By Ellery Behan
The Melbourne Storm put on a clinical performance at Leichhardt Oval in the Jersey Flegg Cup Major Semi-final, cleaning up the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks with a 38-10 triumph to book their spot in the 2025 Jersey Flegg Cup Grand Final at CommBank Stadium on 28 September.
Both sides showed plenty of discipline through the opening 10 minutes, completing hard-fought sets with precise fifth-tackle options. But it was the Storm who struck first with winger Amaziah Murgha fielding a Sharks kick before sidestepping his opposite man, flashing down the eastern touchline and finding Hugo Peel on his inside, who had nothing but green pastures between himself and the try-line. Eli Morris converted from in front for a 6-0 lead.
Lightning struck twice just moments later, with the Storm turning an attacking opportunity into points as halfback Dylan Brettle dug into the line before offloading for a determined K-Cl Newton-Whare who bumped off helpless defenders on his way to the try-line. Morris added the extras with ease for a 12-0 advantage.
The Storm began to throw caution to the wind in attack, producing thunderous runs and flashes of brilliance that earned them a plethora of points. Cronulla struggled to withstand the waves of pressure, and Melbourne ran in another two tries in quick succession through Mitchell Jennings and Dylan Brettle to take a 24-0 lead.
The Storm delivered another blow before the break, with Brettle playing lock forward Angus Hinchey through a gaping hole in the defence before retrieving the ball back and diving over for his second of the match, handing Morris another conversion for a stunning 30-0 score-line at half-time.
Storm picked up where they left off in the second stanza with a shift to the right edge seeing Morris play a short ball to centre Liam Williams, who let no defenders stand between himself and the try-line.
The Sharks eventually bit back, catching the Storm off-guard with a dummy-half crash play from Nikora Williams. Riley Pollard steered the conversion between the sticks from out wide to make it 34-6.
Doing everything they could to wrestle their way back into the contest, Cronulla began to gain momentum off the back of some hard work and a 40/20 from Pollard. Shifting the ball left, they found their way to the stripe through Prestyn Laine-Sietu, but Pollard’s conversion clanged against the uprights to leave the Sharks with a 24-point mountain to climb in the closing 20 minutes.
But the Storm buried any hope of a miracle comeback for the Sharks as they came out of their own end, forcing an error and turning possession into points with a right-side move that put Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown’s acrobatics on full display as he dove into the corner to secure a 38-10 victory.
Talking points
- The Melbourne Storm are the first team to advance to the 2025 Jersey Flegg Cup Grand Final.
- The Storm are shaping to be a formidable force in the Grand Final, making light work of the second-placed Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in today’s Major Semi-final.
- Melbourne’s squad approaches Grand Final day incredibly well-rested, having not played for three weeks prior to today’s game and given another two to prepare for the decider.
- Cronulla will look to right their wrongs next week as they take on the victor of Canberra Raiders v Penrith Panthers in the Minor Semi-final.
Key moment
After a strong opening to the game, Melbourne struck first to establish a lead and then piled on three more tries in seven minutes to put themselves in the box seat at 24-0. Cronulla looked set to snatch one back as five-eighth Ashton Simmonds sliced through the defence and found the stripe, but the try was called back.
Melbourne marched up the other end and found more points, ultimately incurring a 12-point swing that kept the momentum in their favour and helped them sail to victory.
What’s next?
The Storm advance to the Jersey Flegg Cup Grand Final in two weeks’ time, while the Sharks have an opportunity to meet them again if Cronulla can win their Preliminary Final fixture on Saturday.
