2016 GRAND FINAL - Sharks vs Storm

[yourhero]

Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sharks
Sunday 2 October, 7:15pm
ANZ Stadium

1. Cameron Munster
2. Suliasi Vunivalu
3. William Chambers
4. Cheyse Blair
5. Marika Koroibete
6. Blake Green
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Cameron Smith ©
10. Jordan McLean
11. Kevin Proctor
12. Tohu Harris
13. Dale Finucane

14. Kenny Bromwich
15. Tim Glasby
16. Christian Welch
17. Ben Hampton
18. Young Tonumaipea
19. Slade Griffin
20. Matt White
21. Felise Kaufusi
22. Ryan Morgan

[LESStar58]

Young at 18th man? Really? Why?

[LESStar58]

I'd say we need Hampton for utility value though would rather go with size.

Can't believe Felise can't even get a look in!

[yourhero]

I am no supercoach as Bellamy rightly has claim to, but I just can't see the value in Hampton on the bench... Especially with Tohu, Kenny and Smithy in the team - we can cover any injury without having to carry a specialist back on the bench.

A strong forward like Felise who can bend the line is surely of more value? Even if only for short bursts.

Just thinking it through, I assume that the feeling from the coaching staff is that our forward rotation is capable of playing high standard, long enough minutes that the extra forward is not warranted.

[Scooter]

As I said in another thread last week both Blake Green and Dale Finucane will play their 50th game for the Storm on Sunday. Congratulations guys.

[bula]

Melbourne Storm will play it's 500th game this Sunday too.

I noticed in 07 and 09 Geelong and Storm won their respective premierships and 2012 Swans and Storm. Now both can repeat that this weekend.
The gap between 07-09=2, to 2012=3, 2016=4.
In every grand final the club has contested, the end result is the opposite of their previous meeting with their opponent.
99 - Dragons beat us at Olympic in week 1 finals
06 - Defeated Broncos at Suncorp
07 - Manly win 13-12 at Brookvale
08 - Defeated Manly twice during regular season
09 - Eels run started against us at Parra Stadium
12 - Bulldogs cleaned us up in Mackay
16 - We beat Sharks rnd 26

So.. lol too much time on my hands I know. I'm pretty confident we'll win this one.

[tugga]

We'll win 14-10

[Diehard_Storm]

The Hampton selection makes perfect sense.

Why? Because of the fitness of the forwards selected. Our backrowers play long minutes, negating the need for a 4th forward off the bench. He would be wasted.

May as well select a utility to cover injuries particularly to our halves or hooker position- and that's exactly why Hampton is there.

[Inglis#3]

Hampton doesn't add a lot of value to our side but if we went with four forwards then one would play probably less than 10 minutes given the enormous minutes our forward pack can play with the exception of McLean. Taking into account the flexibility Hampton provides then I think he'd be the way to go. Of course depends on the strategy but Grand Final week can be a taxing week so possibly could have some impact late in the game.

[bula]

Cronulla also keep an outside back on their bench in Beale.
We lose a back in the GF no way I'd want Tohu or Kenny playing in the backline.

[blazza18]

Shouldn't be worried about covering for injuries. That is awful logic. You play your best 17 and that means going with four forwards on the bench imo.

[bula]

I would love Kaufusi in the Final too and he very well could be a late change. Actually surprising Welch is in before him but whoever takes that field we'll all be behind 100%.

[tugga]

Hampton didn't even get on the field in the prelim.

[Inglis#3]

Frank Ponissi spoke on why Hampton didn't get on field. He said they continued to send messages down throughout the second half to see who was in need of a rest to bring on Hampton but everyone said they felt fresh. He also Hampton was there for tactical purposes and expected him there again on Sunday.

[Ice]

Well that was a couple of anxious days, just got home from Bali at 4am this morning having been stuck there for an extra day due to the volcanic ash. It's fair to say i was pretty nervous not knowing when we were going to get out of there and my only option had Tiger not flown was to get a Garuda flight who weren't affected which would've cost me $1600 and while i would've paid it to get to the GF i certainly didn't want to so it all turned out well in the end even though i'm stuffed.

Fly up early Saturday morning so we get there in plenty of time to watch the AFL GF and fly home about 1pm on Monday. Can't bloody wait, it doesn't matter how many times you go to the GF it just gets better and better heading into hostile territory. I'm quietly confident we'll get the win, if we play anywhere near to our best we win. Still have to do it of course but i think we will.