The first week of NRL Finals action in 2024 continues with the second clash between sides who finished the regular season inside the top four spots on the ladder. The Melbourne Storm, the Minor Premiership winners at a canter this season, play host to the fourth-placed Cronulla-Sutherlands Sharks with both sides looking to secure a preliminary finals spot.
Melbourne will surely be the favourites having finished atop the ladder by four points in the regular season, but the NRL Finals are a great leveller of form and the Sharks will be keen to cause an upset in Victoria. While the winners will advance through to the preliminary final via a week off, the losers will face either the North Queensland Cowboys or Newcastle Knights in Week 2.
The Sporting News is on hand to bring you all the latest TV schedule information, live streaming and start times for this NRL Finals match, as the Minor Premiers look to begin a path which takes them from the JJ Giltinan Shield to lifting the Provan-Summons Trophy on Sunday, October 6.
How to watch Storm vs. Sharks: TV channel, free live stream
TV channel: Fox League, Channel Nine
Live stream: Kayo, Foxtel, Nine Now
This Melbourne Storm vs. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks NRL Finals Week 1 match will be broadcast live on Fox League and on the free-to-air Channel Nine's wide world of sports, with live streaming available with Foxtel, Nine Now and Kayo Sports.
This match, and every match across the opening round of the NRL Finals Series, will be available for both live streaming and on replay with Kayo.
New users to Kayo can currently sign up to a FREE trial.
Storm vs. Sharks NRL Finals start time
This NRL Finals Week 1 clash takes place at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Victoria and kicks off on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at 4:05 p.m. local time (AEST).
Here's how that time translates to different Australian time zones:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Saturday, September 14 | 4:05 p.m. |
| Australian Central Standard Time | Saturday, September 14 | 3:35 p.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Saturday, September 14 | 2:05 p.m. |
Storm vs. Sharks team lists for NRL Finals Week 1 match
| Melbourne Storm team list | Cronulla Sharks team list |
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 14. Tyran Wishart 18. Grant Anderson | 1. Will Kennedy 14. Daniel Atkinson 18. Braden Hamlin-Uele |
Storm vs. Sharks match preview
Round 27 of the NRL regular season saw both the Storm and Sharks rack up big wins away from home on their way to the Finals, with both victories coming against sides who they've built up long-standing rivalries with over the years.
The Storm headed north to face a Brisbane Broncos side they've played copious times in high-stakes matches both in the Finals and the regular season, but this time the hosts were no match for Melbourne, who dumped their Queensland foes out of Finals contention with a massive 50-12 victory at Suncorp Stadium – Will Warbrick and Jahrome Hughes both crossing for hat-tricks.
Cronulla didn't quite reach a half-century of points in their match away at Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, but still put in a sublime performance against a Finals-bound opponent to win 40-20 at 4 Pines Park. That's an ominous sign for the Storm, who will certainly be keen to avoid showing any complacency against a free-scoring side led by ex-Melbourne star Nicho Hynes.
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