Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks

Storm

Jesse Bromwich (Manurewa Marlins, South Auckland)

The best prop in the world. Bromwich is huge and makes plenty of metres but it is his skill and footwork that sets him apart, which also allows the Storm to do what they do. Look for Bromwich to use his footwork to break a few ankles, slip between defenders and get a quick play-the-ball and how Cronulla go about slowing Bromwich down will be very interesting.

Kevin Proctor (Te Kuiti then Tugun Seahawks, Gold Coast)

Playing alongside Cooper Cronk on Melbourne's right edge, Proctor doesn't venture too far away from his edge and is very much the epitome of Melbourne's 'do your job' mentality. Where Proctor shines is in his ball-running ability, which usually has him hitting a hole or attacking a smaller defender like James Maloney. Proctor will need to do a great defensive job on Wade Graham also, as Graham ran rampant last week.

Tohu Harris (Tamatea Rugby Club, Hastings)

While Proctor stays in his lane, Harris is given more freedom to roam and understandably so as Harris is a phenom. He's massive which enables him to match the physicality of opposition forwards, however he's more athletic and skillful so expect him to do a bit of ball-playing down Melbourne's left edge. Harris' bread and butter in recent weeks though has been how busy he is attacking the area just behind the ruck, getting the footy on the left but angling back in-field where his speed and footwork is nothing short of menacing. He'll face off against Luke Lewis in what will be one of the battles to watch out for.

Kenny Bromwich (Manurewa Marlins, South Auckland)

Giving Melbourne some funk off their bench is Kenny Bromz and I can see the younger Bromwich having a huge impact when he enters the arena around the 25-30 minute mark. Bromwich is a tad smaller than the Storm's other forwards, however he's dynamic and bursts on to the footy offering the speed and footwork of a centre. Harris and Proctor have either edge spots locked down, which has pushed Bromwich into the middle and he's perfectly suited to this as Melbourne enjoy his speed around the ruck area. Peep his combination with Jesse; they love to hit each other with short passes.

Sharks

Sosaia Feki (Bay Roskill Vikings, Auckland)

The Tongan winger goes about his business quietly, without a whole lot of fuss but he's a low key stand out for the Sharks on a regular basis. Feki will start on the wing and is capable of finishing off any opportunity if he gets the footy within 5-10m of the try-line and he will need to offer plenty carting the footy up as well. Cronk could put Feki under some pressure with his kicking game, both long and high but expect Feki to defuse these kicks flexing with freakish composure.

Gerard Beale (Logan Brothers, Brisbane)

Cronulla have consistently played with an outside back on their bench this season and it's no different for the Grand Final, as Beale will offer cover for a range of positions while also possibly adding some speed if Cronulla need it. Sometimes Beale started at centre this season, sometimes on the wing and sometimes he came off the bench to give Feki or Ricky Leutele a spell while we also saw Beale come on for Chad Townsend a few weeks ago with Jack Bird moving into the halves. Beale gives Shane Flanagan plenty of options and it's a luxury that you need in a Grand Final.

Sam Tagataese (St. Bernard's College, Lower Hutt)

We haven't seen too much of Tagataese in the latter stages of the season and it remains to be seen whether he'll make it on to Cronulla's bench. Coach Flanagan will probably require the size and power that Tagataese offers, especially as the Storm love to plug away through the middle and Tagataese will be the perfect bloke to bring on after Andrew Fifita and Matt Prior do their thing for 30 minutes. 

Intrust Super Championship

Burleigh Bears vs Illawara Cutters

Bears: Kurtis Rowe (FB), Waka Wanahi (wing), Paterika Vaivai (prop), Parahi Wilson (bench), Louis Fanene (bench), Josh Ailaomai (bench), Nathaniel Peteru (bench).

Cutters: Taane Milne (centre), Kalifa Faifai Loa (wing), Siliva Havili (lock).

Doc's Word: All the kiwi/poly lads for the Cutters have played NRL footy for the Dragons this season and it's no surprise that the Bears won the Intrust Super Cup in Queensland as they've got one of the strongest kiwi contingents in the competition. I'd keep an eye on that Burleigh bench as Wilson is rugged middle forward, while Fanene, Ailaomai and Peteru will add plenty of oomph up the guts.