this season but we won our first seven games and haven’t had any injuries in those positions.

“It’s been pretty hard for him and been pretty frustrating for us not to use him because he’s been great at training and all the players like playing with him.”