The official team lists are in for Sharks vs Storm, and Cronulla have made sweeping changes by resting Nicho Hynes, Blayke Brailey, KL Iro and Teig Wilton ahead of the finals while naming three club/NRL debutants. Melbourne have gone the opposite way, retaining their established starting 13 after thrashing Brisbane 46-20, creating some particularly interesting Storm attacking markets for punters.
Biggest Winners – Sharks
Riley Pollard
Pollard makes his NRL debut at five-eighth after producing 11 tries and 21 try assists across 33 NSW Cup appearances for Newtown. He’ll have plenty of responsibility with Hynes rested.
Our Tip: Riley Pollard – 1+ Try Assist
Michael Gabrael
Gabrael makes his NRL debut at centre and brings genuine scoring ability, having produced 27 tries from 32 NSW Cup games for Newtown.
Our Tip: Michael Gabrael – Anytime Try Scorer
Sione Katoa
Katoa remains on the wing despite Cronulla’s changes and enters the match needing two tries to reach 100 NRL tries.
Our Tip: Sione Katoa – Anytime Try Scorer
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Biggest Losers – Sharks
Nicho Hynes
Hynes is being rested ahead of the finals, resulting in a completely new halves combination of Pollard and Niwhai Puru.
Betting Impact: Cronulla lose their primary organiser, kicker and attacking playmaker, which makes their attacking overs less attractive.
Blayke Brailey
Brailey is also being rested, with Hohepa Puru promoted into the starting hooking role.
Our Tip: Hohepa Puru – Over Tackles
Sharks’ New-Look Backline
Cronulla will start Riley Jones and Michael Gabrael in the centres and Pollard and Puru in the halves, while Hynes and Iro are rested and Hiroti is injured. That’s a huge amount of disruption against Melbourne’s experienced spine.
Our Tip: Storm – Head-to-Head
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Biggest Winners – Storm
Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown
Tuimalatu-Brown is coming off a breakout performance against Brisbane in which he scored three tries, ran for 170 metres and made three tackle breaks. He retains his spot on the wing against Cronulla’s heavily reshuffled backline.
Our Tip: Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown – Anytime Try Scorer
Cameron Munster
Unlike Cronulla, Melbourne retain their first-choice halves combination of Munster and Jahrome Hughes. That experience advantage could be significant against Pollard and Puru.
Our Tip: Cameron Munster – 1+ Try Assist
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Tyran Wishart
Wishart plays his 100th Storm game in his final appearance for the club, starting at centre. With Melbourne coming off a 46-point performance, he’s an interesting higher-priced try option.
Our Tip: Tyran Wishart – Anytime Try Scorer
Biggest Losers – Storm
Cronulla’s Home Record
Despite all the Sharks’ changes, Melbourne haven’t won at Ocean Protect Stadium since 2017, while Cronulla have won six of their past seven at the venue.
Betting Impact: That makes me more interested in Storm player markets than taking them at an aggressive line.
Storm Edge Defence
Cronulla still retain established finishers Katoa and Ronaldo Mulitalo despite resting several stars.
Our Tip: Sione Katoa – Anytime Try Scorer
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Melbourne’s Season
The Storm will miss the finals for the first time in 16 years, meaning this is their final game of 2026.
Betting Impact: There’s no finals motivation, but with Bellamy retaining his established starting side, I’d still prefer their attacking markets against Cronulla’s experimental combinations.
Early Betting Verdict
The team lists have shifted me towards Melbourne’s attacking markets. Cronulla are resting Hynes, Brailey, Iro and Wilton and will field debutants Pollard and Gabrael, while Melbourne retain Munster, Hughes and Harry Grant after scoring 46 points against Brisbane last week.
Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown – Anytime Try Scorer
This is the first market I’d target. The young winger scored a hat-trick last week and now faces a Sharks backline featuring a new centre combination.
Our Tip: Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown – Anytime Try Scorer
Sione Katoa – Anytime Try Scorer
Katoa needs two tries to reach 100 in the NRL and is one of the experienced attacking weapons Cronulla have retained.
Our Tip: Sione Katoa – Anytime Try Scorer
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Tyran Wishart – Anytime Try Scorer
Wishart’s 100th and final Storm appearance provides an interesting higher-priced option from centre.
Our Tip: Tyran Wishart – Anytime Try Scorer
Cameron Munster – Try Assists
Munster and Hughes should hold a huge experience advantage over Cronulla’s new Pollard-Puru halves combination.
Our Tip: Cameron Munster – 1+ Try Assist
Harry Grant – Try Assists
Grant gives Melbourne another way to expose the disruption in Cronulla’s middle and defensive combinations.
Our Tip: Harry Grant – 1+ Try Assist
Hohepa Puru – Tackles
Brailey being rested hands Puru the starting No.9 jersey and should significantly increase his defensive workload.
Our Tip: Hohepa Puru – Over Tackles
Best Bet From The Team Lists
Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown – Anytime Try Scorer
Tuimalatu-Brown produced his best NRL performance last week, scoring three tries and running for 170 metres in Melbourne’s 46-20 win over Brisbane.
Cronulla’s decision to rest several stars leaves them with Riley Jones and debutant Michael Gabrael in the centres, while Melbourne retain Hughes, Munster and Grant to create opportunities.
Our Tip: Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown – Anytime Try Scorer
I’d also check Tuimalatu-Brown 2+ Tries with Sportsbet and TAB after last week’s hat-trick.
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Value Bet
Michael Gabrael – Anytime Try Scorer
Gabrael is the team-list-driven value option.
The 21-year-old makes his NRL debut after scoring 27 tries in 32 NSW Cup appearances for Newtown, an exceptional strike rate for a centre.
The step up to NRL level is significant, but if Sportsbet or TAB offer a substantially bigger price than Katoa and Mulitalo, he’s worth considering.
Our Tip: Michael Gabrael – Anytime Try Scorer
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Team List Betting Summary
Best Bet: Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown – Anytime Try Scorer
Value Bet: Michael Gabrael – Anytime Try Scorer
Sharks Try Scorer: Sione Katoa – Anytime Try Scorer
Other Storm Try Scorer: Tyran Wishart – Anytime Try Scorer
Storm Playmaker Prop: Cameron Munster – 1+ Try Assist
Sharks Playmaker Prop: Riley Pollard – 1+ Try Assist
Tackle Prop: Hohepa Puru – Over Tackles
Team Market: Storm – Head-to-Head
Higher-Odds Play: Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown – 2+ Tries
