The Melbourne Storm qualified for their sixth grand final in ten years after appearing in the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2012 deciders, although their only recognised premiership was in 2012 after their 2007 and 2009 titles were withheld due to systemic salary cap breaches. Only coach Craig Bellamy and halfback Cooper Cronk have been involved on each occasion. The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks had never won a grand final in the club's preceding 50 seasons, with their last grand final appearance in a unified competition being in 1978 when they lost to the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles through a grand final replay. Cronulla-Sutherland had also appeared in the 1997 Super League grand final, losing to the Brisbane Broncos. The last time Melbourne and Cronulla had faced each other in a finals series was in 2008 when Melbourne denied Cronulla with a decisive 28–0 win to claim a spot against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the grand final.
ANZ Stadium, where the match was played
2016 season
The Melbourne Storm and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks met twice during the regular NRL season; in round 4 and round 26. In round 4, the Cronulla side defeating Melbourne 14–6 at Southern Cross Group Stadium in Cronulla, New South Wales to hand the Storm their first loss of the season; it was also the start of a sixteen-match unbeaten streak for the Sharks.[2] Round 26 was the last round of the regular season before the finals and the game between the two teams would determine who would finish 1st on the NRL ladder and claim the minor premiership. Melbourne would go on to defeat Cronulla-Sutherland 26–6 at their home ground, AAMI Park in Melbourne, Victoria.[3]
Cronulla-Sutherland set the record for the longest winning streak during the 2016 season, winning 15 games in a row from Round 4 to Round 20,[4] whilst also breaking their previous best winning streak of 11 in a row.[5]
In their qualifying finals, Cronulla-Sutherland defeated the Canberra Raiders 16–14 at a capacity GIO Stadium in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, and the Storm defeated defending premiers the North Queensland Cowboys 16–10 at AAMI Park. As winners of their respective matches, both sides moved directly to the preliminary finals in the third week of the finals series.[6] In the preliminary finals, Cronulla-Sutherland defeated North Queensland 32–20 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, New South Wales to qualify for their first Grand Final since 1997, while the Melbourne side defeated Canberra 14–12 at AAMI Park to qualify for their sixth Grand Final since 2006.
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a penalty goal kicked by James Maloney after Marika Koroibete was penalized for a swinging arm on Chad Townsend. The Cronulla side then scored the first try after a scrum-base move from Paul Gallen sent Ben Barba over in the 15th minute. Maloney converted the goal leaving Cronulla-Sutherland with an 8 - 0 lead.[11]
Despite dominating ball possession and field position, the Cronulla side could not break Melbourne's defence again in the first half and the score remained the same until half-time.[12]
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks responded through a try scored by prop Andrew Fifita in which he beat five Melbourne defenders from close range. Maloney again converted the goal leaving the score 14 - 12 to Cronulla with just nine minutes remaining in the match.[13]
The Melbourne club had a prime opportunity to score when Chambers regathered his own grubber after a right-side break but he failed to recognise an unmarked Cooper Cronk. In the final seconds of the game Melbourne again had a chance to steal victory with a play that went from the right side of the field to the left and then back to the right. Cronulla's scrambling defence managed to hold on, with Ricky Leutele making a desperate tackle which secured the club's first ever premiership.[11]
Cronulla's premiership victory qualified them to take part in the 2017 World Club Series. As runners-up, Melbourne were also set to participate but withdrew from the competition, claiming that travelling to England would hamper their pre-season preparations.[14] The Brisbane Broncos, who finished as semi finalists, was the only other team to accept an invitation, thus reducing the series into a two-game format instead of the intended three games. Playing against the Wigan Warriors, who were the 2016 Super League Champions, Cronulla-Sutherland were defeated 22 – 6.
Luke Lewis
