Cronulla Sharks vs Melbourne Storm NRL Round 27 Tips & Prediction - Storm to finish season on a high
The Cronulla Sharks face a tough NRL Round 27 matchup against the Melbourne Storm after a steep form decline and the decision to rest several key players. Having lost three of their last four games, the Sharks’ top four hopes are gone. Meanwhile, Melbourne will field a full-strength squad featuring the in-form Munster-Hughes halves combo. The Storm are widely tipped to cover the -9.5 line and keep Cronulla under 21.5 team points, with Tyran Wishart expected to continue his try-scoring run in his milestone 100th game.
Cronulla Sharks vs Melbourne Storm predictions for Saturday's NRL R27 game
Sharks in woeful form, losing three of last four - resting various key players here
Storm fielding strong team, tipped to cover a -8.5 line, with Wishart scoring
The game is scheduled for kick off at 7.35pm AEST on Saturday September 5
Cronulla Sharks vs Melbourne Storm NRL Round 27 Tips & Prediction
Cronulla have hit a major roadblock on their way to the finals and have decided to rest several key players here, so the Storm are tipped to cover a -8.5 line in victory, keeping the Sharks Under 21.5 team points in the process. Tyran Wishart can cross for another try in his 100th career game.
Classic Cronulla. Just when you think they might be building towards something special, they collapse.
The loss of Braydon Trindall to injury has been a massive blow and their marquee man Nicho Hynes just hasn't been able to step up in his absence. The Sharks come into this clash having lost three of their last four games - and all three of those defeats were against teams outside the top eight. That shocking run of form has cost the Sharks a spot in the top four.
Craig Fitzgibbon - who showcased his boxing skills with a brutal right hook to the TV monitor during his side's defeat to the Eels last week - has decided to rest Hynes, Blayke Brailey, Mawene Hiroti, Teig Wilton and Thomas Hazelton for this one.
Melbourne meanwhile will field a strong side and will be hoping to end the year on a high after missing out on the finals for the first time in 16 years.
Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes will start in the halves and that's huge for the Storm - they've won six straight games with that combination, with five coming by 13+ margins. Throw in Sualauvi Faalogo and Harry Grant and that spine is capable of blowing this Cronulla side off the park.
So I'm taking the Storm to cover a -8.5 line and the Sharks to go below their team total of 21.5 - a halves combination of Riley Pollard and Niwhai Puru will struggle to create chances. Tyran Wishart starts in the centres again and has been prolific lately, while Sione Katoa remains the most likely for Cronulla.
Sharks vs Storm Stats & Trends
- Sharks have lost three of their last four games, including 20-point loss vs Eels last week
- Three of those four defeats for Sharks were vs teams outside the top eight
- Storm have won two of their last three games by 22+ points
- Sharks have gone Under 21.5 team points in three of their last four games
- Storm have won six straight games with Munster & Hughes in the halves, five by 13+
- Tyran Wishart has scored five tries in his last five games, will play his 100th game here
- Sione Katoa has scored 13 tries in his last 10 games
Sharks vs Storm Head To Head
Melbourne have won three of the last four meetings, but haven't tasted victory in the Shire since 2017. This will be their first encounter in 2026.
| Year | Winner | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Melbourne Storm | 22–14 | AAMI |
| 2025 | Melbourne Storm | 30–6 | AAMI |
| 2025 | Cronulla Sharks | 31–26 | Ocean Protect |
| 2024 | Melbourne Storm | 37–10 | AAMI |
| 2024 | Cronulla Sharks | 25–18 | AAMI |
Cronulla Sharks Form Analysis
Shambolic end to the season for Cronulla.
They were humming with nine wins from 10 games, but the wheels have fallen off and now the Sharks will be tasked with a do-or-die elimination final after missing out on the top four.
It all started with a shock loss to the bottom-placed Dragons and continued with defeats to Canberra and Parramatta.
Last week was a dismal performance as the Sharks went down 38-18 to the Eels. Cronulla leaked two tries in the opening six minutes and never recovered.
Melbourne Storm Form Analysis
Tough season for the Storm in more ways than one, but they've never thrown in the towel and have produced some pretty good footy over the last few weeks.
Melbourne crushed Manly 42-20 before playing Penrith close in a 22-14 defeat.
The Storm then went up to Suncorp and dismantled the Broncos, piling on the points in an emphatic 46-20 triumph. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown crossed for his first NRL hat-trick.
Sharks vs Storm Team News
Braden Uele, Hohepa Puru, Jayden Berrell, Michael Gabrael, Toby Rudolf and Tuku Hau Tapuha have all been called into the Sharks side.
Craig Bellamy has stuck solid with the same team that eased past Brisbane last week.
| Sharks | Position | Storm |
|---|---|---|
| William Kennedy | 1 | Sualauvi Faalogo |
| Sione Katoa | 2 | Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown |
| Riley Jones | 3 | Tyran Wishart |
| Michael Gabrael | 4 | Nick Meaney |
| Ronaldo Mulitalo | 5 | Moses Leo |
| Riley Pollard | 6 | Cameron Munster |
| Niwhai Puru | 7 | Jahrome Hughes |
| Addin Fonua-Blake | 8 | Stefano Utoikamanu |
| Hohepa Puru | 9 | Harry Grant |
| Jesse Colquhoun | 10 | Josh King |
| Briton Nikora | 11 | Shawn Blore |
| Billy Burns | 12 | Oryn Keeley |
| Cameron McInnes | 13 | Trent Loiero |
| Siosifa Talakai | 14 | Trent Toelau |
| Toby Rudolf | 15 | Cooper Clarke |
| Oregon Kaufusi | 16 | Jack Hetherington |
| Braden Uele | 17 | Alec MacDonald |
| Jayden Berrell | 18 | Angus Hinchey |
| Tuku Hau Tapuha | 19 | Hugo Peel |
Verdict
Storm are tipped to pile more misery on this Sharks side, with Wishart scoring for a fourth straight game.
Storm -8.5
Line
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Sharks Under 21.5
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